Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-05
MRS. BALLUE
SOBS FORTH
STORY
Severe Questioning Draws Out
Explanation Which Lanford Be-
lieVes-Couple Out on Bond.

That the mysterious shooting of
Captain a. C. Thompson. County
Warden. by Mrs. Lucy Ballue, bis
companion in the Owls Club Friday
night was not accidental, but fol-
lowed a quarrel between the two is
the sensational testimony which it
is understood will be given by one
or more witnesses who have been
supenaed to appear at the trial OF
Captain Thompson and Mrs. Ballue on
the charge of disorderly conduct
This is in direct contradiction Of
Mrs. Ballue's story which she sobbing-
ly related to Chief of Detectives
Lanford Saturday, and in which she
repeatedly declared that the shooting
was accidental. She asserted that
she and Captain Thompson were
drinking together in the reception
room of the Owls Club Friday night
and that Captain Thompson's revolver
was discharged while she was exam
lining It.
Two Said To Have ouarreIed.
One witness, however, is said to
have overheard the conversation be-
tween Captain Thompson and Mrs.
Ballue which preceded the shooting.
He will testify, it is understood, that
the two were quarreling over some
matter and that the woman snatched
the weapon from its holster in Cap
tain Thompson's hip pocket and that
the shot followed.
Mrs. Ballue's confession came after
an examination that lasted virtually
all morning. When she was first
taken into the detectives office and
questioned, she stuck to her original
story that she knew nothing of the
shooting.
She was taken back to her cell, and
half an hour later returned to Chief
Lanford's office. After an hours
questioning she admitted her part in
the affair.
Tells How II Happened.
Captain Thompson called me up
by telephone yesterday" she said,
and made an appointment for 4
O'clock. I met him at whitehall and
Hunter streets, and after we had
stood on the corner and talked for a
few moments we went up to the Owls
Club We had two or three drinks
there, and then went out for a stroll,
and came back after an hour or so.
when we came into the club again
we went into the reception room and
had another drink. l drank a glass
O. wine. After we drank. 1 was play
ing the piano and we were talking,
when Captain Thompson remarked
that it was hot, and took off his coat
He came over and laid the coat and
his belt containing his pistol on top
of the plano. I was still humping
the piano and he went and sat down
on my left. l kept on playing and
suddenly glanced up and saw the
revolver.
Il don't know what made me do it,
but l was seized with a desire to
look at the weapon. So I drew 1t out
of the holster, and began turning il
over and over in my hand.
Suddenly. l don't know how, the
revolver explonded with loud re-
port, and l heard Captain Thompson
cry that he was shot 1 was fright
ened almost to death, and l didn't
know what to do. I dropped the gun
on the floor and covered my face
with my hands I was so scared ]
didn't know what to do, and I don't
remember how I got out of the room"
Lanford Believes Her Story.
Chief Lanford announced he be-
neves the womans story, and his
opinion is concurred in by detectives
VINO have been investigating the case.
hey declare the nature of the wound
IS such that it could not have been
fnade save by a weapon that was
pointing downward.
After Mrs. Ballues confession Chief
Continued on Page 2, Column I.