Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-01-20
Is Thought to Have Shot
BaI|ou at Topsham.
Ballou Not Yet Out Of Danger
slight Of One Eye Gone.
Gives Details Of Afiair---funsral
Of Peril at Topsham.

Bath. Me-, Jan. 19.-Deputy Sheriff
Ballou, seriously wounded in an ARRAY
at Topsham Tuesday, is comparatively
comfortable. He is positive that he
was wounded by shot fired by a
third party and not by Peril. the Ital-
ian killed in the ARRAY. The bullet
removed from his face was of pure
lead whereas the bullets shot from
the deputy sheriff's revolver, in the
possession of PERI, were metal cased.
The officer also insists that PERI
eight feet away, could not have hit
him in the side of the face when he
shot at him. AS no witnesses except
Italians were present the officers i'm
pressions are all the more important.
The Times says: Was Deputy Sher-
If John S. Ballou shot by John Peril
whom he killed at Topsham? Mr..
Ballou himself believes not and from
his deductions it seems probable that
the bullet which so seriously wounded
him was fred by a third party and
at close range.
Mr.. Ballou has been allowed to see
Mrs. Ballo,, who has been frequently
at his bedside at the Bath City hospi-
tai. has heard her husband review
the affair and from her the Times
has obtained the only authentic &C.
count.
Whea Mr.. Ballou started up the
hill with Purington's revolver just
prIor to the shooting. he had no in
tention of engaging the crowd of ltal-
ians, as was implied in other ae-
counts. but was on his way to the
Office of the company. to reach which
il was necessary to pass the Italians.
His object Was to ask the company's
officials to have the prisoner deliV-
cred over and his own revolver re-
stored.
AS the deputy passed the mob of lta!-
ians several of the latter sprang towards
him and Peril. who had taken Baiiou
automatic Colt during the fray near inc
bridge. came directly towards the deputy
and pointed the revolver Baliou and the
Italian rushed towards each other face
to face. When about eight feet away,
the Italian attempted to fire the Colt, ana
Ballou discharged Puringtons revolver.
At about the same instant he was shot
in the left side of the face and dropped
to the ground.
In the deputy's judgment PERI did not
succeed in firing the Colt at the first try.
as one unfamiliar with the weapon would
have difficulty in setting it off. He did
not see the Italians gun fired
Had PERI succeeded in firing shot,
as Ballou was at the instant aiming the
weapon he himself carried. it Is evident
that the bullet would have hit the dep
atty In front. whereas the shot that did
take effect In Ballou's ply siognomy came
from the left side.
Moreover, the bullets In the Colt auto
matte which PERI carried were metal
cased. and the shells contained smokeless
powder whereas the bullet extracted
at the hospital from the deputy's wound
was an ordinary lead one. one the testl-
mony of DR.. Stott, and the deputy's face
was stained with black powder from a
discharge at close range. while Peril was
at least eight feet distant. The Colt bull
lets will penetrate eight inches of solid
timber, as Mr. Ballou had proven re-
Gently in company with Frank =. Lord.
and would unquestionably have passed
completely through mans head.
1t would therefore appear that while
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