Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-02-22
BALLARD ARRESTED.
l5-Year-O|d Lee, N. H., Boy
Charged With Murder.
People Not Satisfied that Mrs. len
kins Was Accidentally Shot.
Preliminary Hearing. Saturday The Boy
Story Of the Shooting.

Dover. n. H., Feb. 2l.-Frank Bal
lard. 10 years of age. is confined in the
STAFFORD county Jail, tonight, charged
with the murder of Mrs. Josephine f.
Jenkins. at Lee Hook. in the town of
Lee, on Monday last After the shoot
ing, Acting Coroner John r. Ham of
this city visited the scene and uues-
toned all parties present with regard
to the matter and at that time it was
the general opinion of all that the
shooting was accidental. II now seems
that the people of Lee are not satisfied
that Mrs. Jenkins was accidentally
shot. Her son. Ellery Jenkins OF Low
ell Mass. came here. yesterday. and
had Il consultation with County Solici-
tor Scott oter the affair. He informed
that official that now facts had been
brought to light which made the case
look suspicious. This morning. County
Solicitor Scott. accompanied by Deputy
Sheriff W. w. cuShman. went to the
Jenkins residence in Lee and at the
conclusion of the eXamnatiO OF sew
eral people 4 complaint was sworn out
by Ellery ID. Jenkins charging Frank
Ballard with the murder of Mrs Jose
phine +. Jenkins by shooting on Feb.
is. Ballard was then placed under ar
rest by Deputy Sheriff Cushman and
brought to this city, tonight. Ballard
says that he is innocent and that the
shooting was purely accidental; that
no one feels more keenly the result Of
the sad affair than he. Said ne: Mrs.
Jenkins was also very kind to me and
we never had any trouble. Had she
been my mother she could not have
been more kind To me-
With tears in his eyes he then eX
planned how the shooting occurred. He
said:
II did not understand the use of fire
arms and had never handled gun. |
had been told by Mr.. Jenkins never to
touch the gun, but had "A strong de
sire to learn how 10 shoot. After MIR.
Jenkins left the house on that Monday
morning. Mrs jenkins Went into the
| ward to hang out her washing. |
thought it would-be a1good time TO try
| the gun. | went 10 the shelf where the
cartridges were kept ANA got five. ]
then got the gun and went To the
woodshcd. The kitchen door was open
and | stood with one foot on the step
and the other on the Kitchen door. The
door between the kitchen and dining
room was also open and the muZZle OF
| the gun was pointed through the
| kitchen door. | put two cartridges in
| the gun, then snapped il back IN posi-
! ton for shooting. | went To raise the
hammer of the gun when my thumb
slipped and the hammer flew back. |
he ard a scream and when the smoke
cleared away saw the form of Mrs.
Jenkins lying on the moor. | ana not
See her before the gun was discharged.
| | was so badly frightened dld not
know what to do. finally threw the
| cartridges away out in the field ana
put the gun back where ! found H.
ran to the house Of Sargent Jenkins.
where | told him that some one had
| shot Mrs Jenkins | afterwards told
| him the man who shot her ran down
| the cellar stairs | was 50 frightened
| | did not know what TO do or say. but
! finally on being questioned | confessed
| that | did the shooting.
| Ballard went to the Jenkins home
| last January, being taken by them
| from a home in Boston. The prisoner
says he has two sisters who are well
| to do. residing in Massachusetts. but
| he refuses to give their addresses. as
| he does not wish to disgrace them. Al
ter Ballard was brought to this city
| several of his friends retained Col En-
nest r. Folsom to defend him. lie VIII
be given q preliminary hearing Satur-
| day morning.