The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-18
A TERRIBLE DEED.
= johnson County Farmer Murdered
In Cold Blood,
Within Call OF His Daughter 8
voice-Robbery No Doubt
the Object.
Full History OF the Fearful Crime
that Borrifies the People OF e
the County.


miles northeast OF franklin, stands quaint,
old-fsshioned. one-story brick house. with
awo from. doors. protected by o narrow
porch running the entire length of the
'front.' OF the domicile. Everything about |
the fam house bears an air OF |
comfort and convenience, without that !
ostentstion which is noticed in the con. |
utruction OF more modern residences. The |
surroundings give evidence Of thrift and
careful husbandry on the part of the owner.
Fifty yards from the house stands we'll
Ailed barn, while The stoek upon the farm
,embraces . large number OF horses
and cattle-all OF the best breeds
Showing by their condition that
they are ths property OF one who takes
price rs well as receives profit from their
culture Thirty-fve years ago the farm
house wss erected by Taylor Ballard, man
Whs developed many exoentricities Of
character, but who was universally re-
ssfcted by his neighbors for his moral
worth and the uniform promp.ness aud
correctness OF his business hab;'s. The
most marked excsntricit7 OF character
Wss that found in his refusal to place conf
dencs in banks, and the consequence was
that his house became the repository OF his
hands OF an unknown assassin, all the at
PENDANT circumstances indicating that rob-
berry was the irnpelling cause.
Yesterdays Sentinel contained brie'
disTa.ch regarding the assassination
az Mr.. Ballard bat q reporters
curiosity and desire 70 give full account
OF the terrible tragedy lead him to thesce
yesterday evening. He found the COM
murity in q state of excitement that is wit
messed only upon occasions calculated to ex-
cite the greatest indignation, and call forth
at the same time feelings sof sympathy for
the bereaved. From relatives of the de-
-ceased and others, who were upon the scene
immediately after its occurrence. the follow.
ingfscts were cleaned:
ca the 18th OF March last the wife of Mr..
Ballard, then about 20 years OF age, com.
mite suicide by droEing in the cistern
while tenn porarily insane Since tnst time
Mr. Ballard has bsen living comparatively
farm hands family, who was with
hin till couple OF weeks ago,
when q engagement arose between
Mr.. Ballard and his hand, and the latter
moved 20 the vicinity OF Boggst0wn, about
=. relatives
Ballard, kDoEing his disposition TO keep
isrge SONS Of money about the place often
chtded bin, and predicted that he would be
robbed. IL not murdered, for bis money. He
replied that he was prepared for such an
sS ,,s and indeed sSalv was a asays
o'clock Monday evening, while
sse5ted in the trent room of his mouse; a large
stdne was thrown through the window, aud
rassing within an inch of Billiards. head,
struck q door opposite with great force. A
search OF the premises failed to reveal
anything. but both lie and his chill
-dren regarded is as an attempt to as
sassipate him. Thursday evening, his
daughter, Mrs. Cutsipger, visited her
brother, accompanied by Mary
Cutsinger, her second daughter. At o'clock
they started to return home, and in doing
so vere compelled to pass by Mr.. Ballard 8
residence. It was raining very hard, aud
WHEN Mrs. Cutsinger and daughter got with
In forty yards Of the barn they Eoticed the
door standing open and at the same time
they supposed to be the falling
,x Q board, bat which they are now
satisfied were two pistol shots fred in rapid
succession. Passing up to the door, Miss
Cutsinger called to her grandfather, but no
answer was returned. At her mothers sug-
esstion she entered the driveway, but re-
turned, saying that she was afraid TO go
further on account OF the darkness. The
two then went to the house, bat failing
10 find Mr.. Ballard they became
alarmed and hurried home, which was but a
short distance away. Arriving there q son
OF Mr.. Cutsinger and grandson OF Mr.. Bal
lard went to the house of the latter and Sc.
curing light, together with another
grandson made an examination OF the barn.
Passing through the driveway and turning
around the corner of q crib which Is inside
OF the barn, the young men were Mortified
60 ind their grandfather lying PROSTATE
upon fhe hccr with q bullet hole immedi-
stely above the right eve. This was o'clock
in the evening and the body was still warm,
showing that the act had been committed
bnt short tire before. An examination OF
the iody proved thst two wnunds had been
Inflicted. the first bail striking the
PORT OF the right shoulder blade,
rngips 10 and coming out on
top o. the shouldar and lodging
In the lining OF the vest The second ball
pcnstraisd the brain just above the right
eyebrow. passed through, frscturing the
sskuil al point where the pareital and oc.
cipital bones are u"-te5.
The packets If .he dscssseds CLOTH ng
were tanned inside out, and a revolver, With
two chambers empty lay about two feet
from. ois side. Tae pistol proved
20 o. the one belonging to Mr.
sun il vas st sr-s 'a Supposed rssi
fhes i.is death the Fesult If suicioe. A
closer examination. however showed that
there was lint from his pocket IN the muz
Gle Of bis plstoi, and that the two empty
-ehsrabefs hsd nct resn recently dischsr ysd
Il Was also e. dent that tue wound in the
rheuoeT co1l0 not have been sslfinAicted
From ell the attendant circumstances
there can rs no doubt that Mr.
Ballard WIS the victim of 3 cold bsooded
assassin. who was scsustsd by the hope OF
obtaining the large sun OF money which the
deceased was known TO curry about his par
con, sns Il Is also clear that the person CON.
m,tting the deed was familiar with the
habits OF his victim Until yesterday
evening IL Was thought the assassin
bad secured large cum of money,
put this proves not to have been uu-
trues ss bag containing 8, %. rs was found
Yesterday under bench on the front porch
of the hcase. The sack or Dag Containing
this money is made of heavy bed-ticking.
and Ia one that the deceased has carried for
several yesrs- It is possible that IL the
deed had been committed st any other time
this amount OF moneS, or perhaps
more, would have rewarded tire
ssssssins for % the many who
knew Ballard well. and to whom the re-
porter talked yesterday, noss remer,b ered
va hsv Ii