The San Francisco call., 1908-11-21
POLICEMAN SHOT
BYEX-CONVICT,
WHOHANCSSELF
Brave PatrOIman Lured Into
Trap and Wounded by
Desperate
Taken TO Cell Prisoner Dies by
Own Hand in Less Than
Half an Hour
Victim of Foul Deed Lies at
Deaths Door in San Jose
Hospital
srEoIAL DIsPArcH ro LIE cALL


SAN JOSE. Nov. 2o.-shot twice
through the abdomen by J. Ballard. a
notorious two term ex-convict and
morphine hend. after being inveigled to
q dive in a dsreputable section of the
city Ray ". Starbird, one Of the most
efficient policemen in the county and a
special detective on the force. lies at
the Belvedere hospital tonight IN a
precarious condition.
Ballard. his assailant. is dead. having
committed suicide by hanging himself
in his cell at the city prison.
About o'clock this afternoon Star
bird went to Ballard's house and told
him that Chief Of Police Haley wished
TO see him. 1t was believed that Bal
lard might be able TO throw some light
on a number Of bicycle thefts which
had occurred lately. on his arrival at
the police station Ballard said that a
pal Of his who was staying at the
house had a quantity of stolen jewelry
there and that he would lead Starbird
there that he might make a haul.
SHOOTS POLICEMAN IN DARK
Starbird and another patrolman, James
salisbury. returned TO the house, which
is in a disreputable neighborhood, and
salisbury. who was driving the patrol
wagon, remained outside with the team.
Starbird and Ballard entered the house,
which was very dark and Ballard
picked up two revolvers and fired at
Starbird. The officer grappled with
the man and during the fraeas his as
sailant was wounded slightly in the
H-fs ii,
bur not until he had fired another
bullet into the pOliceman's abdomen.
BY the time that Salisbury who had
remained with the patrol wagon, could
break down the door. Starbird, wound
ed as he was, had dragged his assail-
ant nearly TO the door. Salisbury took
charge Of Ballard and Starbird went
Immediately 10 a hospital.
CALL MAN DISCOVERS SUICIDE
AT the police station Ballard was
searched and placed in a cell About
- minutes later. when The Call rep
resentative came 10 interview him, it
was found that the man had committed
suicide.
After failing in an attempt to butt
his brains out against the walls of
his cell the man had placed his cot
in an upright position and, climbing
upon IL, had fastened his suspenders
through a couple of the tiny ventilat-
ing holes in the ceiling. He had after
ward jumped from the bed and hanged
himself. The man was dead within %
minutes after being placed in the cell.
Ballard's wife, who was a witness to
the attack, in an attempt to wrest one
Of the revolvers from her husbands s
grasp, was also shot through the right
arm. She is also a drug fiend and the
proprietor Of a dissOlute house in Post
street The wife is being held by the
police.
Ray Starbird is considered 10 be one
Of the most efficient police officers in
the county. Fer the last seven years
he has been chief deputy sheriff and
for the last year has been a special
plain clothes man on the city police
force. His assaiiant is an ex-convict
having served two terms IN San Quen-
tin from this county for grand larceny.
He has a local police record also