Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1919-07-10
Two Held For Murder.
Victims Wife And NeighbOr
Arrested In Pittinger Case.

Victims Wife And NeighbOI
Arrested In Pittinger Case
AS climax to the mysterious death OF
William Pittinger, 45 years old, who was
found dead in bed at his home in Johns
vile, this county, on Tuesday, July LIST,
with a bullet hole in his abdomen, his
wife Mrs. Bertha Pittinger, ~ years old
and Arthur Wilson neighbor, A years
old were arrested Friday July 4th, on
warrants charging murder and were
lodged in Jail for hearing. Mrs. Pit
finger was arrested at the Wilson home,
where she has been since the death OF
her husband. Wilson was taken at the
home of Daniel Boone neighbor. Both
denied the murder and have little to say
The arrest created sensation in the
northeastern section of the county and
| is the result of careful Investigation of
several days by States Attorney Aaron
K. Anders, Sheriff Charles H. Klipp,
DR.. j ohm Messler, who conducted post
norton examination of the body and
several deputy sheriffs. The officials
believe they have unearthed a murder
ingeniously carried out and which at first
had every appearance of suicide.
Pittinger's wife said she found him
dead in bed with bullet hole in his alb
domen. Within arms reach of the bed
was a 22-calibre rifle with an empty shell.
His wife notified the States Attorney
that her husband had committed suicide
after auarreling with her. She stated
he had threatened to kill her on several
occasions and fearing that he would carry
out his threat she left home Monday
morning and went to the house of Mr..
and Mrs. Arthur Wilson. Later, Pittin-
ger, she said, appeared at the Wilson
home and resumed his quarrel. Members
of the Wilson family took Mrs. Pittin-
gers part and threatened to have her
husband arrested unless he went away.
Pittinger, according to his wife's story
left the house in a rage. declaring that
he intended to kill himself.
States Attorney Anders and Deputy
Sheriff William o. Wertenbaker visited
the Pittinger home Tuesday and found
the door of the house locked and the
windows nailed down. They broke open
the door finding the lifeless body of Pit
finger in bed. The covers were drawn
up about the dead mans shoulders and
his hands stretched alongside his body.
The absence of powder burns about the
body or bed clothing to indicate he was
shot at close range and statements of
Mrs. Pittinger and Mrs. Wilson created
suspicion, and coroner's jury was en-
panelled, with John F. Smith, foreman.
DIR. Messler, who examined the body,
testified that in his opinion the wound
was not self-inficted. After hearing
statements from Mrs. Pittinger and Mr..
and Mrs. Wilson the jury rendered YER
dict to the effect that Pittinger died from
rifle shot fired by an unknown person.
The body was buried in the cemetery
at Woodsboro Wednesday without fun
eral service. Mrs Pittenger, who did
not attend the funeral, stated that she
was ill and could not leave the Wilson
home. Other suspicious circumstances
developed the following day, and on Fri
day morning, July 4th, the body was ex-
humed. and in the presence of the States
Attorney and Sheriff, second post-mor-
TEN examination was made at the grave
by DR.. Messler. 1t was found that the
base of the dead mans skull, near the
right ear, was crushed, presumably with
heavy instrument, and according to the
physician, the bullet was fired into the
body after death. 1t entered the abdo-
men, took an upward course through the
heart and was found imbedded in the
right lung. This discovery convinced the
States Attorney and Sheriff that Pitten-
ger had been foully dealt with, and war
rents were at once issued for his wife
and Wilson. The authorities hold to the
theory that when Pittenger came to the
Wilson home he resumed the quarrel,
Wilson dealt him blow with club that
fractured his skull and killed him instant
ly. Inc DOuy, IL 10 SuIuliSco, was IhSh
carried home placed in bed and the shot
fired into the abdomen. After arranging
the bed clothing ard placing the empty
rifle within reach, the doors of the house
were locked and the windows nailed
down. Later, Mrs. Pittenger gave out
the statement of suicide. Clothing of
the dead man found in the barn is sup
posed to have placed there after he had
been killed.
Mrs. Pittenger vehemently denies the
murder charge and holds to the story that
her husband killed himself after their
quarrel. Wilson declares that he knew
nothing of the death of Pittenger until
informed by his wife and Mrs. Pittenger.
He submitted to arrest without protest,
and beyond stoutly dedying the charge,
had little tor say to the officers. They
were placed on separate floors at the Jail
ard will not be permitted to communi-
cate with each other. .Pittenger came to
townsville some years ago from York,
Pa, where, it is said, his mother resides.
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Hot Wave Broken.