In April 1940, 20-year-old handyman, Robert Michaels, at a coal shaker office near Tower City, decided to show off his “quick draw skills” with his .38 calibre revolver to a group of four young boys. He didn’t realize the gun was loaded. The result: the gun fired and mortally wounded a 14-year old boy, Joseph Boras. Michaels was arrested, but murder charges were not brought against him by the Grand Jury, primarily because an coroner’s inquest had determined the death was accidental. It was learned though that Michaels, who had the gun for three years, did not have a permit to carry. His guilty plea on the permit charge resulted in a year of probation.
______________________________________________
From the Pottsville Republican, April 22, 1940:
PORTER TOWNSHIP BOY KILLED BY GUN
Companions Were Handling Revolver When It Accidentally Discharged
Joseph Boras, 14 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Boras of Sheridan, near Tower City, who was a Freshman at the Porter Township High School, died in an ambulance enroute to Pottsville Hospital at 10 o’clock Sunday evening of a gunshot wound of the chest, accidentally inflicted by a companion, Robert Michaels, also of Sheridan, while the youths were ‘fooling’ with the gun in the office of a coal shaker.
Motor Police of the Pine Grove sub station are holding Michaels, aged 20, for questioning and Monday conferred with the district’s office for instructions on further procedure in the case.
Boras, in a statement to Dr. R. H. Stutzman who accompanied the boy to the hospital in the Dreisigacher ambulance told him the shooting was accidental and three other youths all minors corroborated Boras’ statement.
According to Trooper James Hagerty of the Pine Grove sub station who was called on the case by Chief of Police Leroy Kopp of Tower City the five boys congregated in the office of the coal shaker operated by Roy Thompson of Sheridan on Sunday evening.
The group included the dead boy [Boras]; Michaels; Robert Thompson, 18, son of the owner; David Schaffer, 13; and Harold Lenker, 14, all of Sheridan.
Talk ranged from one subject to another, when firearms were discussed and Michaels’ produced a .38 calibre revolver from his pocket.
Later questioning by the police evinced the fact that he has carried the gun for the past three years without a permit and that he used it to ‘shoot crows’.
The talk swing to the antics of comic paper characters and Michaels and Boras according to the other boys started to fool withy the gun, which was discharged while in Michael’s hands.
Boras slumped to the floor of the office with the cry ‘I’m shot’ and the other youths called Dr. Stutzman to come immediately. The doctor gave first aid and accompanied the youth to the hospital, where he died just as the ambulance pulled into the driveway.
An autopsy showed that the bullet had entered the body on the right side below the 7th rib, plowed through several vital organs, passed under the heart and was lodged just under the skin on the left side of the back.
The post mortem was performed by Dr. Stutzman in the morgue of Funeral Director Dreisigacher.
Ironically enough the bullet which ended young Boras’ life was the only one in the revolver.
Assisting the Motor Police in questioning Michaels and the other three youths are Louis Buono, and Attorney Howard Stutzman from the office of the District Attorney.
The body of the dead youth was released to Funeral Director Dreisigacher of Tower City.
The youth is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Boras and these sisters and brothers: Helen Boras; Margaret Boras; Mrs. Mary Lehman; Mrs. Elizabeth Hugler; Patsy Boras; and Andrew Boras.
The father is an independent miner.
Michaels is the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Michaels, of Sheridan, and is employed as a laborer at the Thompson coal shaker.
________________________________________
From the Pottsville Republican & Herald, April 22, 1940
TOWER CITY BOY FATALLY WOUNDED BY COMPANION
Joseph Boras, 14, of Tower City, was fatally wounded by Robert Michaels, 20, also of Tower City, while the latter was showing a group of boys how to make a ‘quick draw; of a revolver at the Thompson coal shaker, outside of Tower City.
Boras, a Porter Township High School freshman, died enroute to the Pottsville Hospital. The bullet lodged in his liver.
