The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-23
POWERFUL POISON KILLS YOUNG MAN James E. Russell Takes Tablets
 and Dies At Once FLMILY is GRIEF STRICKEN Young Man Had Killed Another Boy and Was Under Bond-Troubles
 Appear to Have Weighed
 On Him Heavily.

q am dying. You had better kiss me goodbye now" said James E. Russell to his mother as he entered his home yes terday morning at the corner of Twenty fourth street and Twenty-first avenue, North Birmingham, and throwing himself across his bed he expired in a few mo- ments, before medical aid could reach him. Before death came his physical oe ing was beginning to darken and turn black under the effects of some powerful poison, from all indications self-admin- istered.
 The young man died about Il 80 o'clock, having left his fathers office in Bir mingham and walked to his home in North Birmingham, probably taking the drug on his way home. An autopsy was made by Drs z. B. Chamblee. H. E. Mitchell and J. D. Atkins yesterday aft ernoon. All of the organs of the body appeared normal, all of, course, showing evidences of the poison.
 This poison to the physicians appeared to be acetanilid a coal tar product. It was probably taken in the form of head ache tablets, Russell evidently having taken a large number to cause his body to blacken so quickly. The stomach was removed and expressed to State Bacterol- ogst E. N Mason at Montgomery, where 1t will be analysed.
 Russell was the son of Attorney and Mrs J. M. Russell and was under a $l0,- GOO bond for the killing of Will Davis, enc Sunday afternoon several months ago at ball park just across Village creek from North Haven. This shooting result ed over craps game, the two men finally coming to words and then, according to witnesses, Russell pulled a revolver and shot Davis, the ball penetrating the brain and causing instant death.
 Russell disappeared immediately after the shooting, but gave himself up after a few days. He was immediately released under heavy bond and has been at lib- erty ever since awaiting trial.
 He appeared in excellent spirits Thurs day and yesterday. On, Thursday he wit messed the Volunteer Firemen's tourna ment afterwards going to Germania park and East Lake. He returned home Thurs day night, staying there all night, and going out to East Lake again yesterday morning. He returned from East Lake to Birmingham, going to his fathers office.
 He stayed at the office for several minutes talking to his father. The con- versation was evidently a serious one, as a visitor when he reached the doorway turned and went back, both father and son appearing to be very much affected. This man stated that they lees as if they were crying. g
 After leaving the offluv dent ly determined to end all of his trou- bles, and going to. a drug store he pur- chased the tablets and proceeded to take them on his way home, taking the long walk to North Birmingham in order that he might swallow all of them before reaching there.
 His sudden death completely unnerved his father, who is critically ill at his home. He is hardly able to talk, and ill fact is so low that his physicians will mot allow him to do so. All that could be gleaned from him regarding the tragedy was that he did not believe his son committed suicide.
 The funeral will be held this afternoon at 2 o'clock at the residence and inter ment will follow at East Lake cemetery.
 Young Russell was reared around Bir- mingham, being well acquainted all over the district He was but 22 years of age.