Obit: Pilz, Robert "Bob" F. (1948 - 2007)

 
Contact: Stan

Surnames: Pilz, Magner, Teterman, Cirilli, Krouze, Hebert, Musson, Halminiak, Craig, Dietz, Kennedy, Rosenkranz, Locke, Leith, Pitlik, Kelk, Gaffron, Lalande

----Source: Marshfield News Herald, Marshfield, Wood Co., WI, Sun. 1 July 2007

Pilz, Robert F. (19 Dec. 1948 - 26 June 2007)

Pilz, Robert F., 58, Luck, Wisconsin, died 26 June.

*Pilz, Robert F; Married: 5 Apr. 1969; Spouse: Patricia J. Schaeffer

Bio: Pilz, Robert F. (1948 - 2007)

----Source: RHINELANDER, WIS., THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH 28, 1957

Addict Tells of Buying Drugs from Dr. Magner Here

An admitted drug addict. Robert F. Pilz, 35, of Spencer, Wis., testified today in Oneida County Court that on six separate occasions last October and November he paid $50 apiece for 30-cc vials of Demerol. a narcotic drug, when making purchases from Dr. John P. Magner. 39, a Rhinelander physician. The testimony of Pilz. brought here from Winnebago State Hospital where he is receiving treatment, highlighted the opening of the physician's trial on a charge of wrongfully selling and prescribing drugs. A jury of 12 men is hearing the trial in the upper branch of court, which has concurrent jurisdiction with Circuit Court in such cases.

Pilz said that he first mentioned the source of supply for drugs last Dec. 21, when he was committed to Winnebago. He said he told his probation and parole officer, Lloyd P. Teterman of Wausau, that he had purchased drugs last fall from a Rhinelander physician and described the location of the doctor's office and home.

Then, he said, after Dist. Atty. Albert J. Cirilli and Sheriff Donald M. Krouze questioned him at Winnebago last Jan. 7, he agreed to come back to Rhinelander and make a "buy" as evidence. He said on the six previous occasions he had paid Dr. Magner $50 for a 30-cc vial of Demerol, but that late in November Dr. Magner had raised the price to $100 and told him "this is very risky business for $50." Pilz said he did not have $100 at that time and made no "buy."

Was Given Exam.

Pilz said the first time., he went to Dr. Magner's office (Oct. 2) he was given a physical examination and testified the physician told him this was being done so that if any trouble came up the examination would be a matter of record. Pilz said he told the doctor he was a drug addict and declared he was not in any pain or in need of, medical treatment.

On Jan. 7, after being given $100 in marked money by Oneida county officials, Pilz said he again went to Dr. Magner's office and tried to buy Demerol. He said the physician told him then he did not have any but offered to provide him with a prescription. He said he paid the doctor $20 as "down payment" on the agreed-upon price of $75 for a 30-cc vial, and promised to pay the remainder after he obtained the drug. After getting the prescription filled, he testified he returned and paid the doctor $50 more, explaining he could not pay $55 because he did not have u $5 bill.

On the first visit to Dr. Magner's office Jan. 7, Pilz continued, the physician made a telephone call to the federal hospital for drug addicts at Lexington, Ky. Pilz declared the doctor told him he was making the call because he did not intend to be the "fall guy" if anything should happen.

Pilz said that Dr. Magner did not examine him any time after the first visit Oct. 2 and he declared he was not in any pain at any time he went to the physician's office here. He said each visit was preceded by u telephone call he would make to the doctor's office. Admit!> Record.

Under cross-examination by Defense Atty. Robert Hebert, Pilz admitted he had obtained drugs at many hospitals throughout the state by feigning illness and pain. He also admitted he had used fictitious names and false symptoms in obtaining shots of drugs from many doctors. However. Pilz testified on re-direct examination, no other doctor ever sold him drugs or gave him a prescription for drugs. Hebert pounded away at Pilz on his long record as a drug addict, dating back to 1949. and his criminal record dating back to 1935. A1 one point, during this interrogation Dist. Atty. Cirilli entered an objection and asked for a ruling after arguments were heard in the absence of the jurors. Judge George A. Richards ruled against Cirilli but said the cross-examination must concern Pilz' credibility as a witness and not go into matters tending to degrade him. Under the cross-examination, Pilz said he worked for insurance companies during the fall of 1956 and admitted he had only one policyholder in Rhinelander during that time. He said he paid between $700 and $800 for drugs from Sept. 10 to Dec. 10, the period he was "on the stuff" again after being released from Waupun state prison in August.

Pilz denied that he had been in Plainfield, Wis., posing as a doctor, but he agreed that he once had been under observation for insanity. He agreed also that he had been sent to the Lexington institution after being convicted of using the mails to defraud. Called 'Inventive Liar.' During his opening statement to the jury, Hebert had indicated the defense will be that Pilz story is entirely false and that the only time Dr. Magner saw him in 1956 was on Oct. 2, on which occasion the physician gave him a 2 cc shot for an ailment diagnosed as "kidney colic."

Hebert declared then that defense testimony will show Pilz is "a dope addict, an inventive liar and a habitual criminal." He declared Dr. Magner had been "duped" by Pi)/,' story of needing Demerol for a purported trip to Lexington on the Jan. 7 visit. The defense attorney said testimony will show Pilz forced money on Dr. Magner during the two Jan. 7 visits and that minutes after the second visit officers burst into the doctor's office and arrested him. Hebert said the only reason Dr. Magner prescribed the 30-cc vial of Demerol for Pilz on Jan. 7 was that the addict was showing signs of "withdrawal sickness" an d needed sufficient drugs to make the two-day trip to Lexington. Cirilli's opening statement briefed the testimony given by Pilz later and said county officers would verify the use of the marked money on the two Jan. 7 visits. The money was found in Dr. Magner's pockets later that evening, he added. Cirilli also said expert medical testimony will be offered to show the "accepted medical practice" for treatment of a drug addict who visits a physician's office. Members of the .jury are: Chet Musson, Joe Halminiak, Russell Craig, Otto Dietz, R. J. Kennedy, George Rosenkranz and Fred D. Locke, all of Rhinelander; Arthur Leith, Menico; Joe Pitlik Jr., Sugar Camp; Harry Kelk, Lake Tomahawk; William Gaftron, Three Lakes, and Earl Lalande, town of Pelican.

United States Public Records  1970 - 2009