NEWS: Eli WEIMER and Henry PRITTS, 1859, Milford Township, Somerset County, PA

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MURDER IN SOMERSET.--- On Sunday, the 30th of October, two men named 
respectively Henry Pritts, and Eli Weimer, living together in Milford township, 
Somerset county, left home for the purpose, as stated, of hunting hoop-poles.  
About noon Pritts returned alone, alleging the Weimer had strayed from him in 
the woods.  Several days elapsed, and Weimer not returning, search was made for 
him in the woods, but he could not be found.  On the following Sunday, a 
general search was made by the citizens, and about noon the dead body of Weimer 
was found in the woods some two or three miles from his residence, with a 
bullet hole through it.  A gun which he had taken with him on leaving home, was 
found on the body, adjusted in a manner to convey the idea that he had shot 
himself; but as a post mortem examination disclosed the fact that the ball had 
entered his back, the Coroner's jury decided that he had been shot by some one 
to them unknown.  Suspicion pointed Pritts, and he was accordingly arrested, as 
was also the wife of the deceased.  Upon examination, sufficient evidence was 
obtained to warrant the detention of Pritts as the murderer, and he is now in 
jail awaiting trial for the crime. Since the commitment of Pritts, the wife of 
Weimer has made a confession, in which she says the Pritts told her he had 
killed her husband.  His object seems to have been that he might marry the 
widow, as he has several times proposed to do, as well before as since the 
disappearance of Weimer.  The deceased was aged about 27 years, his wife, (a 
smart, good looking German woman,) is about the same age, while Pritts is 
between 55 and 60 years old.  They were all of rather low repute in the 
community.  The trial of Pritts will come off at the February term of the 
Somerset Court.  Hon. John R. Edie has been employed for the defense.

Tyrone Star, Dec. 3 1859 p2

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