Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-08-13


Suicide Of tie Nunlerer-The Red Land Her.
aid published at San Augustine, Texas, of the
18th ult., gives the details Of one of the most
heart rendng tragedies We have ever been called
upon 10 record. 1t occurred few days since in
the Southern part Of Shelby county.
Aquille and Jesse ballard, (brothers,) were
cultivating plantation in partnership, and their
feelings towards each other had always been of
the most fratcrnal description. The whole fami-
ly consisted Of Aqua Ballard, wife and child;
Mrs. Haynes (sstcr to Mrs. b. and child, and
Jesse W. Ballard
On the llth (Sunday) Aquilla Ballard rode
over to his mothers, Il distance Of five miles, to
--l--l,--I------.
i'll. Shortly after he left home his brother Jesse
invited Mrs. Ballard to take walk with him,
saving he had 4 secret to tell her. A short dis
tancc down the road they stopped some time in
deep and earnest conversation; Jesse exhibited
considerable excitement. When they returned
to the house Mrs b. WAS pale and melancholy,
and continued so during the rest of the evening.
Jesse Ballard, however, became unusually lively
and spirited. The Monday morning following,
Jesse inquired Of a negro boy whether his gun
was loaded properly. Having discharged and
reloaded it he set it against the side Of the house.
Soon after he had another conference with Mrs.
b., when the latter returned to the house and
told her sister that Jesse was going to kill the
negro boy and then kill her, (Mrs. b.
About this time Jesse called up to Clara, (Als.
b. to come to him, but she refused. He again,
in manner wild with frenzy, called to her, and
commanded her to come, saying he had some
thing to tell her. Mrs. b. obeyed, approached
him and threw her arms about his neck Some
words passed hurriclIy 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 himself abruptly from her. she was heard to
cyckim. "Oh. Jesse, don't do it," Seizing his
Gun. he approached the kitchen, where the boy
Nelson was, and asked him how he felt. The
boy replied, "bctter, and would be able to work
in the morning.
Jesse told him that he did not wish him to
work any more, that he was going to kill him
and suitinG the action to the word, and telling
! the ncwro woman to stand out Of the way if she
did not wish to Get hurt he raised his gun and
shot the negro dcad At the fire of the gun,
Mis-. II. caught up her child and ran out the op-
roStc side Of the house and hid in the top Of a
I
again returned TO the house. After shooting
the negro man, Jesse, with one hand on his head
and the other holding his gun, turned rapidly
on his heel four or five times, when, coming to
4 halt, he SAW Mrs. Ballard passing through the
gate on the opposite side OF the house. He I'M
mcdiatcIv pursued her. and when within 4 few
feet fired the sccond barrel, lodging the whole
load in her back, several shot passing entirely
through her body. She fell dead. Ills next
movement WAS to draw oil one Of lis boots ry
her side, when suddenly turning, rs if recollec,-
inc that both barrels of his "un were empty, nc
returned to the housr and procuring tue only
loal Of buck<hot left. hr hurried oil TO branch
about 200 yards distant, whol having reloaded
one of the Barrel, Of his Gun, he blew oil nearly
his cn,irc head by placing the mrzzl" Of the gun
under his ryM jaw and touching the trigger
with his toe.
\ C,EIor~ r,cr.--A modern philosopher, Ia