Fatal Accident at a Shooting Gallery

When the proprietor of a shooting gallery was shot dead in 1904, no charges were brought against the man who pulled the trigger. 

On the evening of 12th March that year, Ernest Lacy attended a shooting saloon in Mill Street with two friends. The proprietor was 66-year-old Adolph Fleisher, who was originally from Leipzig in Germany and had moved to Liverpool in 1870. 

Lacy took two shots at a row of pipes, and as he was aiming for another, Adolph shouted, “Look out there.” Lacy fired at exactly the same time Adolph entered the line of fire. He fell instantly and was immediately attended to by his wife, Eliza. Lacy put the gun down and walked to the couple, but returned to his Menzies Street home after a few minutes, as Adolph was still alive. 

Adolph was taken to the Northern Hospital in Great Howard Street, where doctors were unable to extract a bullet that had lodged in his brain. He lingered in a semi-conscious state until 21st March when he passed away. Whilst Adolph was in hospital, police tried to trace Lacy without success.

On 24th March, Lacy read an account of Adolph’s death in a newspaper and he immediately handed himself in to the office of the Coroner, Mr T. E. Sampson. The inquest took place on the same day, and Lacy was able to state what had happened and also explain that he had been unaware of the seriousness of Adolph’s condition. Various other witnesses testified that Adolph stooped down as he walked in front of Lacy. This led to a verdict of death by misadventure.