Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-23
NEARLY FATAL SHOT
JACOB LACY, A HUCKsTER, SHOT
FRANK MERRILL.
Trouble Began at a Dance and Ended
in Street Fracas-Lacy's
Statement.

Jacob Lacy, seventeen years old. engaged
In a row last night about 10 O'Clock with
Frank Merrill at Pennsylvania avenue and
9th street northwest. Lacy had a revolver
in his pocket, and drawing the weapon. he
fired at Merrill, the bullet fracturing his
skull. The shot was a glance one, how
ever, and Merrill will probably recover. He
Is under treatment at the Emergency Hos
pital. and the boy who did the shooting is
locked up at the first precinct station. The
trouble. it is alleged. resulted from jeal-
ousy on part Of Merrill, who Is employed
at the New Willard.
When the report of the pistol shot was
heard last night number of belated pedes-
TRANS hurried from all directions to the
scene of the trouble. and Policeman Lee
within short time placed Lacy under ar
rest. He had an automobile and Lacy went
With him pretending he would show him
the one who did the shooting but the po-
liceman soon learned that his pretended
assistant had used the weapon. He ac-
cordingly locked him up. Lacy subsequent
ly admitted that he had fired the shot. and
claimed that Merrill was in the act of at
! lacking him when he pulled the trigger.
The wounded mar had been taken to the
Emergency Hospital and given surgical
treatment. AT first it was thought he
would die, but later the surgeons found
that the wound was not so serious as was
first supposed. and gave out the statement
that he may recover.
Lacy's Version Of the Affair.
Lacy. who will be taken toe the Police
Court tomorrow. Is the son of horse deal
err who lives on New Jersey avenue. The
boy is huckster and lives at the home of
an uncle on Lewis street. He told a Star
reporter this morning that he attended a
dance at beer garden on the Bladensburg
road last night and that Merrill and a
companion were there. Merrill. he said,
spoke to young lady who was with him
Nacy) and asked where his picture was.
She denied that she had his picture. While
at the dance Lacy stated. he noticed that
Merrill paid considerable attention to the
girl mentioned. but he did not anticipate
trouble after the dance was over. A friend
named Edward Maxwell went to the dance
with him and they had an engagement to
meet two girls there. They had met them
at theater Monday night. he said, and
made an engagement to meet at the dance.
AT the conclusion of the dance. Lacy
stated, Maxwell, the two girls and himself
started back toward the city. He said he
purchased a revolver yesterday morning at
a store on D street and had left it at the
house of a friend, in order that he would
not have to take it to the dance. On his
way from the dance he stopped and got
the weapon. He said he got off a street
car at 9th and f streets for the purpose of
treating the girls and Maxwell to a mid
night lunch in a Chinese restaurant but
could not get what they wanted and had
started toward another Chinese restaurant
when Merrill and a companion appeared
upon the scene. At this meeting. he said,
Merrill slapped the girl who was with him
ULacy) and they were engaged in an ear
nest conversation when Policeman McDon-
aid appeared and advised them to be quiet
Trouble Renewed
When they separated, the prisoner stated
his party went south on 9th street and he
thought Merrill and his companion went
west on E street Merrill was on hand
however, when the corner of 9th street and
Pennsylvania avenue reached and the
trouble was renewed.
Lacy said he did not know Merrill. and
was sorry he had the trouble with him, but
he could not help 1t. as Merrill followed him
UP and was assaulting him when he fired
the shot. He denied that he had the weapon
with him when he was at the dance or thai
he bought 1t for use because he anticipated
trouble. Lacy will be arraigned before
Judge Mills tomorrow morning