The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-08-10
Horrible Tragedy III Texas-Murdors
and Suicide of the Murderer-

Horrible Tragedy III Texas s-Murdors
and Suicide of the Murderer.
The Red Land Herald published at
st. Augustine, Texas, of the I7,h ult.,
gives the details Of one of the most
heart-rcnding tragedies we have ever
been called upon to record. 1t occurr-
cd few days since in the Southern
part of Shelby county.
Aquilla and Jesse Ballard, {broth-
'ers,) were cul,iva,ing a plantation in
partnership, and their feelings towards
each other had always been ofthc most
iratcrnal description. The whole fami-
ly consisted of Aquilla Ballard, wife
and child; Mrs. Haynes (sister to Mrs.
81 and child, and Jesse w. Ballard.
On the lth, (Sunday,) Aquilla Bal
lard rode over to his mothers, a dis
tancc Of five miles, to sit up with II
brother who was lying dangerously i'll.
Shortly after hc left homo his brother
Jesse invited Mrs. Ballard to take n
walk with him, saying he had Il secret
to toll her. A short distance down the
road they stopped some time in deep
and earnest conversation Jesse cXhibi
ted considerable excitement. When
they returned to the house Mrs. b.
was pale and melancholy, aud co,ltin-
ued SO during the rest Of the evening.
Jesse Ballard, however, became unu-
sually i''sIy and 81 iritad. The Mon
day morning following, Jesse inquired
OF q negro boy whether his gun wa;
loaded properly. Having discharged
and reloaded it, he set it against the
side Of the house. Soon after he had
another conference with Mrs. g., when
tho latter returned to the house and
told her sister that Jesse was going to
kin the negro boy and then kill her,
(Mrs. T.
About this time Jesse called up to
Clara, (Mrs. b. to come to him, but
she refused. lie again, in a manner
wild with frenzy, called to her, and
commanded her to come, saying he
had something to tell her. Mrs. B.
obcyed, approached him and threw her
arms about his neck. Some words
passed hurricLly between them, but
what those words were will only be
known at that day when all things will
be brought to light. AS he tore him
self abruptly from her, she was heard
to exclaim, "Oh, Jesse, don't do it,"
Selling his gun, he approached the
kitchen, where the boy Nelson was,
aud asked him how hc felt. The boy
replied, ''bettcr, and would be able to
work in the moining."
Jesse told him that he did not wish
him to work any more, that he was
going to kill hinl-and, suitins the ac-
ton to the word, and telling the ne
gro woman to stand out of the way it
She did not wish to get hurt, he raised
his gun aud shot the negro dead. y,
the fire OF the gun, Mrs. II. caugh,
up her child and ran out the opposite
side Of the house and hid in the top of
a fallen tree. Mrs. Dallard also start
ed to run, but again returned to the
house. After shooting the negro man,
Jesse, with one ,,and Oh his head and
the other holding his gun, tuned rap
idly on his heel four or five times,
when, coming to a h;.lt, lie saw Mrs.
Ballard passing through Tic gate on the
opposite side G the house. lie immc-
diately pursucd her, and when within
q few feet: fired the second barrel, lodg
ing the whole load in her back, several
shot passing entirely through her body.
She fell dead. His next movement
was to draw of one Of his boots by
her side, when suddcnly turning, rs il
recollecting that both barrels Of his
gun were empty, lie returned to the
huuse, and procuring the only load OF
buckshot left, he hurried oil TO branch
about 200 yards distant, when, having
reloaded one OF the barrels Of his gun,
he blew oil nearly his entire head by
placing the muzzIe Of the gun under
his right jaw ana touching the trigger
with his toe.