The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-04
SIMMONS At LANSING
Sheriff Hears Repetition of
BILLIARDS. Confession.
STILL FINDING EVIDENCE
Against the Alleged Gang of
Outlaws.
STILL FINDING EVIDENCE

Sheriff Simmons returned yesterday
from Lansing and Kansas City, where he
had been on official business. He stopped
at Lansing principally for the purpose OF
seeing Al Ballard, whom he took to the
penitentiary over a year ago, knowing al
the time that Ballard had valuable knowl-
edge concerning numerous crimes that
mad been committed in this section. At
that time Mr. Simmons did not dream OF
the character Of the crime which Ballard
has confessed TO have been an accomplice,
naming Frank AHgood as leader and Bill
Turner as another accomplice. What
seems TO give Ballards confession such
credence among the officers is the fact
that he does not shield himself in any of
the transactions. Sheriff Simmons visited
Ballard at Lansing and heard his confess
sion repeated TO him as a friend, and Bal
lard still says that Mrs. New and Dobbs
are innocent of the murder Of John New.
He lays the murder TO AIlgood, with Tur-
nef and himself as accessories.
Mr.. Simmons and Mr.. Fleeman are still
hunting evidence along the line Of Bal
lards confession, and have not yet found
a single circumstance to discredit the
truth of the confession The officers have
been told a great deal more than has ap-
peared in print, but they continue to re-
fuse to disclose any further information
or details of the statements by Ballard.
It is thought that old man Ballard and
Mrs. Ballard are again together, after
her escapade with Allgood awaited naught
bf1f Dol Eo- I
love Alvin, their only child. and it is
thought have been one Of the means of
persuading him to consent TO make his
statement. Ballard had no inclination to
weave the Matthes into this trouble, but
his statements could not be made plaus-
ible without a full statement Of all the
facts, and about all the persons connected
with the dealings of the gang.
The officials say none of those arrested
told straight stories regarding their con-
nection with Ballard. They say the Matthes
claimed when arrested that they knew
nothing of the whereabouts of Al Ballard.
but supposed he was in Colorado At the
same time the officers say they had
letters in their pockets which the Matthes
had written TO Ballard since ne was placed
in the Denitentiary.
Bill Turner claims that he was never in
Wichita but once. The officers claim to
have evidence that he has been here often.
and was seen in company Of some of the
persons with whom he was arrested.
Mr.. and Mrs. Matthes have financial
backing, through the influence Of Mr.
Matthes' brother. a well-to-do farmer
near Nickerson, who is the principal surety
on their bonds, and also the bond of Bill
turner, which was approved late Satl1r-
day evening, and he was released. They
say they viii all appear here Saturday
for their preliminary.
Since the arrest of the alleged gare and
the confession OF Al Ballard several horses
nave been returned to their owneA Two
others, it is claimed, were got at Matthes'
ranch. The publicity given the case has
caused persons all over the southwest to
write Sheriff Simmons about their horses
About twenty-five letters of this character
we're received yesterday. Some of the
horses mentioned and described IN the
setters may never have seen the NTat+bes
ranch, but the subject is creating so much
interest that It will result in renewed ac-
tivity Of search and a great many NAV he
found.
Yesterday very fine PAGER was located
in this manner. 1t belonged to e T
Gregg of Sterling. who came down 10 see
anything filling the description of his
stolen horse was seen on the Matthes
ranch. The horse was stolen last August.
and the sheriff had seen such rig. which
was sold last fan 10 Coburn. the Iiverv-
man at Cheney. The descriptions were ex-
changed by telephone, and Mr.. Gregg went
out to Cheney to identify the horse.
There are still many who have taken IN