The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-26
Coroner Hrasher Declares Prin- cipaIS Were More or
 Less In Liquor
INDIRECT OUTGROWTH OF
 THE HANDLtY SHOOTING
Lynch, After Handey's Death, Was En Route to Prison, When Rus sell and Wagner Banded
 Words.

A fatal shooting affray. growing more or less directly out of the shooting of J. W. Handley by Hugh Lynch at Wylam Saturday, occurred yesterday afternoon shortly after o'clock on the corner of Avenue p and Twenty-second street. Ems ley. Joe Wagner a Hungarian, Is dead from a wound inflicted by W. S. Russell, special officer employed by the Tennes- see Coal, Iron and Railroad company.
 Yesterday afternoon at 1 o'clock the miner who was shot at No. mine at Wy lam by Mine Foreman Hugh Lynch. died at his home near Wylam. AS soon as the death of Handley was announced Lynch started to Ensley from Wylam, where his home is situated, in company with Russell, 1t being his intention to sur render to the Ensley authorities. While Lynch was on the way to jail the shoot ing of Wagner occurred.
 Coroner B. l.. Brasher was immediately notified of the shooting, and he left for Ensley at once to hold preliminary in- vestigation of the case The coroner
 
 two men directly involved in the shooting were drinking. He announced last night that he will go into the case more fully this morning.
 As stated Russell was on his way to Ensley with Lynch, and 1t seems that at the corner of Avenue F and Twenty-sec- ond street, Ensley, the two men met Joe Wagner, a man named Exenberger and another man. It is stated that Wagner was staggering and that the other men were helping him home.
 From Coroner Brasher's statement it would seem that Wagner called to Rus sell, who was driving in a buggy, and asked him where he was going with Lynch. Russell is said to have replied to the effect that it was none of Wagners business, and 1t is understood that Rus sell then, seeing that Wagner was stag gering, asked Exenberger where he was going with Wagner, and what was the matter with him.
 Exenberger it is stated, turned to Rus sell, who was sitting in his buggy about 10 feet away. but not recognizing him as an officer, ignored him. It is said that Rus
  front of Exenberger and Wagner, and again asked what was the matter with the latter.
 It Is said that Exenberger then asked Russell if he was an officer, and if so to show his badge. It seems that Russell then drew his revolver, and, leveling 1t upon Exenberger, told him to get into the buggy, giving Wagner the same instruc- tions. Exenberger stepped backward a few feet and at the same time, it is stated. Wagner startel away, staggering.
 As Wagner started to walk off it Is said that Russell got out of his buggy and struck him with the buggy whip Eye witnesses testified that having struck Wagner with the whip, Russell stepped back short distance, drew his gun and fired. Wagner was shot with a 41-caliber double-barrel Remington derringer.
 Only one shot was fred this striking the man in the left side of the stomach. pass ing entirely through the body and leaving a very ugly wound When shot, Wagner Is said to have turned around once, bent double, strengthened up, and then fallen in a heap to the ground without speak Ing. lie was plCktu up to Oiio of the Ensley hospitals, but lived only about 40 minutes.
 Russell was immediately placed under arrest and was lodged in the Ensley city jail, where he is being detained without ball. The Ensley correspondent of The Age-Herald made an effort to get state ment from Russell relative to the shoot ing. but he stated that he did not care to discuss the affair until he had consulted an attorney
 Hugh Lynch, whom Russell started to jail with, was brought to Birmingham and lodged in the county jail on a charge of murdering Handley at Wylam. He is being detained without bail.
 Wagner was about 35 years old, and is survived by widow and several children, and his father and mother, who, it is un- derstood, live in Erie, Pa. He was na- tive of Austria Hungary. The remains were taken in charge by Echols & Angin, Ensley undertakers.