The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-12
ARCHIE HEAG|N Is SHOT BY YOUNG GIRL DepIorable Tragedy Is Enacted
 In Pratt City TWO WOMEN ARE IN JAIL  Miss Maude Kelley Shot Man Twice When He Was Advancing Upon
 Her Friend With Open
 Knife.
TWO WOMEN ARE IN JAIL

In shooting, sensational and pathetic in it very phase, Archie Heagin, aged l9 years, young man who comes from prominent and well known family, was shot and mortally wounded last night at Pratt City by Miss Maude Kelley, a 16- year-old girl. Young Hesgin, at a late hour last night, was not expected to live untii daybreak.
 Jealousy, it is said, brought on the shooting
 The shooting occurred in the room oc- eupied by Mrs. John Cherry. a 17-year- old girl who was Miss Willie Garner before her marriage. The house where the young woman lived Is situated near the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad eompany's commissary at Pratt City.
 From all that could be learned of the affair last night 1t seems that young Heagin and Mrs. Cherry were old friends. John Cherry, it appears, had abandoned his young wife, who is the mother of an S-months-old child, and had been away from home some time
 It seems, however, that yesterday aft ernoon Cherry returned to his wife and spent a great portion of the afternoon at her home. It is understood that Hea- gin learned of this and yesterday even- ing, shortly before 2 o'clock, he went to the home of Mrs. Cherry. It Is under stood that Cherry had left the house when Heagin arrived.
 Miss Kelley, who did the shooting and Mrs. Cherry, it seems, were inseparable friends and the former was visiting the latter.
 Yesterday evening, as stated, shortly before 7 o'clock Heagin entered the room where Mrs Cherry and Miss Kelley were together. Little is known of the con- versation that followed, but 1t is under stood that Heagin reproached Mrs. Cher ry for having anything to do with the man who had abandoned her and his child. It seems that the young man be- came enraged at some reply on the part of the young woman and started to at- tack her with a pocketknife which he held
 According to the statement of the two young women Heagin was about to strike Mrs. Cherry with the open knife when she caRed to Miss Kelley to 'get the pistol and stop him." The three young persons were all talking and were close together, but it seems that when Heagin made move to attack Mrs. Cherry Miss Kelley ran to the bureau in the room and drew from one of the drawers a double-barreled .41-calibre derringer, and when Heagin turned toward her she fired upon him, the first bullet taking effect in the nose and burying itself in the head. After being shot the first time Heagin reeled and Miss Kelley fired the bullet remaining in the derringer, the ball talk ing effect in the young mans back.
 The wound last inflicted is perhaps the most dangerous, although the first may have touched vital spot The bullet last fired struck Heagin in the backbone short distance above the small of the back. When this shot was fired the young man fell to the floor. paralized below the hips. It is feared that the ball pene- trated the backbone-> and injured the spinal cord, possibly severing 1t, and the attending physicians entertain no hope for the young mans recovery
 With all possible haste young Heagin was rushed to the offices of Dr. c. N. Caraway, over the Pratt City drug store where he was given every attention. The young mans condition, it is understood would not permit an immediate operation and the information gained last night was that the operation would be post poned until this morning.
 After the shooting occurred Mrs. Cherry took her baby and placed it in the care of friends at Pratt City, after which she and Miss Kelley made arrangements to come to Birmingham to surrender. While on their way to the car line they met Deputy Sheriff E. l.. Newman, who took them in charge and brought them to the county jail here, where they are being held without ball.
 Archie Heagin is barely 1s years old He comes from one of the best and most prominent families in the county, and has three sisters and his mother, all of whom reside at Pratt City. His father is not living. The young man was an elec- trician in the employ of the Republic Iron and Steel company, and held quiet a responsible position considering his age
 Little could be learned last night of the two young women involved in the af- fair. It Is understood, however, that they have been living in Pratt City only about two weeks. Mrs. Cherry, as stated was Miss Willie Garner.
 News of the shooting spread throughout Pratt City immediately after it occurred and very meager accounts of the affair were heard in Birmingham about o'clock. The officials at the county jail knew nothing of the shooting, however, until Deputy Newman arrived there with the two young women.
 Owing to the prominence of young Heagin and the pathetic circumstances of the shooting, occurrence of the affair is deeply regretted, especially in Pratt City, where Heagin was so well known and so popular, and every effort was made to comfort the bereaved mother and sisters of the young man.
 The two young women now confined in the county jail in connection with the shooting are fairly pretty, and they ap- pear to be but little more than children. Both were badly excited and nervously upset.