Bizarre Ballistics Tale Unfolds in Fostoria 1893
Officers life saved by point-blank gunfire?
From R/t May 3, 2004
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One of the most bizarre and unusual tales in the annals of ballistics came up when Fostoria police officer John Gorrill had his own strange encounter, long before that phase became popular.
In April of 1893, Officers Gorrill and Marshal-elect George Church were summoned to a local meat market, as a suspicious man had been in the store earlier inquiring about the price paid for chickens and turkeys, and acting strangely enough it was decided by the storekeeper that something was up.
The Review of April 13, 1893 takes up the story:
"As the Marshal-elect had already made a record and secured his share of notoriety in the chicken thief line the fellow was turned over to Officer Gorrill, who started to the station house with him. He begged the officer to allow him to go his way and strongly proclaimed his innocence amid a stream of tears, but without success, at least as far as departing with the consent of the guardian of the peace.
"The station house was reached with the fellow still in tears and Gorill had his keys out and ready to unlock the door, when in an unguarded moment the thief struck the officer a powerful blow on the face and started up ;the alley on the run. The officer regained his equilibrium in a moment and started in pursuit. He fired three downward shots, hoping to frighten the thief into stopping, but he knew his fate should he be apprehended and each shot fired only made him run still faster.
"They crossed Center street with the officer gaining and in the rear of Wm. Scheerer's residence he caught up with him, and it is here where the officer had the most exciting experience of his life. After the third shot was fired by Gorrill his revolver failed to work, but at this time he did not know the thief had a revolver in his possession.
"After he got his hands on him a formidable hand to hand combat took place, during which the culprit pulled a revolver from his pocket, pressed it close to the breast of the officer and fired, at the same time giving a quick jerk, freeing himself from the grasp of the officer and was away, leaving behind half his vest and his hat.
"The close proximity of the revolver to the breast of Mr. Gorrill no doubt saved his life, for the bullet had not gained sufficient velocity to do an injury. Had it been a little further away, the officer, who is one of the most modest, as well as one of the nerviest men on the force, would not be alive to recount his experience. As it is, a place about as large as a half dollar is burned and bruised on his left breast, and his coat, vest and shirt will need patching."
The story goes on to describe the arrival of Officer Church and a subsequent and unsuccessful search for the thief. Gorrill went on to the office of a Dr. Williams, and the Review again picks up the story:
"......after an examination it was found that he was not injured. He then went to the station house, secured a firearm that was in working order and started with the rest of the force on a search for the thief. The entire town was scoured but no trace of him was found, excepting that after he left Scheerer's yard he crossed Tiffin street and ran south through one of the alleys.
"At the meat market the fellow gave his name as Roberts, and said that he resided four miles east of town. This is probably true, for upon examining the turkeys offered for sale, they were identified by Mr. Flechtner as being his own, and on sending word out to his place, two turkeys were found to be missing."
Was the round a blank" Not according to the Review;
"This morning Dr. Williams found the bullet on the floor of his office and by its size showed that the revolver used by the thief was a thirty-eight caliber.
There was not story of the thief being found. However, anyone familiar with ballistics is aware that a bullet is already traveling at sufficient speed to kill by the time it leaves the muzzle. How Gorrill could have escaped with no more than a bruise was a mystery then, and a mystery today.

EDITORS NOTE; To give a better location due to the many changes in the city; The Scheerer residence was 145 W. Center St., so the fight would have been near the cross alley at the rear of the Hope Lutheran Church, between the Luther Center and Church.