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

Chief of Detectives Lanford said
last Sturday that Harry Latham.
court deputy. and l.. c. Raoul. secre-
tary of the owls Club, would be sum
moned in court at the trial OF Mrs.
Lucy Ballue and Captain A. c.
Thompson next Tuesday afternoon II
tell Of the apparent endeavor to
spirit the Ballue woman away from
the club and suppress the facts Of
the case after the mysterious shoot
ing in the club on Friday night.
Chief Lanford said that he was
convinced that an effort had been
made to prevent the officers from get
ting a knowledge OF the circumstances
Of the shooting and that he intended
to probe the matter to the bottom
Row Is Reported.
That the mysterious shooting OF
Captain A. c. Thompson. County
Warden. by Mrs. Lucy Ballue. hts
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 dlsorderly 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 6. the owls Club Friday night
and that Captain Thompsons revolver
was discharged while she was exam
lining 1t.
Two Said To Have ouarreled.
One witness. however. is said to
have overheard the conversation be-
tween Captain Thompson and Mrs.
Ballue which preceded the shooting.
He will testify, 1t 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
ali 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 It Happened.
Captain Thompson called me UP
by telephone yepterday," she said,
"and made an appointment for
o'clock. I met him at Whitehall and
Hunter streets. and after we had
stood on the corner and talked for
few moments we went up to the Owls
Club. We had two or three drinks
there, and then went out for 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
of wine After we drank. 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 piano. was still humping
the piano and he went and sat down
on my left. I kept on playing and
suddenly I 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 drew 1t out
of the holster and began turning It
over and over in my hand.
Suddenly don't know how, the
revolver expIonded with a loud re-
port, and heard Captain Thompson
9ewtlR