Arizona republican., 1912-02-09
Seated in a Chair at the Gas Works A. W. Ballard Deliberately Fires Shot That Causes His Instant Death
ACT PROMPTED
 BY ILL HEALTH
Deceased Was Universally Liked and Respected and Tragedy Comes a Shock to Hundreds of Friends Here

Sitting at his desk in the power house of inc Pacific Gas & Electric conpany yesterday afternoon at 5;lo o'clock. Arthur W. Ballard. president of the company, shot himself through 1he heart with an automatic revolver ot small ca'ible. firing two other shots one Of whicn went through the tin roof anl the other through the rung Of the chair in which he sat and in dented the cement floor. The motive for the act was i'll health.
 MT. Ballard has been a sufferer from asthma for many wears. and while resident of Les Angeles made frequent trips to Phoenix for relief. It k that fact that le., him to so shape his af- iairs as to come here for permanent residence Recently he has had a ser ies of severe attacks and il iS said has onH- been atle to sleep a few hours each night. ard then only when prop ced up Win pillows. To further je- press his sr.rits he has been a sufferer rom gall stones and last summer he was told that an operation would be necessary. He was planning to go to Rochester Minn.. fer that purpose when advised by specialists that there was no imminent danger and he post poned the ,iay. but feared its sure ap- proach.
 Present in the building when the shots were fired, were w C. Hornber ger and J. J. Mcintosh. the former as sistant manager of the company anu the latter the station operator. They were perhaps forty feet away. Two shots were heard close together and then the tlird, a moment later. Which of the shots took effect is uncertain but it is pI esumed the first one and tcat the others were he result Of the snasmodic action of his fingers which held the trigger ot the automatic weapon. Tie men rushed tO his side and moved his chair to the door but he died almost instantly merely uttering the exclamation. Oh,
 Coroner Johnstore subpoeuaed jury and inquired into the circum- stances continuing the inquest until o'clock this morning. Several letters were found in NIT. Ballard's pockets addressed to various employees and RA-4tI5 bOl llltN Mtle St-tilEu r1it lAltAl contents have not been made public.
 Arthur W. Ballard was born in Lon don. Englanl 43 years ago. his grand father it is understood being the in rentor of the Ballard rifle Many years ago while nC was yet in his teens the family moVed to Los Angeles. His father Walter ]. Ballard has been for many years widely known as d sta tistician and newspaper man. and has been associated much of the time with the Los Angeles Times For twenty years preceding his residence in Phoe- nix. A. w Ballard was manager of the Southern California branch of the oneral Electric company. in Los An Seles. Through his associations and interest in the Pacific Gas and Flee tric Go. he was made president of the latter and transferred his residence to Phoenix. thinking thereby that his health might be improved Tine mar vel of it all is that Mir Ballard was suffering srch i'll health when other tfan his irtimates sIpposel him to be enjoying the best of health by reason of his unusually large stature and weight
 NIT. Ballard during his residence here Cf only two pr three years. had become well acquainted in the business and social word and was universally liked by all whD knew him. His employees wed him almost as father and their loyalty is q matter of general and faV- Crable comment. He was a big heart cd. whole souled man, liberal to fault both as to employees, private acquaint- ance and .Il all matters of public and civic interest
 Since coming here Mir Ballard has thrown himself energetically into all business and public affairs of the city in which he could mOdestly participate lt business way aside from directing the Pacific Gas and Electric Co he assisted in organizing and became the president ti the New State Electric Supply & Fixture Co. the Auto Aerial company and the Alhambra Brick & Tile Co. lie was also interested in the Hotel Ada;hs company and had charge of that enterprise during the absence of J. C. Adams last summer. doing much to Eurry the structure to early completion. These are but the larger matters in which his activity was pre- dominant. In the automobile races the work oI the board of trade. all civic undertakings in the city. wherein his time. his personality and the use were at aii times available. In his