Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-05-30
Missing Ball Children
Found at Btqckion.
Remains Of Little Boy and Git
Are UneariAed ID Field.


Brockton, Mass. May 2S-Ths faAo
OF the two children of John and Mary
Ball, concerning whom there had been
no trace since they disappeared with
their demented mother Dec 3 last.
was determined today when their
bodies were unearthed In d field on
Oak street near the ice housAs. The
body of little Thomas Ball, AIRED seven
years was discovered first and an hous
or two later the searchers unearthen
the body of Grace. aged nine, about GO
feet distant from the place whore the
little boy had been buried.
The bodies were badly decomposed
and the medical examiner satd a thor
ough examination would be necessary
before the cause Of their deaths could
be determined. He inclined to the be-,
lief, however. that their skulls had
been fractured.
Mrs. Ball, the children's mother, has
been an inmate of the Taunton In
sane hospital ever since her return
a few days after the children disap.
peared. Her mental condition was and
has been such that she could not
throw any light upon their fate.
tIStOSCiy was iCpOItC0 " LILO
police about noon today by Joseph
street. They were gathering fagots in
the woods near the ice house. A dog
which they had with them had dug up
a lot Of leaves and disclosed q foot
protruding from the ground. Thinking
at once Of the Ball mystery they Aft
the body undisturbed and hurried to
report the matter to the police.
The police in turn hurried TO the
scene, which is some distance from
the center of the city, and uncovered
the body Medical Examiner A. f
Paine was summoned and after an ex.
animation declared that there was not
the slightest doubt that 1t was tie
body of Thomas Ball. -,
The police and a crowd that soon
collected Immediately began to search
the vicinity for the body Of Grace
Ball. the 7-year-old daughter. which
was later located near by.
The disappearance OF the two Bail
children held public interest for many
months.
On Dec 2. 1907. the home Of John
Rail- at 20 Holbrook avenue. was de-
stroyed by fire and Mrs. Ball and her
tow children disappeared
Four days later Mrs. Ball returned
to the home Of a neighbor in an ek-
hausted condition bringing boa
soaked with blood. She was never able
to tell what had become of the chill.
drer. while the offer of generous re-
ward stimulated a great search, but
no clue was discovered throwing the
slightest light upon what had become
of the children. or whether they were
alive or dead.
Mrs. Ball since then has been an In
mate Of the Taunton Insane hospital.
After an examination Of the two
bodies late this afternoon the medt-
cal examiner, DR.. A. Elliott, announced
that decomposition was so far aq-
vanced that it was impossible to- give
the exact cause of death. No fractures
of the skulls were found. Tho medical
examiner said he could not determine
whether or not the Threats OF the cffi-
dren were cut, as has been suspected.
He thought it possible that the death
of the little ones was due to exposure.
No inquest will be held In the caAe,
as it is believed that no additional In
formation regarding the way IN which
the Ball children died could rSsult
from it. The two bodies remained to-
night at the rooms OF an undertakes
and will be turned over to the father.
John Ball Mr.. Ball was away from
home today and late tonight The had
not been notified Of the finding OF the
bodies. 7g tA 81