The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-09-08
FATE OF A BEAUTIFUL GIRL
Miss Bertha Ison, of Bloomington, ILL,
Murdered by Dr. Ballard, ofSaybrook,
After Which He Rushes from the House, Shoot.
ing Himself Five Times. and Dies-She Broke
the Engagement and Would Not We'd.
Special TO the Indianapolis ] Journal.

Special 10 the Indianapolis Journal.
BLoOMINGToN, ILL.,. Sept. IA double
tragedy occurred in this city tins morning.
being the most shocking crime that has
ever thrilled the people of Bloomington.
At the home of Mrs Josephine leon, about
O'clock, DR.. Charles L. Ballard. of Say
brook, shot and killed Miss Bertha Ison
and then killed himself. The deed was
done with a S2-calibre revolver. of seven
chambers, all of which were emptied with
In two minutes after the first shot was
fired. Two balls struck the girl-ono in
the right temple and the other in the chest,
passing directly through the heart. The
other five were lodged III the body of Bal
lard, four In the immediate region of the
heart and one IN the right cheek. one
of the balls passed entirely through the
mans body, and another lodged just under
the skin of the back. The story of the
tragedy follows:
At s45 o'clock Ballard called at the home
of Miss Ison and was met at the door by Miss
Edna lson. her sister, and admitted. He
mad been paying attention TO Bertha. and
his attentions bad Of late been repulsed by
the family and his reception was cold. He
said that he wanted to see Bertha and
that thereafter he would 60 to his home a.
Say brook and leave her forever. On this
representation he was admitted, against
the remonstrance of Mrs. Ison. He was
permi tied TO see Bertha alone in the parlor-
AS the mother assembled the stairs she
heard her daughter pleading with Ballard
to go home and be a inan. Hardly had Mira
Ison reached the head of the stairway
when she heard scream in the
,orn nd in ter Ard
u pistol ehot. She rushed down stairs as
the second shot was fired. At the foot Of
the stairs she was met by DR.. Ballard. who
rushed out the door of the parlor with q
Mrs. lson by the throat and threw her to
the floor. rushing frantically through the
kitchen of the house and out into the back
yard. Here he fired the five shots that
running through the yard of the Isons
and into the garden of an adjacent resi-
dence. where he died in few moments.
Ballard had persistently wooed Miss
Ison ever since he met her. two
months ago. They were engaged. but the
lady for what her family claim were good
reasons. Ballard tried to get Bertha to
reconsider the matter, and finally obtained
a license to marry her, having 1t published
tried to induce her to marry him to avoid
talk. Mrs. Josephine Ison. with her fam:
lily, came east FROM Baker City. Ore. after
the death of her husband. Judge Luther b.
Ison, of that place. last January. She
came here to educate her children, two
daughters and q son. Mrs. Ison is O wealthy
and the children were highly accomplished.
Bertha was noted for her beautiful face.
Mrs. Ison and her two living children. with
the dead body of her murdered daughter.
will depart tomorrow for their old home
in Baker City. Dr.. Ballard was twenty six
years old and the son of DIR. j. b. Ballard.
of SaybrOok. The Billiards. are highly-re-
spected people. The son, now dead. was a
graduate of the st. Louis Medical College,
class of 49,