In the winter of 1909, the life of a young lawman, Sergeant Mark A. Prynn, a White male of 29 years, was tragically cut short following an incident in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. On January 26th, he was in the process of apprehending a man named Charles Razinski, who was wanted for a stabbing in Mahanoy City. As Sergeant Prynn was securing the suspect in Gilberton, a fellow officer's horse was suddenly startled.
The unexpected movement of the horse caused the other officer's firearm to accidentally discharge. A single bullet struck Sergeant Prynn, inflicting a serious wound. He received immediate medical attention from a local doctor before being transported to a hospital in Ashland for further care. Despite initial hopes for his recovery, a severe infection developed in the wound, leading to a rapid decline in his condition.
Emergency surgery was performed in an attempt to save his life, but tragically, the efforts were unsuccessful. Sergeant Mark A. Prynn succumbed to his injuries on February 9, 1909. The official cause of his death was the result of the accidental shooting. The incident was not considered a criminal act, and therefore, there were no suspects or arrests in the traditional sense, as the shooting was deemed a terrible and unforeseen accident in the line of duty.
