Saturday, September 05, 2009

Man fires cannonball through neighbour's house

A Fayette County man is facing charges after state police say he fired a metal cannon in his own yard and damaged his neighbour's home.

William Maser, 54, of Georges Township faces charges of reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct and criminal mischief after State police say a Civil War-era steel cannon he was test-firing on his property misfired.

As a result, an 8-pound cannon ball went through an open window of his neighbour's house on Tent Church Road into her bathroom, hit her medicine cabinet and ended up on the floor of her bedroom closet. The 52-year-old neighbour was not hurt in the incident.

State Police said the woman was fortunate. Had the shell struck her, she could have been seriously injured or killed.

Trooper Brian Burden at the Uniontown State Police barracks said it was a case of the shell going off course. He added that several other cannon shells Maser had have now been confiscated by police as evidence.

Authorities described Maser as a retired engineer and a Civil War buff.

With news video.

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