The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-14
MEDIUM TOLD It
Strange Incident Relating to
Billiards. Confession.
ANOTHER STOLEN HORSE
Located by Al Ballard YeSter-
day Afternoon.

The etrangest thing that has happened
IN connection with the Ballard cOnfes-
sion is an account Of a spiritualistic meet
ing held in a residence Of a weIl-to-dO
citizen in Cairo, Illinois, some time in
February. An account Of the meeting ap-
peared in the Cairo Sunday Telegram,
which came TO Mr. H. J. Roy.
The part of the account which refers 10
the New murder reads as follows:
One of the departed spirits entered in
some way and delivered himself Of a
strange story through the mouth Of the
medium. He said his name was New and
IN life he lived in Kansas. He had been
murdered and his wife and a man whose
name he gave were now in prison in Kan
sas, having been convicted Of the murder.
He said that both were innocent, as his
murderer was in Canada.
This occurred more than a month before
the arrest Of the gang on Billiards. con-
fession.
Sheriff Simmons returned yesterday
from Eureka with Ballard whom he had
taken over there to get some evidence 10
- corroborate the confession Ballard made
and Bill Turner in the murder Of New at
Eureka two years ago. Mr.. Simmons
said that Ballard drove from Eureka to
News farm without any trouble, locat-
ing the Dobbs place, the empty house
where he stated in his confession he,
Turner and AIlgood had camped the night
before AIIgood IS alleged to have killed
New. He also located a number of other
places, which has completely convinced
the officers that Ballard had told
what was the truth in his confession.
Ballard drove into the yard at News place
and pointed out the place where New fell
when Algood shot him. He told where
Turner and himself had stood and the di-
rectlon they ran when the shot was fired.
Allgood followed, and when he came up
Turner said, What in hell did you kill
him for?"
Dead men have no show at a fellow"
Allgood said. I got enough
Mr.. Simmons says that the men who
accompanied himself, Fleeman and Bal
lard to the farm admitted that Ballard
had told within five feet Of where New
fell. Mr.. Simmons says there is no doubt
that Ballard had been all around Eureka
and is we'll acquainted with the vicinity
about News place perfectly. Once in a
while the driver would get off the road
that led to News purposely, and Ballard
knew it in a minute and always spoke of
It. Finally Ballard was given the lines
and told 10 drive to the New place, which
he did directly.
Il went simply to guard the prisoner"
Mr.. Simmons said, but * was planned
to take News body UP while we were at
Eureka The county attorney refused TO
allow this for some reason, don't know
what. There IS a very strong feeling at
Eureka against Billiards. story. Ballard
couldn't answer all the questions put to
him about the local circumstances attend
ing the trial Of Mrs. New and Dobbs. but
IN every material way it seemed to ne
that he corroborated his confession. am
more convinced than ever that he has told
the truth"
Whether Ballard's confession is true or
not in reference to the murder of New,
it has helped the officers to locate seven
stolen horses and is by no means an un-
important matter
Ballard will be kept here as long as his
statements lead to the recovery Of stolen
property, even though he may not be able
TO substantate that part Of his story
which relates to the murder OF Joseph
New. The dispatches sent out from Eu-
reka Indicate that the people there do
not take any stock in Billiards. story. In
part, one of them says Of Billiards. trip
to the New farm:
Billiards. trip has not changed the opin-
IL, -e -
Dobbs and Mrs. New. It was generally
conceded that he was able TO do only what
he has done today, and no more. All par
ties whom he claims to have met refute
his statements, many proving by wit
nesses that ne was never in the locality.
He claims robbery as the motive and It
Is claimed by the county officers that New
possessed but little money when murdeSsd
and that all of it was found later.
The places named by Ballard today. as
having been where they tied their horses
and rode and walked, were on the morning
after the murder thoroughly covered by
searching parties in an effort 10 find a
clue u the crime. and no track was found
officers and people who were connected
with the trial claim Billiards. story can
be nothing more than Dobhs' story and
cite as proof his statement that Simpson
visited Dobbs one night in Jail disguised
in a woman's clothes.
a woman did really visit Dobhs at the
time stated and she was identified by the
officers VINO overheard the conversation.
No attempt has been made 10 exhume
News body for investigation as to shot in
the body. County Attorney johnson saws
the state never claimed that New vas
killed from wounds made by a charge Ct
lead sluEs alone. Asked if he was invited
70 accompany Ballard or his trip today
he said ne was not
Mr.. Johnson says he viii give PaUard'z
confession due consideration, and II he
finds evidence sufficiently strong 20 war
rant arrests being made. he viii 90 So Il
Is not believed that evidence furnished by
Ballard so far is sufficient 70 justify ar
rests being made"