Michaels, who is employed at the coal shaker as a handyman, had just returned from the woods after shooting at hawks. Four boys including Boras, gathered around him and he proceeded to show them how to be “fast on the trigger.” The gun discharged, felling Boras.
Boras is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Boras and several brothers [sic].
Michaels was not held.
_________________________________________
From the Lykens Standard, April 26, 1940:
FILE MURDER CHARGE AGAINST SHERIDAN YOUTH
Joseph Boras, 14 year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Boras, of Sheridan, near Tower City, who was a freshman at the Porter Township High School, died in an ambulance enroute to Pottsville Hospital at 10 o’clock Sunday evening of a gunshot wound of the chest accidentally inflicted by a companion, Robert Michaels, 20, of Sheridan, while the youths were ‘fooling’ with the gun in the office of a coal shaker.
Boras, in a statement to Dr. R. H. Stutzman, who accompanied the boy to the hospital in the Dreisigacker ambulance told him the shooting was accidental and three other youths, all minors, corroborated Boras statement.
Michaels was formally charged with murder by Chief of County Detectives Louis Buono at a hearing before Justice of the Peace Leroy Kauffman at Tower City, Monday afternoon.
Michaels pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Schuylkill County Prison. The charge of murder may be reduced, following an inquest which will be held this evening at 7 P. M. in the Moose Building, Tower City, by Deputy Coroner John Trout.
The charge was filed as murder on the basis of Michael’s violation of the firearms act, of wantonly pointing and discharging a firearm.
According to Trooper James Hagerty of the Pine Grove sub-station who was called on the case by Chief of Police Leroy Kopp, of Tower City, the five boys congregated in the office of the coal shaker operated by Roy Thompson of Sheridan, Sunday evening.
The group included the dead boy, Michaels; Robert Thompson, 18, son of the owner; David Schaffer, 13; and Harold Lenker, 14, all of Sheridan.
Talk ranged from one subject to another, when firearms were discussed and Michaels produced a .38 calibre revolver from his pocket.
Later questioning by the police evinced the fact that he has carried the gun for the past three years without a permit and that he used it to ‘shoot crows.’.
The talk swung to the antics of comic paper characters and Michaels and Boras, according to the other boys, started to fool with the gun, which was discharged while in Michaels’ hands.
Boras slumped to the floor of the cry of ‘I’m shot’ and the tother youths called Dr. Stutzman to come immediately. The doctor gave first aid and accompanied the youth to the hospital, where he died just as the ambulance pulled into the driveway.
A autopsy showed that the bullet had entered the body on the right side below the 7th rib, plowed through several vital organs, passed under the heart and was lodged just under the skin on the left side of the back.
The post mortem was performed by Dr. Stutzman in the morgue of Funeral Director Dreisigacker.
Ironically enough the bullet which ended young Boras’ life was the only one in the revolver.
The body of the dead youth was released to Funeral Director Dreisigacker, Tower City.
The youth is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Boras and these sisters and brothers: Helen Boras, Margaret Boras, Mrs. Mary [Boras] Lehman, Mrs. Elizabeth [Boras] Hugler, Patsy Boras, and Andrew Boras.
The funeral of the Boras boy was held Thursday morning at 9 o’clock from the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Boras. A High Mass in the Catholic Church, Tower City, and interment was made in the Russian Cemetery, at Lykens.
Michaels is the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Michaels, of Sheridan, and is employed as a laborer at the Thompson coal shaker.
___________________________________________
From the Pottsville Republican, April 23, 1940:
HOLD YOUTH ON MURDER CHARGE
Robert Michaels of Sheridan Charged with Death of Companion
Robert Michaels, 20, of Sheridan, was formally charged with murder by Chief of County Detectives Louis Buono at a hearing before Justice of the Peace Leroy Kauffman at Tower City, Monday afternoon.
Michaels is charged with the death of 14-year-old Joseph Boras, of Sheridan, who with three other boys were fooling with a .38 calibre revolver owned by Michaels when it was accidentally discharged Sunday evening.
