The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1905-11-06
DESPERADOES AND
MILITIAMEN FIGHT
Pitched Battle Near Middlesbor0---The
Balls EsCaped---Quieter Now.

Mlddlesboro, KY, Nov. G.--Follow-
ing month of fear and anxiety, re-
sulting from conditions which resent
BILE somewhat those which prevailed
in Breathitt county red.ntly, the
mountain sides above Mbdd]esboro
and Pineyille last night echoed to
vo.,eys from rifles of mllitia and pos
semen one one side and the Bail
b3others on the other. The climax
came yesterday, when the first att
tempt was made to artist Frank Bail
for killing Jack Bclen OF this city a
NORTH ago No direct news mas com,
from the scene of action--a shack to
the right of the road running through
Cumberland Gap and about two miles
from M ddlesboro- thera are
welldefined reports THAT Shabby Bah
the header of the Bail brothers fac
ton, was wounded, and that two
members of thr combined force OF
possemen and militia were also
wounded.
The trouble had its origin a
month ago when Frank Bail killed
Jack Bolen, barber OF Middlesbor1.
He fad into Lee county, Va, wher
lis father ]. B. Ball, is sheriff, but
1t is alleged soon returned and has
since been going about this (Befl)
county openly and apparently without
fear of arrest.
Tho hunt for the Balls aisd their
pantisans is continuing in the neig'l /
borhood of bSnd tiger, which, II y
alleged they have been conductf4g
in Cumberland Gap, but dehEite re
ports as to the outcome have hoo
been received. volleys have been
plainly heard by the people ON ths
streets of Middlesborc.
The partisans of tine Balls are re-
ported to number forty, all we'll arm
ed ard dftennnined 10 resist arrest
On Saturday night Middlesboro
was practically placed under martiai
law. The local militia was called into
service and each member given %
rounds of ammunition, with instruc-
lions to use 1t in the defense of their
own bodies, their friends and fami-
lies. to protect property and preserve
peace within the limits of the city.
Each member was cautioned not 10
act hastily, but to exercise cool judg-
u,cut end NOT fire without provoca-
ton.
Cant George w. Albrecht divided
his company into three squads and
they were assigned to do patrol work
all night. One squad was stationed
at the l.. and N. and Southern pas
senger depot, one at the i. and n.
freight office and one at thel Cumber-
land hotel.
Pickets were stationed on the
roadway where the mountain men
were expected to come and repeat
their lawless acts of the previous
night. There was no demonstration
within the city limits, but at times a
great amount of shooting occurred
in the outskirts.
All suspicious looking people who
were seen by the pickets were halted
and an explanation of their move
ments demanded. There were no de-
monstrations on the part of men in
sympathy with the outlaws.
) Capt. Albrecht placed his company
at the disposal of Sheriff Tyrus How
ard, and ha was expected to summon
posse OF armed citizens to cooper
ate with the militia in attempting TO
locats Frank Ball. but he refused to
act and notified the county authori-
ties that he would resign. Bell coun-
ty is without a sheriff. Deputy sher-
iffs and local officers appear to be ut
terly powerless to handle the situa-
ton.
The military company will do pa
troll duty and as there are only 40
men. mostly inexperienced in the
company. relief Will be needed in a
few hours.
Saturday business was paralyzed
and merchants say 1t was the duh
est day In the history of their bust
Tax Collections Ha,