, 1888-08-31
KILLED A CONVICT.
A Fatal Shooting at Fort Russell
Yesterday.
Guard Atkinson Shoots and Kills a
Fleeing Prisoner.
The Sh0Otist Exonerated by Mill
tary and Civil Authorities.

Private w. L. Atkinson, of the 18th
infantry, while in the performance of his
duties AS a member of the post guard,
shot and instantly killed Charles Hand
ley, a eolored military convict who at
tempted to escape from Fort Russell gar
rison about $50 o'clock yesterday morn
ing.
ATKINsoN's ACCOUNT.
A LEADER reporter was on the scene so
soon after the killing as possible, and
from the lips of the man who did the
shooting heard the story of the tragedy
related very clearly, but in sorrowful tones.
He spoke in substance as follows
Il had in charge two pris-
oners, including Handley, whom l
watched closely on account of the escape
of a friend of his the previous day. He
was driving a mule attached to a garbage
wagon, and acted all right until the party
reached a point heal the place where a
road leading to the creek passes through
a cut beneath the Cheyenne & Northern
railway. Here a halt was made, aud |
stood near an old building on one side of
the road, while Handley stopped across
the ~thoroughtare perhaps fifty feet away.
The prisoner was apparently fixing m
thing about the harness, when my atten-
ton was called in an opposite direction for
a moment. Looking toward Handley
once more, l saw him running toward the
creek for dear life. OF course | started
in pursuit at once, loading my rifle as l
ran. HandleY passed through the cut
under the railroad and l took the upper
route, calling him to halt. Observing
that he only increased his speed, | saw no
alternative but to fire, and the man fell.
As is now generally known, he was in
stantly killed. the ball entering to the
right of his left shoulder and making its
exit in the region of the heart. l re-
loaded my gun and continued toward the
now PROSTATE man, but soon learned that
there wa no use for a second shot. OF
course | regret the killing more than l
can tell, but feel that | only did my duty.
and am certain that Handley would have
made good his escape if | had refrained
from firing but a few seconds longer, as
the fleeing man was nearing the high
banks of the creek, and once in the
stream, would have been safe"
GOOD SHOT.
Several officers and all of the privates
say in a cold blooded fashion that Atkin-
sons shot was a splendid exhibition OF
craftsmanship. Handley was $50 yards
away, running rapidly and below his pur-
suer. They think the bullet would have
passed over his head in nine trials out of
ten. 1t may be remarked that Atkinson
is a pretty handy man with a rifle, having,
with Sergt. Deitz and Corp. Kratzer, rep
resented Fort Russell at the recent de-
partment rife competition at Belleview,
Neb.
RELIEVED FROM BLAME.
Alter apprising the Laramie county
authorities OF the occurrence Col. Ofiey
instituted ar official inquiry into the mat
ter with the result that Atkinson was held
blameless for the shooting.
THE INQUEST.
In compliance with Col. 0fiey's request
Coroner Chafin empaneled a jury to in
quire into the causes which led to the
death of deceased. The body was COM
posed of Maj. Talbot, who was chosen
foreman, W. A. Richards, w. f. Hos
ford. G. G. Charlton, F. W. Schwartze
and Jos. Dillman.
Mr.. Atkinson being called as a witness.
reiterated his story as given above.
Private VIM. Scharp was sitting near
the government stables when the shooting
occurred. He saw Handley running from
the guard; observed him passing under
the Cheyenne & Northern railway through
a cut in the road. Heard another soldier
shout to Handley, my God, man., you
had better stop or that man will shoot
YOU" Another man armed with a six
shooter called upon the prisoner to halt.
Handley paid no attention to the COM
mands to stop. Scharp then saw Akin
son approach on the run, calling, Halt,
prisoner" Handley continued his fight,
and Scharp thinks he was 300 yards from
the sentinel when the shot which ended
his career was fired. Had Atkinson hesi-
tated six seconds longer the prisoner
would have gained the shelter of the high
banks of Crow creek and escaped as did a
fellow convict the morning previous. Wit
ness believed that Atkinson was in duty
bound to fire upon Handley. Scharp ran
to the fallen man and turning him over