SHOOTING GALLERY TRAGEDY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15730, 3 October 1914, Page 2 (Supplement)

SHOOTING GALLERY TRAGEDY

• A SOLDIER'S DEFENCE, COMMITTED FOR ■ TRIAL. \v fcharge of two prison warders, Donald Lesbini, aged 22, a tailor, belonging to the 3rd Battalion, Worcester Regiment, attended the inquest at St. Pancras recently, on Alice Eliza Storey, aged twenty-seven. She was an attendant at Fairyland Shooting Gallery, 92, Tottenham Court Road, and died from a revolver wound. Lesbini is under remand charged with causing her death- His address is given as Birchfield Road, Handsworth, Birmingham. Mrs. Lily Morley, wife of tlio proprietor of the gallery, said that Storey, who was attending the range, cleaning and loading the rifles and revolvers, which were on hire to the public, was called by another girl, Annie Nuttall, to attend to a young man who had come to the range. A few minutes later witness heard Storey cry out " Oh, don't, don't," after which there was the report of a revolver. Witness saw the man with a revolver pointing in her direction. She ran upstairs, but hearing someone exclaim "We've got him," sho went downstairs and saw Storey unconscious. Witness identified Lesbini as the man. Changed His Aim. Annie Nuttall said that Storey went up to Lesbini. touched him on the shoulder, and said : "Ikev want some shots?" The man said : " Don't you talk to me like that-" Storey replied : "It is the ray I talk to mv customers," and Lesbini retorted : "'Don't Ift it occur again." Storey loaded a. sis-chambered revolver and handed it to him. He first held it towards the target, and then changed his aim, pointing it at Storey, saying : " Now I have got you." There was a shot, followed by a terrible scream from Storey._ Witness added that Storey and Lesbini were, not acquainted with each other, as far as she knew. Detective-Sergeant William Bradley said that Lesbini, when charged, said : " They were worrying me- They are always doing it when I go there. I warned her what I would do if she did not leave me alone. Sho kept on and I shot tier. They call me a Jew. but I am not." Lesbini. having been warned by the coroner, elected to be sworn. He said he asked for a revolver to fire six shots. Storey started making fun of him on account of bis name and nationality, a thing ■which he had cautioned her about two or three time before and which put him each time in a state of great provocation. She loaded the revolver and laid it down for him to uso, while still tantalising him. ■He look the revolver, placed it at full cock for firing, and took aim at the target. Verdict of Murder. "I was then in a state of great provocation," added, Lesbini, "and I turned round to her and said: ' Look here, I Lave had enough of this.' I was going to say: ' I shall see the manager,' • but before I could say those words she ran away screaming. I "followed her up ,to finish what I was going to say. and in my baste, not knowing exactly what I was doing, the- revolver,' which was at full cock and only-needed the least touch to explode the charge, went off, ; and with no intention whatever on 'my part; ' '• - • "That is how tie thing occurred. I can only say that I am extremely sorry that such a thing has 'occurred by my'hand; but I had no -intention of doing it what-' ever, That is all I have-to say."' , The jury found that Storey died from i bullet wound inflicted by Lesbini. iv 'The-.coroner said this was a verdict of wilful murder against Lesbini, and he was committed: for.• trial, v '■■ * 5 F'"-'' i