Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-12
POLICE CHIEF HURLS BOMB
into CAMP OF DEFENSE
Ballou Met Death as Result OF
Drunken Brawl."
PRISONER wEEps BITTERLY
Woman's Attorney Bitterly Attacks
Evidence OF Omcer-PrObable That
Prosecution VIII Close To-Day,
and Defendant May Go on Stand.
Especial TO The Times Dispatch. ]

Especial TO The Times Dispatchl
BRIDGEPORT. CONN. March IL
Declaring Mrs. Helen NJ. Angle had
told him that Waldo II. Ballou. tho
Stamford politician. met his death as
tho result OF n drunken brawr' In her
apartment, Chief OF Police William H.
Brennan hurled n bomb into the camp
of the defense late this afternoon. The
prisoner, who had borne the strain OF
the days proceedings with fortitude,
broke down while Brennan was testify
inS7 and wcpt copiously upon the
shoulders OF her father. Leonard Blon-
dell
The latter WAS also visIpIy shaken
by the testimony or the police chief.
but contented himself with patting his
daughter gently upon tho back and
shcltering her within tn" sweep Of his
arm
After recounting the now familiar
circumstances surrounding the finding
%: Ballou unconscious upon the side
walk in front Of the Rippowan Build
ing. the bloodstained stairs and the
cory footprints leading 10 Mrs. Angles
apartment. the witness told OF tho
dificulty which he and other policemen
encountered IN gaining admission to
the prisoners fat.
II Knocked and knocked at tho door
said Brennan. "and finally Mrs. Angle
called from the inside: What's the
natter
Il said. Never mind what's the mat
ter. open the door She said. is that
YOU. Bin? I said: Yes. open the door .
Chief Brennan told OF tho further
delay IN gaining admit,ancc 10 the
apartment where ne said Mrs. Angle
greeted the visitors in her bare feet
clad only In kimono lie testified
that tho prisoner persisted IN denying
that any quarrel had occurred between
herself and Ballou. even after the lat
tcrs crushed and bloodstaincd straw
nat had been found secreted In a cedar
chest In her bedroom and Il bloody
shirtwaist and Skin, taken from 3
clothes closet
KILLING WAS RESULT
OF DRUNKEN BUAWI
1t was after such reiterated dcnials
on her part. the witness insisted, that
Mrs Angle finally said TO him: Bill
tho whole thing was the resul, Of a
drunken hrawl. BallOu was awful
drunk
Tho witness also related TO the sub
scquent discovery OF two broken bot
Ties. which had contained liquor on
the porch. and tho finding OF Rallou's
spcctacleB In a box OF rubbish on The
root OF an adjoining building. chic.
Brennan said that the prisoner had
how that hat and spectacles came "a
be hidden where they were found
she kept saying over and over again
that she aid not remember what had
occurred" continued the witness
Jacob Klein. attorney for Mrs. Angle
bitterly attacked tho testimony OF
brennan In the course OF his cross
examination OF the witness He sue.
ceeded In showing that the drunk CT
brawr conversation had never before
boon related by the police chief. de-
apite tho fact that the latter on three
occasions had testified under oath. be-
fore the coroner. TO All OF the circum-
stances surrounding the tragedy.
Cornelius p. McGuinness. forrc,
member OF the City Council OF STAN
ford. testified that Mrs. Angle denied
10 the police that she had worn the
bloodstained garments found in her
rooms on the night OF the tragedy
Former Councilman Charles T. Beck
testified that he had made careful
examination Of tho stairway and land
ing. He said that the stairs. look ed
as though they had been hurricdly
wiped up" lie declared that he found
water In tho corrugations OF the rub.
bcr stair covering
How do you know It was water ..
= demanded Mr. Klein
1T had an odorlcss smell" was the
reply, which provoked n burst of laugh.
ter in the courtroom.
Mrs Angle hinched as the blood
stained clothing was introduced into
evidence by States Attorney Homer {
cummings and exhibited to the Jury
She averted her gaze as the articles
passeu from hand to hand among the
Jurors, and whispered 10 her father.
sergeant William i. Ncvins OF the
Stamford police department. testified
that when Ballous body was founC
on the sidewalk. the outer door of the
Rippowan apartments was locked anf
'nat therc was no light visible on the
tnfrd hooT. where Mrs. Angles fla,
was situated.
Recalled to the stand, Chief Brennan
testified that when Mrs. Anglia wa,
Informed of Ballou's death. she becam,
hysterical and exclaimed: oh, it's no,
az bad as that, Is II. Bill? It's not ms
bad as that?"
When convinced that Ballou was deat
IN the hospital. Brennan said that Mrs
angle turned to him and said:
They can't put me in jail, can thew.
hey won't send me to prison?"
The witness said he urged tho pris.
oner to tell the whole truth, saying
You are the only one now who car
teil how this thing happened"
In spite Of his urging, however. Mrs
Anglc continued to tell connictinc
stories, the witness added.
1t is probable that tho prosecution
vii complete Its case tomorrow morn.
ing. and that in the afternoon MIRO