Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-11-03
KILLED HIS BROTHERS.

Worked into q frenzy as result OF an
alteration with one of his brothers,
Benjamin Franklin Weissinger, liging
on farm several miles from Pottsville,
Pa, yesterday afternoon shot and killed
his two brothers, attempted 10 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-seven
years, single, and Frederick, aged twen-
ty-fve, who leaves widow. The
fratricide is forty-fvc years Old
Benjamin and Frederick had quarrel
early in the afternoon about the clean
ing Of horse During the alteration
Benjamin f,ed 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 a Winchester repeating rifle,
and as he was leaving the house he en-
countered another brother, Louis, at
the kitchen door. Without a word Of
warning, Benjamin fred at Louis, the
bullet striking him in the side. The
victim fell unconscious, and died III
half an hour without ultering word.
The murderer thea walked down path
and caught glimpse of Frederick, who
was looking out Of the attic window.
Benjamin quickly raised his rifle and
fired. The bullet entered Frederick's
cheek and penetrated the brain. He leil
dead across the window SILL His wife,
who had gone to the attic with him, at
tempted to drag the body into the room.
she succeeded in this, but not before
Beniamm had fred several shots at her
without effect. The muTderer's attention
was then attracted to his sister Mary,
who had come out of the house to per-
suade him from doing any more shoot
ing. She persuaded so strongly that he
turned the rife upon her and fired twice,
but his aim was bad. The young woman
escaped into the house.
Having realized what he had done aud
fearing arrest, Benjamin decided to bar
ricade himself in the barn. He went
into the house, secured a shotgun, sew
eral revolvers and ammunition, and then
took up his position in the barn. The
women of the house notified neighbOrs,
who, in turn, summoned police assist
ance. Every attempt the authorities made
to approach the barn was met with
several shots from Weissinger, and re-en-
forcememe1ts were sent for. Toward
evening, after a parley with the murder
er, he permitted David Wertz and
Samuel Lovett, farm hands, to enter the
barn and feed fhe horses and cattle.
Weissinger in the meantime kept the
men covered with his firearms.
When Sheriff Smith appeared on Che
scene a ruse was planned to capture the
man Another parley was held with tie
murderer and he agreed to let the two
farm hands bring him, his supper. The
men we're instructed to watch their op-
portunity, seize him by the arms and
shout, which would be the signal for the
deputies to rush in. This they did and
atsrrible struggle took place. The MUIR
derer 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. Wessinger is
believed to be insane. His mind is said
to have been failing for some time. lie
had nothing to say regarding the tragedy
except that he exclaimed; 81 am be-
witched."