The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-13
DID BARR Do RIGHT?
Fremont Policeman Censured
for His Leniency.
STRANGE TALE OF KLEPToMANlA
DR.. Ballard Alleged to Have system.
aticaliy Abstraeted Cigars From
His Landlords Stock.


SEATTLE. May IL, lsc1
To the Honorable Board OF Police Commits
sioness o! the City of seattie-GCstfnen: On
yesterday, May 10, Csp,. Barr a policeman sta
s1,es,.a 7, rre,nons ,epofed 70 me that ne nd
eca'ins the ihef had permitted him 10 settle
TIE matter by Paying seventy-nve dollars t$75,,
presumably to the party from whom the sools
were stolen. Capt Barr tells me that his con-
duet 10 approved by the chief OF police. New. il
seems 70 me that this system OF selling in1ul-
geaees TO commit crime should lie prohibited by
Suca practices. Very respectfully.
The above letter. mailed to the police com.
nssioners yesterday, was sufficient TO bring TO
general public notice matter that has been
current gossip in Fremont !o- some days. Be-
fore the letter was written by Mr.. Day PosT-
lSTELLIGESoEg reporter had Investigated the
case. He found the facts stated by Capt. Barr
and others to be as follows
On February II Mr. Billups. who keeps baker
shop, informed Capt Barr that his cigar case
had been robbed daily for four months, and
under the agreement that nothing should be
done without absolute proof, he gave the name
OF the man he suspected. II was none other
than Dr.. +. r. Ballard. who boarded with him.
Capt Barr was 10th to believe that man who
came from a fine and wealthy family. as is the
case with DIR. Ballard, could be guilty OF so
mean crime. However. ne told Biilups that
keep close watch on the doctor.
= On several occasions Capt Barr saw the doc
Tor go 10 the cigar eGse after a meal and take q
cigar Sometimes the doctor would tel. Mrs.
Biliups, or Mr.. Biiiups, II he happened to be at
home from his work in the bakery at the corner
OF Front aad Pike streets. that he had taken a
cigar. and walk ont. One afternoon Capt Barr
watched the doctor 60 into the house, and then
he came up to the window on the outside. The
shelves in the store screened him, and he
watched the cigar case, which was in plain
view. After eating. the doctor, who was alone
in the room, walked to the cigar case and took
out three 'Cuban Blossoms' A. this moment
Mrs. Billups came into the room and the doctor
told her he had taken a cigar, but, if the officer
was not mistaken, forgot TO mention the other
two. When Mr. Bilurs came home that even
Ing he was told of the case, and, in order TO IA
eilitate matters, gave Capt. Barr permission to
enter al will a small room in the rear OF the
store, through which he could see all that was
going on inside.
~ There was an entrance from the rear and
when the doctor would go for his meals, ii the
captain happened to be around. he would go
into the lookout room and watch the doctor and
the cigar ease. While the trouble in Biilups
bakery was going on ii is said that the doctor
did very peculiar thing in William Murphy's
.Sop Capt Barr was ON the outside and
watched operations through the window. As
he ssw IL Ballard went behind the counter for a
piece Of chewing or smoking tobacco, cut off
two pieces, quietly pocketed Il cigar, aud throw
ing down a nickel as pay walked out. One day
last week il was learned that the Fremont Drug
Company had stopped selling cigars, and in
Guiry elected the story that in one GaoLih the
sales failed to come within SIG OF the cost.
Capt Barr brought things to climax last
Saturday afternoon. When the doctor went to
dinner az l:SD O'Clock he entered his retreat and
watched for Developments
There was no one in the room when the doctor
finished eating and ii Capt. Bars eyes and ears
did not deceive him, DIR. Ballard. after listening
atteutiyeiy, tiptoea over TO the cigar case. Then
he picked up paper with Que hand and was
apparently reading ii, while his other hand
went around the back of the cigar case and let
down the door. He took out two cigars and
placed them in his coattail pocket, Gil the while
reading the paper. which the observer noticed
was upside down. This last point was the de-
Gliding link 20 Capt. Barr and when Dr.. Ballard
went out Of the store he walked up to him ana
said;
doctor, I want YOU Come back into the
store with me-"
Mrs. Biilups was called and told that the doctor
had two cigars. which, in the language OF the
street, he had "swipcd' from the case. Then
Capt Barr, STOPPING down to the little doctor,
lifted his coat tail aud from the pocket TOOK two
ordinary cigars. The doctor was perfectly cool
and simply appealed TO Mrs. BiIups as 10 the
fact that he was in the habit OF taking cigars
from the case when he wanted 10, speaking OF 1t
AMI paying afteryard
Mrs. Biilups confirmed what Or. Ballard had
said.
Very we'll" said the captain, THAT does not
account for those taken without notice. but I
will refer the matter TO Mr.. Bi!lups when he
comes home tonight and he may take such
action as he sees lit. That night Biliups pre-
scented cigar bin TO DR.. Ballard for
376Sl A check for s75 on the Ma
tioGGl Bank of Commerce was given
aud Mr. Billups came 20 the conclusion it WAS
best not to prosecute DIR. Ballard. The affair
became circulated around the Little community
ana as usual several factions sp.aug up. One
thought some mistake must have been made in
regard TO the actions of the doctor, while an
other blamed Capt Barr for not arresting the
doctor. and the elimination came in the letter
sent to the police commissioners by i. F. Day,
tie heavy property holder of Fremont
pr. Ballard is the son 81 81 ex-governor of
Montana, well educated a fine physician. and IL
current report is true is to be married soon. He
is racmter Of the Uniform Rank X F., and
several other secret orders. lie has always
borne an excellent reputation in this ana other
communities. lie was charged with completely
in the RadloG conspiracy, bat was tsiunphantly
acquitted.
j. ". Biliups was found at the bakery. corner
o. Front and Pike streets, last night He said
that lie had no time 10 talk about the case and
when told that il WAS going 20 be printed said :
"Whcn dog il down kick him. Fog myself
have nothing TO s@y against u. Ballard pre-
scented my bill aud he paid IL
When asked If the doctor admitted taking the
cigars he replied: We'll, no, exactly"
Capt. Barr was interviewed abou, the case
and said tie understood be Has tn DANCE. OF l.e-
ing roasted ia the newspapers 70: not arrestias
Dr. Ballard. His reasons fo1 not doing so were
because the prosecuting witness would not
carry the ease into court
chief Jackson when asked y Capt. Barr acted
unde. his instructions IL the case said. After
the case was over Barr cgIEc - ne aad told the
history us II. how be had seen Dr. Ballard take
cigars out OF the case AID tai when he caught
him VITA two IN BIS pocket aud brought BIN
before Mrs. Biilups she had said thar the doctor
was in the habit ol taking cigars from tho case
sometimes paying for them and sometimes not.
THAT was all ! kaew Of the matter then and
told can't Barr that SO tong as Mrs. Biliups had
practically killed the case 10 let IL go. learned
later that Mr.. Billups made out . bill foT cigars
covering IA period of several months m col
Icctad from Ballard ! called IL Capt Na7r aad
he SAID that such was the case Considering
The s;l;e Of affairs knew thar we could not
IasAe 4 case and decided MOTTO pc< i Up aga. Il
alter Can't. Bar. had investigated and dropped
il