The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-08-05
BALLEN USES LAST
BULLET ON HIMSELF
After Shooting Four Persons
and Burning Hotel, Gunman
Is Overtaken by Posse.
MAKES RUNNING FIGHT
Sorely Wounded, He Takes
Refuge Behind Haystack
and Commits Suicide.

La JCNTA. Colo, Aug d-Battlinc
desperately every inch OF ground he gave
before posse led by five determined dep
uty sherils. wounded almost to death,
George Ballew. Tennessee gunman sought
moments respite behind haystack
and fired a bullet through his brain, three
miles southwest Of here at II O'Clock
today.
Ballew. after shooting four persons. two
OF whom are In critical condition. and
burning a summer resort hotel at South
Platte Friday night ned to tho hills ana
has been hunted By dozen posses since
then
Early this morning Ballew. on foot
started from Colorado Springs. where he
had spent the night. toward LA Junta
Several miles out he stole a horse and
buggy from farmer named George Gov
crneau. The latter soon discovered his
loss and telcphoned to La Junta.
Intercepted by Officer.
Thinking that Ballew was merely a
horse thief. Deputy Sheriff Jack Dcvne
left here to Intercept him. He had passed
the village of OrneEa when he saw a man
ahead OF him try to flag passing freight
train. But the train did not stop and the
man dropped in the tall grass beside the
track. Further down the track was the
horse and buggy that Ballew had stolen
Devine hurried forward and the next
instant Balicw opened fire They ex-
changed many rounds OF shots the dep
uty giving way until he had retreate ed
back toward La Junta for nearly a mile
Devine at last reached q house where
there was a telephone and ran in and
telephoned for assistance
Wounded by Negro.
In the meanwhile Ballew met Wesley
Wilson, a negro. driving ii buggy. and
forced him to turn The vehicle over to
him. Lashing the horse, he started
driving at breakneCk speed toward La
Juuta
AS he drove away Wilson drew a re-
volver from his pocket and emptied it at
the fugitive. one bullet striking him In
the thigh. Ballew had not gone far when
he met four deputies coming to the as
sistence of Devine. lie jumped out of
tho buggy and, lodging behind tree.
opened fire. Devine came up and the
shooting became verltablc battle. Bal
n,
but he dragged himself across the fields,
keeping his pursuers at bay by his &C.
curate aim.
AT length, his ammunition nearly ex-
hausted. he reached the farm house Of
John Higgins. where he demanded a
horse and buggy Higgins lodged into
his house and procuring a rifle, fired at
the fugitive Ballew did not fire this
time, but limping as best he could. rc-
treated behind a haystacb.
Suicide of Fugitive.
Then one shot was heard. When tho
posse closed in they found him dead with
bullet through his head. 1t was the
last cartridge he had. Two revolvers
lay beside him, None OF the pursuers
were injured.
It Is thought that Eallew tried to flag
the train in order to go to Las Cruces,
n. NJ, and complete his avowed ven-
geance by killing his eIrI-wife, who re-
Gently deserted him, II was because OF
her desertion and because he thought a
number OF people at South Platte had
turned her against him, that Ballcw ran
amuck Friday.
| BalleW was stage driver, and came
to Colorado from Copperhill. Tenn, about