The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-26
THE PLOT InIUkENo.
DIR. Ballard Implicated in the
Radlof Conspiracy
IS 1T ATTEMPTED BLAcKMAIL ?
Mrs. RadloR Says the Family Physician
Was the First Cause of Her Troubles
He Is Arrested.

very sensational phase of the Rsdlof mys-
terry developed yesterday in the arrest OF DR..
Frank r. Ballard, OF Fremont, who is charged
with being eouspirator in the plot to swindie
the insurance companies out OF the So, 600 life
insurance which William Radlof carried. He
was arrested upon two charges-grave robbery
and arson. DR.. Ballard has lived in Fremont
about two years and his friends absolutely re-
fuse to believe him guilty OF the charges. He
says that the affair has been instigated By Mrs
Radlof and originated in an attempt at black
mail.
Ever since the body of the burned cadaver was
found in William Radloffs house Saturday
morning, week ago, DR.. BILLIARDS. name has in
either one way or another been connected with
the affair. He was the family physician OF the
Radlofs, and was quite certain that the black
ened heap of bones which were removed to the
morgue was all that earthly OF William
Radloff. But the doctor, who is well connected
and highly respected, was never for a moment
suspected OF being an interested party in deep
laid plot.
week ago, Monday, Kostrauch made his con-
fession and the police, who until then were
working on the theory that murder had been
committed, were sstonished at the boldness OF
the scheme to swindle the insurance companies.
In his confession Kostrguch stated that Dr.. Bal
lard was the cause of the arrangement between
Radloff and his wife and that at one time Rad
loft seriously considered shooting the doctor.
No mention was made however, of the physi-
clan being cognzant of the intentions of Rad
loft TO burn his house and roast the body OF a
dead man. Not until the arrest of Mrs. Radlof
on Friday did the police begin to seriously sus-
pect the doctor of being an accomplish. Then
their suspicious were based only on the woman's
naked statements and they were at q loss TO
know how much weight to give them.
Thus the case stood until Sunday evening at
o'clock when Chief OF Police Jackson lett his
office in great hurry and catching a Yesler
avenue car made all hasts to the county jail
He was admitted TO the women's apartments
and was in consultation with Mrs. Radloff until
L. o'clock. Yesterday morning he again called
at the jail and had talk with the woman and
at o'clock he went to Prosecuting Attorney
Miiler's office and Tor an hour they compared
notes and Mr.. Miller came to the conclusion that
DR.. Ballard ought to be where the authorities
could lay their hands on him. Complaints
charging him with arson and grave
robbery were accordingly drawn Up
and Chief Jackson went before Justice Neagle
and swore out the warrants. He then took car
for Fremont, and when he arrived at the doctors
office found him quietly writing letter. The
doctor was greatly Disconnected over his arrest,
but he accompanied the chief to police head
quarters, and the news of his arrest spread like
wildfre over the city. In a little while he was
released his uncle, NJ D. Ballard, vice presi-
dent of the National Bank of Commerce, and
Thomas B. shoebothaIn, the Fremont druggist
going on his bond.
Mrs Radloffs confession concerning the al
legged part Dr.. Ballard played in the conspiracy
is about as follows: When Radlotf learned of
the alleged relations between d.. Ballard and
his wife he was very angry, and his subsequent
treatment caused his wife, in December last, to
twice make attempts on her own life. He com.
municated the state OF affairs to his handy man.
kostraueh, and the latter offered TO put the doc
tor out OF the way the moment the signal was
given but Radloff said "No. would rather kill
him myself" Then the scheme to defraud the
lite insurance companies was Matched and with
out consulting kostrauoh, Radlof secretly pro-
posed 10 force DIR. Ballard into the con-
spiraey. The proposition was duly made
and the doctor through fear OF.
Radlof and his evi,-eyed shadow,
hostraucb, who looked as ii he would do any
thing Tor money, accepted the terms OF the
proposition anu became one OF the onspirators
Radlof told no one of the doctors interest in
the deal except his wife, with whom he would
have TO work. Mrs Radloff did not want to
enter into the affair, but Dir. Ballard told her
that after her husband had left the country he
would marry her and build house on her lot
at Fremont. According TO the terms of the
agreement Kostraueh and Rsdlof were TO do the
heavy preliminary work, and all the doctor had
to do was TO call at the morgue and, ss the Rad
loft family physician, identity the burned eada-
YER as the remains OF William Radlof He was
| then to keep an eye on Mrs. Radlof, confer with
| her regarding the insurance money and see that
Radlof got his proportion For his work he
| was to receive $4,000
II is known that Mrs. Radlof told good deal
more. but what it is the chief OF police declines
| to make known. II is thought that the woman
| duplicates two others in the dark plot Whether
| they are lawyers, doctors or life insurance
/ agents she will not say. In all, four warrants
| were sworn out before Justice Neagle yesterday.
Two were served and two have Yet to be heard
| from whether they are for the arrest of per-
sons suspected OF conspiracy in the Radloff case
| remains to be proven
| PosT-ISrELLIGEScEa reporter called on
Mrs Radloff yesterday aud asked If there was