Crazy bloody Masons

A 76-YEAR-OLD man has been charged with manslaughter after accidentally shooting a man in the head during a bizarre William Tell-style induction ceremony at a Masonic lodge.
William James, 47, went to the Southside Masonic lodge in Patchogue, New York state, on Tuesday to be inducted into the Fellow Craft, the second degree in the multilevel Masonic system.
In what appears to be an unsanctioned ceremony designed to scare new members, Mr James was made to sit in a chair and a platform was placed on his head.
Cans were placed on the platform.
The 76-year-old, Albert Eid, was to fire a pistol loaded with blanks at the cans and another member would knock the cans off with a stick, making Mr James think real bullets were being used.
However, Mr Eid had two pistols with him, one loaded with 0.22 calibre blanks and a similarly sized 0.38 calibre pistol loaded with real bullets.
Standing about 4.5m away, Mr Eid pulled the wrong gun, took a loose aim, and shot Mr James in the head.
County detective Jack Fitzpatrick said Mr Eid was stunned and distraught. He said the ceremony was designed to create a state of anxiety for the inductees.
“We believe it was completely accidental,” he said, but was unsure why Mr Eid took a loaded gun to a Masons’ meeting.
Mr Eid pleaded innocent at an arraignment yesterday and was released on $3300 bail.
Carl Fitje, grand master of the New York State Freemasons, released a statement distancing the organisation from such behaviour.
“This was not a Masonic Lodge meeting and no formal and approved Masonic ceremonies were scheduled to take place this evening,” he said.
“Firearms play no role in Masonic lodge meetings or Masonic events of any kind.”
Mr Fitje extended deepest sympathies and condolences to “the family of the brother who lost his life so tragically” and vowed full co-operation with the police.
Police also found a guillotine, rat traps and a wooden board that Detective Fitzpatrick surmised was used in some type of walking the plank routine in the basement of the single-storey building.