The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-11-03
INSANE MAN KILLS
TWO BROTHERS
Barricaded in Barn the Fratrl-
eide Reslsts Arrest for
Nine Hours.

POTTSVILLE, Pa, Nov. 2.-Work-
ed into frenzy as a result of an al
tercation with one of his brothers,
Benjamin Franklin Weissinger, living
on farm several miles from this city,
this afternoon shot and killed his two
brothers, attempted to kill his sister
and sister-in-law, and held a large
posse Of policemen at bay for nine
hours before he was captured. The
tragedy occurred on the farm of the
father of the men. The dead men are:
Louis Weissinger, aged twenty-sev-
en- years, single, and Frederick Weis-
singer, aged twenty five, who leaves a
widow.
The fratricide is forty-five years old.
Benjamin and Frederick had a quar-
rel early in the afternoon over the
cleaning of horse. During the alter
cation Benjamin fired four shots at
Frederick without any of them taking
effect. Frederick fed to the attic Of
the farm house, and was followed into
the house by the enraged brother The
latter secured Winchester repeating
rifle, and as he was leaving the house
he encountered another brother, Louis,
at the kitchen door. Without a word
of warning BENJAMIN fired at Louis,
the bullet striking him in the side. The
victim fell unconscious and died in
half an hour without uttering word.
The murderer then walked down a
path and caught glimpse of Freder-
lex, who was looking cut of the attic
window. BenjaminS quickly raised his
rifle and fired. The bullet entered
Frederick'S cheek and penetrated the
N In f1n Iayxy
sill. His wife, who had gone to the
attic with him, attempted sto drag the
body into the room. She succeeded in
this but not before Benjamin had fired
several shots at her without effect.
The double .murderer's attention 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 turn
ed his rife upon her and fired twice,
but his aim was bAd., The young wom-
an escaped into the shouse.
Having realized What he had done,
and fearing arrest, Benjanine decided
to barricade himself in the barn. He
went into the house; secured a shot
gun, several reVolvers and ammunition
and then took up his position in the
barn. The women of the mouse noti-
fed neighbors who In turn summoned
EOliSC @2EEO1Il LIt1S Cily. GF~
cry attempt the authorities made to
approach the barn was met with shots
from Weissinger and reinforcements
were sent for Toward evening, after
a parley with the murderer, he per-
mitted David Vert land Samuel Low
ett, farm hands, to enter the barn and
feed the horses and cattle. Weissfnger
in the meantime kept the men covered
with his firearms.
When Sheriff Smith appeared on the
scene a ruse was planned to capture
the man. Another parley was held
with the murderer and he agreed to
let the two farm hands bring him his
supper. The men were instructed to
watch their opportunity, seize him by
the arms and shout, which would be
J the signal for the deputies to rush in.
This they did and a terrible struggle
took place. The murder is a 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 weapons. He was brought to
this city tonight, and will be given a
hearing after the funeral of his broth
ers.
Weissinger is believed to be insane.
His mind is said to have been failing
for some time. He had nothing to say
regarding the tragedy except that he
exclaimed:
Il am bewitched."