Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-11-12
A DOUBLE MURDER
Two Farmers Killed by Their
Brother, Near POttSville, Pa.
The Fratrncide, who Is Believed 10
be Insane. Also Shot at His Sister
and Sister-in-Iaw = He Was
Finally Captured after
Fierce Struggle.

Pottsville, Pa, Nov. 3.-Worl0ed IN
to frenzy as result of an alterca-
tion with one of his brothers, Benja-
min Franklin Weissinger, living on
farm several miles from this city, on
Monday afternoon shot and killed
his two brothers, attempted to kill
his sister and a sister-in-law, and held
n large posse of policemen at bay
for nine hours before he was cap
tured. The tragedy occurred on the
farm of the father of the men. The
dead men are Louis Weissinger, aged
81 years, single, and Frederick, who
leaves a widow. The fractricide is As
years old.
Ben iamin and Frederick had n quar-
rel early in the afternoon over the
cleaning of horse. During the al
tercation Benjamin fired four shots
at Fred without any of them taking
effect. Frederick fled to the attic of
the farmhouse and was followed into
the house by the enraged brother.
The latter secured Winchester re-
peating rifle and as he was leaving
the house he encountered another
brother, Louis, at the kitchen door.
Without word of warning Benjamin
fired at Louis, the bullet striking him
an hour without uttering Il word.
The murderer then walked down
path and caught a glimpse of Fred
erick, who was looking out of the at
tic window. Benjamin quickly raised
his rifle and fired. The bullet entered
Frederick's cheek and penetrated the
brain. He fell dead across the Win
dow SILL His wife, who had gone tu
the attic with him, attempted to drag
the body into the room. She succeed
ed in this. but not before Ben iamln
had fired several shots at her without
effect The double murderer's atten'
tion was then attracted to his sister
Mary, who had come out of the house
to persuade him from doing any more
shooting. She persisted so strongly
that he turned his rifle upon her and
fired twice, but his aim was bad. The
young woman escaped into the house
Having called what he had done
and fearing arrest, Ben iamin decided
to barricade himself in the barn. lie
went into the house, secured a shot
gun, several revolvers and ammuni
tion and then took up his position in
the barn. The women of the house
notified neighborS who, in turn, sum
moned police assistance from this
city. Every attempt the authorities
made to approach the barn was met
with several shots from Weissinger,
and reinfOrcemcntS were sent for,
Towards evening, after a parley with
the murderer, he permitted David
WertZ and Samuel Lovett, farm
hands, to enter the barn and feed the
horses and cattle. WeIssinger in the
meantime kept the men covered with
his firearms.
When Sheriff Smith appeared on
the scene a ruse was planned to cap
ture the man. Another parley was
held with the murderer and lie
agreed to let two farm hands bring
him his supper. These men were in
structed to watch their opportunity,
seize him by the arms and shout,
which would be the signal for the
deputies to rush in. This they did
and terrible struggle took place.
The murderer is n powerful man, but
the force of numbers was too much
for him and he was tied hand and foot
before he could further use his weap-
ons. He was brought to this city
and will he given a hearing after the
funeral of his brothers.
Weissinger is believed to be insane.
He had nothing to say regarding the
tragedy except that he exclaimed: 81
am bewitched"