New-York tribune., 1910-09-07
WILD SHOT KILLS WOMAN
Boarder Chosen to Use Revolver
on Burglars Fires at Alarm.
HUSBAND AND GIRL ESCAPE
Trap Set for Thieves Results IN
Fatal Mistake-Young Man
Exonerated by Coroner.

a burglar scare in the APARTMENT house
at No. $50 East 11sth street early yesterday
morning resulted in the shooting Of Mrs
Louise Gels whom Kurt Weis1og, one Of
her boarders, mistook for burglar as she
ran out of her apartment on the third floor
into the dark hall. A bullet from Weisfoes $
revolver nierced the voman's heart and
killed her instantly Another shot tore
through the shirt sleeve of Paul Gels, her
husband, and a third bullet barely missed
Louise. the Geis-es' ffteen-year-old daugh-
ter who ran out after her mother. The girl
stumbled over her mothers body. which
probably saved her life. as the shot srazed
her hack as she fell to the floor,
Weisflog. when arrested. readily admitted
that he had fired the shots, but declared
that the killing of Mrs. Gels was an acci-
dent, the shots being intended for burg
lar. He was overcome with remorse when
he realized what he had done. Augustus
Simon, a nephew of Mrs. Gels, who lived
across the hall. and William Hubert, a
friend Of the family. both supported Weis-
f1ogs story of the burglar and accidental
shooting when the latter was arraigned
before Coroner Winterbottom. The Coroner
discharged Weisfog on the charge of honi-
eide which had been made against MIN and
The shooting grew out of the visit of
burglars to the apartment house Sunday
night. Simon heard some one trying to
omen his door on that night and when he
made some movement in the room the in
truder fed. he said He confided his expert
ence to Gels, and also to Weisfog, another
roomer On Monday the three men called
on Hubert, who lived at No SIS East 8lst
street, and let him in the secret. The
four of them. confident that the intruder
would return determined to lay a trap for
his capture.
Weisfog was the only one of the quar-
tet who admitted to the ownership of a
revolver, and he was selected to do the
shooting if any became necessary. They
went to the apartment of the Simons
Monday night to begin their watch. The
men grew weary of watching as the night
wore on. and finally retired. Hubert going
with Gels to the latter's apartment. Weis-
fog went to his room al the end of the
hall.
About o'clock yesterday morning Mrs
Gels was awakened by what she thought
to be man on the fire escape. Peerlng
out through the blinds she saw a second
man prying at the kitchen window, ac-
cording to the story told to the police.
daughter. and they all started to run from
the apartment into the hall TO give the
alarm Her screams also aWOke WeiSf1og,
and he took a position behind his door
with revolver in hand, ready to shoot.
The hall was dark, and in his excitement
he blaZed away at Gels. Gels said he
yelled that it was a mistake as a bullet
grazed his arm, but the roomer evidently
didn't hear him, for he kept firing until
his revolver was emptted. The second shot
struck and killed Mrs. Gels. When Wes-
fog came out from behind his barricade
and surveyed the result of his marksman-
ship he collapsed.
The shooting awoke the tenants on the
floors below, and they all began to pour
in terrified mass into the street. Patrol
man Stack, of the East 126th street station,
hurried 10 the house and found Gels and
his daughter bending over the lifeiess form
of Mrs Gels. and other frightened tenants
standing about the dimly lighted hall. All
the persons concerned were taken to the
police station. where the three men corrob-
GRATED Weisflog's story in every particular
An investigation of the Gels and Simon
apartments by the police tended to confirm
the story No traces of the burglars were
found, and it is supposed they scurried
down the fire escape and got away during
the excitement
Weisf1og had no excuse to offer for the
shooting. but said that he was firmly i'm
bued with the idea at the time that the
persons in the hall We're the burglars they
had