William Tell story zapped // Use of crossbow challenged

GENEVA (UPI) A historian has offered another William Telloverture aimed at debunking Switzerland's legendary national hero.

Even if Tell did exist, Fritz Mathys contended, he never used acrossbow to fight 13th century occupiers of Austria - or to shoot anapple off his son's head.

Crossbows didn't come into use until 100 years afterward, so ifthere was a William Tell he must have done his heroics with a spear,a sword or even a slingshot, Mathys argued.

Mathys conceded that Tell could have used a more primitive bowand arrow.

But that didn't pacify traditionalists, who were quick torespond angrily.

"What does it matter if Tell had a …