The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-19
A TERRIBLE DEED.
4 johnson County Farmer Murdered
in Cold Blood,
Within Gall Of His Daughters
voice-Robbery No Doubt
the Object.
Eun History Of the Fearful Crime
that Rorrifies the People OF
the County.

In Clark Township, Johnson County, eight
miles northeast OF Franklin, stsndsa quaint,
-old-fashioned. one-story brick house. with
two front doors, protected by narrow
porch running the entire length of the
front Of the domicile. Everything about
1he farm house bears an air of
comfort and convenience, without that
ostentation which is noticed in the con.
Htruction 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
allied barn, while the stosk upon the farm
embraces q large number OF horses
and cattle-all of the best breeds
showing by their condition that
they are the properly OF one who takes
pride as well as receives profit from their
culture. Thirty-fve years ago the farm
house was erected by Taylor Ballard, q man
who developed many excentricities OF
character. but who was universally re-
spected by his neighbors for his moral
worth and the uniform promptness and
correctness of his business habits. The
most marked excentricity OF character
was that found in his refusal to place conf
dence in banks, and the consequence was
that his house became the repository of his
money, and finally led to his death at the
hands of an unknown assassin, all the at
fendant circumstances indicating that rob.
berry was the impelling cause.
saturdays Sentinel contained q brief
dispatch regarding the assassination
cf Mr.. Ballard. but reporters
curiosity and desire 10 give full account
that evening. He found the com.
munity in q state of excitement that is wit.
messed only upon occasions calculated to ex-
cite the greatest indignation, and call forth
ut the same time feelings of sympathy for
the bereaved. From relatives of the de-
ceased and others, who were upon the scene
5nnsecistsly after It's occurrence, the follow
IDg facts were cleaned:
On the 26th of March last the wife of Mr..
Pallsrd, then about 10 years of age, com.
mitted suicide by drowing in the cistern
while tenn porarlly Insane. Since that time
Dir. Ballard has been living comparatively
alone, with the exception of q
farm hands family. who was with
when a disagreement arose between
Mr.. Ballard and his hand and the latter
moved To the vicinity OF Boggstown, about
four miles distant. The relatives of Mr..
Ballard, knowing his disposition to keep
large SOUS Of money about the place, often
chided him, and predicted that he would be
robbed, IL not murdered. for his money. He
replied that lie was prepared for such an
emergency. and, indeed, was always
srmed with revolver. About
9eated in the front room of his noase; a large
stone was thrown through the window, and
passing within an inch of Billiards. head,
struck door opposite with great force. A
search of the premises failed to reveal
anything. but both he and his chill.
eassinste him. Thursday evening, his
daughter, Mrs Cutsinger, visited her
brother. accompanied by Mary
Cutsinger, her second daughter. At o'clock
they started to return home, and in doing
80 were compelled to pass by Mr.. Ballard 8
when Mrs. Cutsinger and daughter got with
in forty yards of the barn they noticed the
door standing open and at the same time
heard couple Of dull sounds which
they supposed to be the falling
OF board. but which they are nos
satisfied were two pistol shots 6rsd in rapid
succession. Passing up to the door, Miss
Cutsingsr called to her grandfather, but no
answer was returned. At her mothers sug.
gestiop she entered the driveway, but re-
TUNED, saying that she was afraid to go
further on account OF the darkness. The
to find Mr.. Ballard they became
alarmed and hurried home, which was but q
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
o. the barn, the young men we're Mortified
to find their grandfather lying PROSTATE
upon the floor with Q bullet hole immedi-
ately above the right eye. This was o'clock
in the evening and the body was still warm,
showing that the act had been committed
but short time before. Ar examination OF
the body proved that two wounds had been
Inflicted the first ball striking the
point Of the right shoulder blade,
ranging up and coming out A on
in the lining of the vest. The second pail
penetrated the brain just above the right
eyebrow, passed through, fracturing the
skull at a point where the pareitai aud &C.
cpital bones are united.
The pockets of the decesseds clothing
were turned inside out, and a revolver, with
two chambers empty, lay about two feet
from his side. The pistol proved
20 BE- the one belonging to Mt.
ballard himself, and for this rea-
sn it was at first supposed
n at his death Was the result of suioide.
ccser examination. however showed that
thsre was lint from his pocket in the muz.
zle of his pistol, and that the two empty
chambers had not been recently discharged.
Is WIS also evident that the wound in the
shoulder could not have been self-inhicted
Fsom ell the attendant circumstances
fFere can be no doubt that Mr.
Ballard wss the victim of q cold-blooded
assassin, who was sctuated by the hops Of
DECEASED was known to carry about his per
son, and IL is also clear that the person CON
nittirg the deed was familiar With the
habits of his victim. Until Saturda!
evening il was thought the ASSASSIN
but this proves not to have beer