Ray W. Bohner‘s death occurred while he was on a hunting party. The cause of death was an accidental discharge of a gun. The article which appeared in the Lykens Standard, November 4, 1932, indicated that the “question remains as to whose gun fired the fatal shot.” No information was found in the available newspapers as to whether that question was ever answered.
GRATZ MAN IS FATALLY SHOT WHILE HUNTING
A gun shot, accidentally discharged while Ray W. Bohner, residing in the west end of Gratz borough was hunting Wednesday with a party of other men in the territory, caused his death at 3:15 o’clock, this morning at the Fountain Springs Hospital, Ashland.
The accident occurred when the gun was discharged either thru a fall or some other means and the shot entered Bohner’s back on the right side from an oblique angle going through the kidney and striking the spinal cord which paralyzed his limbs. He was carried by a fellow hunter, Augustus Strawhecker, for about one-half mile to their car, and then rushed to the office of Dr. W. E. Lebo, in Gratz, who at once ordered the man’s removal to the hospital because of the seriousness of the injury and the extremely weakened condition of Bohner thru loss of blood.
The doctor feels certain the shot must have been at a range of at least five feet from the body and the question remains as to whose gun fired the fatal shot. Statement of the accident was made by Bohner at the hospital, as his mind was clear of the incident until death. It is likely that there will be an inquest held in his death. Bohner, a married man, has a family of four children. He was the son of Harvey Bohner, now of Harrisburg. His wife was the former Margaret Hoffman, daughter of H. Wilson Hoffman. Besides these he is survived by a brother Harry Bohner of Harrisburg.
The body was returned to the Bohner home from the hospital by W. J. Miner, Millersburg undertaker, who prepared the remains for burial. Services will be held at the home Sunday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock and at the David’s Reformed Church at Killinger at 2:30 o’clock, the Rev. J. J. Fasnacht of Tower City, officiating, after which burial will be made in the cemetery adjoining the church.
The body may be viewed at the home Saturday evening after seven o’clock.
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Story from the Lykens Standard, November 4, 1932, via Newspapers.com.
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