The Winchester news. [volume] (Winchester, Ky.) 1908-19??, 1910-12-02
BALLARD HELD
TO GRAND JURY
On Charge of Malicious Cutting and
His Bond is Fixed at $300-Case
Attracted Much Attention.

John Ballard was tried befor
Judge f. p. PendletOn Thursda!
night on a charge of malicious shoot
ing without wounding, and held t.
await the action of the grand jur,
which will convene next week. Hi.
bond was fixed at $500.
Owing to the popularity of Mr.. Bal
lard, who has been deputy policeman
for many years, the case has attract
ed a great deal Of attention and the
court room was crowded when the
case was called for trial.
Ballard was being tried for shoot
ing at Tom Smith, colOred on Thanks
giving night. The shooting occurred il
the police office and after a heated
discussion between Chief McCOrd
Ballard and the negro. The negro
was working at the colored skating
rink when Ballard went to him and
told him that he must 90 with him
to the police headquarters and
straighten out lies he had been tell
ing the chief about him. When they
arrived at the station the negro made
a statement that Ballard did not like
and he jumped up out of the chair
he was sitting in, pulled his pistol
cooked it and said that he would kill
the negro. He walked over to where
the negro was sitting and would have
killed him had the negro not caught
the pistol and pushed it away from
him. The pistol was discharged, bu
the bullet went past the negro's head
and out through the large glass win
dow. Deputy Strobe caught the PTS
tol after the first shot was fired, ant
the negro ran away. The deputy pc
liceman was Immediately suspended
by Mayor j. A. Hughes and Chief OF
Police McCord, and is now off of duty
At the time the shooting occurred
Chief of Police McCord, deputy pc
liceman Strobe and Mr.. Will Dol
phin, a tailor, were present ant
Thursday night testified for the Com
monwealth. Ballard was the only
witness introduced by the defend
ant. Following is the testimony:
Examination by County Attorney
Davis: III b9iIoq9r asV bal
Tom Smith owas the first witness
called and testified as7lf6llows:l i
know Mr.. John Ballard. Mr.. Ballard
fired shot in my presence one night
last week. The first | saw of Nh.
Ballard on this night was at the col
ored skating rink. Ballard came ovel
there andtook me back to the police
court room. The shot was fired H..
the police court room i'll the pres
ence of Mr.. McCord, William Dol
phin, and deputy policeman Strobe.
Mr.. Ballard came to the skating rn'
and took me to the police court room
! was sitting back in a chair whel.
Ballard came up to me with his pis-
tol in his hand. The reason Mr.. Bal
lard became angry at me was because
he wanted me to say that Mr.. McCord
threatened to put me in Jail If | did
MT tell certain facts in a certain way
which Mr.. Ballard was connected
with and | would not do it.
| do not remember the exact con
versation that occurred before the
shooting occurred. | was not doing
a thing to Mr.. Ballard before he sho'
at me. The first | saw of the pistt
was when he first got out of his chan
Cross examination by Mr.. J. N
Stevenson, attorney for defendant
was sitting near the door when MI
Ballard shot at me. Mr.. Ballar
was sitting little distance off, wit
Mr.. McCord sitting across the room
Mr.. Strobe was sitting near me. Nj
Ballard came to the rink alter IN
and | did not go to him and vOluntee
to come up to the police station 'ano
make any statement. | did not tel
Mr.. Ballard not to believe any tale
that would be told him nor did den.
any statement he said that | ha'
made. Mr.. Ballard only spoke three
words to me at the skating rink.
did not go to the police station unit
Mr.. Ballard said ''come with me
We will prove these things" Aftei
| got up there | said to Mr.. McCord
'Didn't | come up and get you?"
have thought of this case a grea
deal and know | was shot at for moth
ing. never said that Mr.. McCorC
came and got me and took me an,
place.
| was the first to catch Ballard
pistol. After the shot was fired, Nh
Strobe turned around and grabbed ii
Ny face was powder burned and fore