The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-05-06
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WICHITA FALLS, May 6.CBy
The Associated Press) ". Nc
Cormick. chief OF police here less
than a week, today was the syno-
sure OF all eyes, for yesterday he
matched speed on the draw with
ID. M ("Bud,') Balloew one Of the
few remaining typiial old time
peace officers of the southwest, a
man with at least eight notches
on his gun and known for his ad-
roit handling OF a six shooter, and
Ballew died with his boots on just
as he repeatedly had predicted he
would. Ballew's OLD style, single ac-
ton As, was only half drawn from
its holster when his body fell with
five steel jacketed bullets fired.
from newer model arm by man
trained for years in the Texas
Rangers. VI % Is Il .JES s33
Ballew, until a few weeks ago a
Oklahoma, gun fighter extra-ordin-
airy and in private life a wealthy
stockman, came to Wichita Falls
to act as Judge in the annual
southwestern roundup. II
For a score of years or more
Oklahoma and Texas had known
him in his peaceable moments as
"a daring, fearless guardian of the
law vanquisher in man-to-man pis-
tol duels of more than a half dozen
truly western bad men. In his in
dulgence Bauew reverted to the
type in the pre7statehood days
when the territory harbored only
a comparatively few well meaning
citizens and many who found the
slaxe1 laws there more in keeping
with heir temperaments. Drinking
Ballew vas seized with an uncon-
;trola Bile desire to flourish his
shooting irons. shout Indian war
fwhoops and send volley after vol
ley. OF. shots splittering the air as
fast as he could work his thumbs
on. the hammers. q. "
5 Chief McCormick yesterday fear
ed such an outbreak, he said.
Within the past fortnight allew:
on twoso caSionsshad shotsMpasma q
saK1ahosn toRnss EsAbF6aa
sligh
:tas Word came to the: chief that$sBal-
lew we 81 drinking and might start
trou ble.The officer ent: to "a soft
drink parlor, observed Balew. ana
5tappings him on the shoulder.
charged him with drunkenness and
demanded he hand over his pss-
tol. III #z
Ballew turned half about with
the remark.
Hell, you're out of luck"
The chief( said the OklahomaiEnr i
reached for a pistol, and, beating
him3Sto: the draw, the. chief fired
from the hip. Five bullets hit Bal
lew, two from behind, one of them
penetrating the brain. He died IN
stantly.F Ballew was As years old
McCormick's. record as an officer
is something OF a contrast to sthat
oetRallew. He has small reputation
as a s!gun man." and this was his
first killing. When a member OF
the Texas Ranger force McCor-
mick was assigned to "clean up
the oil fields during the most law
less days here. He arrested many
gamblers and alleged bad men.
and has a reputation for being cool
and fearless. He served with the
Rangers when war threatened be-
tween Texas and Oklahoma claim
ants TO oil lands to the Red River
he'd over two years ago. As a re
suit Of his work in this section he
was selected as chief of police Tor
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