Milford chronicle., 1903-11-06
MURDERED HIS
TWO BROTHERS
Fraricide Then Locked Himself in
Barn and Defed officers
SLAYER IS PROBABLY INSANE

Pottsville, Pa. Nov. 3. - Worked
into a frenzy as a result of an alterca-
tion with his brother Benjamin Frank
lin Weissinger, living on farm sew
eral miles from this city, shot and
killed his two brothers, attempted to
kilI his sister and a sister-in-law, and
held large posse Of policemen at
bay 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 q years, single. and Frederick.
aged 25, who leaves a widow The
fratricide is As years old.
Benjamin and Frederick had a quar-
rel over the cleaning of a horse. Fred
erick wanted to take a horse out with
out cleaning him, TO which benjamin
objected. During the alteration Ben
jamin fired four shots at Fred without
any of them taking effect Frederick
fed to the attic of the house and was
followed into the house by the en-
ragged brother. The latter secured
Winchester repeating rife, and as he
was leaving the house he encountered
his other brother, Louis. at the kitch-
en- 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 Mttering a word.
The murderer then walked down a.
path and caught a glimpse of Fred
eriek, 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 fen 6ead across the window
sill His wife. who had gone to the
attic with him, attempted to drag theI
body into the room. She succeeded
in this but nUd before Benjamin had
fired several shots at her without eff.
feet. The double murderer'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 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 realized what he had done
and fearing arrest Benjamin decided
to barricade himself in the barn. He
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 no.
titled neighbors who in turn summoned
police assistance from this city. Every |
attempt the authorities made to ap- |
proach the barn was met with several
shots from Weissinger, and reinforce.
ments were sent for. Towards even
ing. after a parley with the murderer, !
he permitted David Wertz and Sam.
uel 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 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 yell which would be the
signal for the deputies to rush in
This they did and a terrible struggle /
took place. The murderer is a very
powerful man. but the force of num-
bers 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, and will be given
a hearing after the funeral of his
brothers.
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
81 am bewitched."