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

lIeVeS-CoupIe Uut on BOND.
Mrs. Lucy Ballue. of is Lynch
Street. confessed to Chief of Detec-
tives Newport Lanford Saturday
morning that she shot Captain A. c.
Thompson, County Warden, while
they were drinking together in the
reception room of the Owls Club at
Pryor and Mitchell streets Friday
night, She declares the shooting was
accidental. and that Captain Thomp-
sons revolver was discharged while
she was examining It,
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 It Happened.
Captain Thompson called me I'd
| by telephone yesterday" she said.
and made an appointment for
o'clock ] met him al whitehall and
I 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
mad another drink. / drank a glass
of wine. After we drank, I 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 ahd
his belt containing his pistol on ton
OF the piano. l was still humping
the plano and he went and sat down
on my left l kept on playing and
suddenly l glanced up and saw the
revolver
Il don't know what made me do f.
but | was seized with a desire TO
look at the weapon So l drew II out
OF the holster, and began turning II
over and over in my hand.
Suddenly, | don't know how. the
revolver explonded with a loud re-
port and l heard Captain Thompson
cry that he was shot. l was fright
ened almost to death, and I didn't
know what to do. l dropped the gun
on the floor and covered nv face
with my hands. 1 was so scared
didn't know what to do, and I don't
remember how got out Of the room.'
Lanford Believes Her Story,
Chief Lanford announced he be-
lieves the woman's story, and his
opinion Is concurred in by detectives
who have been investigating the case.
They declare the nature of the wound
rs such that 1t could not have been
made save by a weapon that was
pointing downward.
After Mrs. Ballues confession Chief
Lanford reduced her bond from 81. 900
to 500 and changed the charge to
disorderly conduct. 1t was signed by
her brotherin-law, w. H. Holbrook,
with whom she resides at is Lynch
Street.
After the woman's release Captain
Thompson was brought 10 headquar-
tiers from Grady Hospital in a cab,
and a charge of disorderly conduct
was docketed against him. His bond
was fixed at 800. 1t also was signed
by Holbrook. After he was released
Mrs. Ballue entered the cab and drove
away with Captain Thompson.
Members Of Mrs. Ballue's family
said Saturday morning that Captain
Thompson has been paying her atten-
lions for about year She is the
wife Of John Ballue, a structural iron
worker, from whom she has been sep
arated for three years. She has no
children. For the past year she has
been employed at Nunnallys Overall
Factory at Marietta and Alexander
Streets.
Arrested on Street.
Detectives Doyal and Waggoner,
attached to headquarters. arrested
Mrs Ballue at Garrett and Pryor
Streets after what they asserted was
an attempt to spirit her awayepy L.
c, Raoul. secretary of the Owls Club.