Murdered Over Hunting Rights, Turbotville 1917

 

On December 8th 1917 46 year old Ward Plotts of Turbotville died in the Danville hospital of a fractured skull, inflicted by John Reynolds, a Turbotville farmer who believed Plotts was intending to hunt on his land.  

Ward Plots, born June 20 1870, was the son of George and Mercy [Hoffman] Plotts. He Married Maude Stella Ritter, and had 4 children, at the time of his death. He's buried in Turbotville Pa.

On Friday December 7th, Ward Plotts and his 18 year old son Roy set out to hunt rabbits, each carrying a shot gun. The Plots farm and the Reynolds farm were roughly half a mile apart. As the Plotts headed down the public road, they met John Reynolds, who was carrying a pitchfork on his shoulder, on his way to a neighboring farm to assist with hauling in corn fodder. Reynolds, who owned a dairy farm, was following behind a milk wagon driven by his wife.

According to Roy Potts, Reynolds accused the men of hunting on his land. The two men engaged in a verbal quarrel, and Reynolds, according to Roy, "used language and made accusations" that they could not stand for. Ward Potts, smarting by Reynolds accusations, decided to invoke the law. Turning around, the father and son proceeded back to their own farm to hitch up the horse and wagon and drive to the office of the Justice of the Peace for the purpose of taking legal action. IN a short time, the father and son overtook Reynolds, who was still following the milk truck driven by his wife, with a pitchfork on his shoulder.

Plotts informed Reynolds that he intended to take legal action against him for the words he had used, and the accusations he had made. Roy said that his father was carrying his gun in his left hand, swinging it at his side. Reynolds, without warning, raised the pitchfork and struck Potts on the head. Potts dropped to his knees, and while in that position, Reynolds struck him over the head a second time. Reynolds then jumped into the milk wagon with his wife and rode away.

All of this occurred near the barn at the Plotts farm. Roy called for his mother, and along with his sister, the three of them carried Ward Plotts inside and sent for Dr Muffly. Muffly later took Plotts to Geisinger in Danville.

The high constable locate John Reynolds without difficulty, and took him into custody at the county jail. On reaching Danville, Reynolds expressed a desired to visit Ward at the hospital. The constable complied with the request, and escorted him there.

Dr Gemmil, who cared for Plotts at Geisinger, testified that Reynolds admitted striking Plotts twice, when the man had pulled a gun on him.

Roy Plotts, the son, adamantly denied that his father had pulled the gun, or made any threats. He stated that his father had reminded Reynolds that he would not quarrel with him. He explained that the two families had been strained for some time, but that the trouble had never before assumed a serious nature.

Reynolds was taken to jail, to be tried after the funeral. After the funeral, testimony was waived, and Reynolds remained in jail until court convened again the second week of January 1918.

On January 14th 1918, Reynolds changed his plea to guilty of voluntary manslaughter. His attorney made an effective plea for clemency, and he was sentenced to not less than 8, nor more than 10, years in the Eastern State Penitentiary.

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https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/07/turbotville-pennsylvania.html

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Our Genealogical Connection: Maude Ritter was the daughter of John W. & Sarah Ella [Shetler] Ritter.  John's sister [Maude's Aunt] Mary Jane Ritter, who married Jacob Snyder, was Daniel Truckenmiller's great great grandmother. https://heathersgen.blogspot.com/2012/02/zebedee-ritter-1826-1913.html