A Philadelphia courtroom was waiting for the judge to take the bench when a revolver suddenly fired inside City Hall.
Court reporter Leon Alexander had picked up the weapon from a court crier’s desk, believing it was unloaded. The gun had recently been entered into evidence, but at least one live round remained in the chamber. When it discharged, the bullet tore through Alexander’s right arm.
The blast startled everyone in the room, yet few immediately understood what had happened. Alexander remained so composed after shooting himself that the seriousness of the accident was not apparent at first.
Courtroom Startled as Loaded Gun Goes Off
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania. — Examining a revolver which he thought was unloaded in a courtroom at City Hall, Leon Alexander, court reporter, accidentally discharged the weapon and shot himself through the right arm.
The accident occurred while the court was awaiting the judge to take his seat on the bench. The revolver was one which had been recently admitted as evidence, and had been left lying on the desk of a court crier.
Although several persons in the courtroom were startled, few realized what ad happened because of Alexander’s composure.
Source: The Washington Times. Washington, D.C. November 3, 1924.