Boras, with a bullet wound in the abdomen, died enroute to the Pottsville Hospital.
Statements were taken from Michaels and the other three youths by Buono, Brice Clayton and Troopers Harleman and Haggerty of the Pine Grove Motor Police substation.
All statements corresponded, as did that of the dying boy, who told Dr. Stutzman, of Tower City, summoned to treat him, that it was an accident.
Michaels pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Schuylkill County Prison to await court setting his bail on Wednesday.
The charge of murder may be reduced, following an inquest which will be held later this week by Deputy Coroner John Trout, Tower City.
The charge was filed as murder on the basis of Michael’s violation of the firearms act, of wantonly pointing and discharging a firearm.
The funeral of the Boras boy will be held Thursday morning at 9 o’clock from the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Boras. A High Mass of Requiem will be celebrated in the Catholic Church, Tower City, and interment will be made in the Russian cemetery, at Lykens.
Dreisigacher, of Tower City, is the funeral director.
___________________________________________
From the West Schuylkill Herald, April 26, 1940:
WILL HOLD INQUEST
Deputy Coroner John G. Trout, of Tower City, has announced that an inquest on the death of Boras will be held on Friday evening at 7 o’clock at the Moose Home, Tower City.
___________________________________________
From the West Schuylkill Herald, May 3, 1940:
CORONER’S JURY FINDS FATAL SHOOTING ACCIDENT
A coroner’s jury on Friday night found that Joseph Boras, 14-year old Porter Township high school freshman, came to his death as the result of a bullet discharged from a gun in the hands of Robert Michaels, and that the shooting was accidental.
The inquest was held by Deputy Coroner John G. Trout in the Moose home. He was assisted by Deputy District Attorney H. G. Stutzman.
Members of the jury were Robert Maher, David Schwenk, Albert Achenbach, Albert Schnell, Ray Schreiner and Joseph Evans.
As the result of the coroner’s verdict, bail of $2,500 was fixed, and Michaels was released early this week.
_______________________________________________
From the West Schuylkill Herald, June 7, 1940:
ROBERT MICHAELS FREED IN FATAL SHOOTING
The Grand Jury of Schuylkill County on Tuesday ignored the bill charging murder against Robert Michaels, of Sheridan. The charge was preferred against the youth following the fatal shooting of Joseph Boras as the pair in a group of boys were playing with a loaded revolver owned by Michaels. A coroner’s jury soon after the shooting found a verdict of accidental death, attaching no blame to Michaels.
Michaels, however, will not go entirely free. A companion charge of violating the Witkins Firearms Act without first having obtained a permit from the sheriff of the county, was returned on a true bill, on which he will be called to trial. Michaels is said to have carried the .38 calibre revolver used in the shooting for three years when on hikes and hunting trips over the mountains.
_________________________________________________
From the West Schuylkill Herald, June 14, 1940:
YEAR ON PAROLE – CARRIED PISTOL
Twenty year old Robert Michaels of Sheridan who was freed of a murder charge by the June term grand jury last week, pleaded guilty before Judge Palmer to violating the Wilkin Firearms Act by carrying a revolver without first having obtained a license from Sheriff Fred C. Holman, was placed on parole for one year and ordered to pay the costs when L. D. Buono, chief of county detectives and prosecutor of the defendant informed the court that the shooting was accidental beyond any doubt.
Michaels owned the revolver for three years and used it to shoot snakes, cows, etc. On April 21, 1940, Michaels with other youths were together in the office of a coal shaker at Sheridan when the former pulled the weapon from his pocket in carrying out a demonstration of how fast he could draw it when the same was discharged with result that the bullet struck Joseph Boras, 15, and so seriously injured him that he died just as the ambulance was driven into the Pottsville driveway. Michaels claimed that he thought the revolver was unloaded. The fatal bullet was the only one in the weapon.
________________________________________
Articles from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.