Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-05-06
FEARLESS ONE-GUN MAN
OF WANING WILD WEST

Ardmore, Okla, May 5.-(By Th,
Associated Press. Bud Ballew, know
for years as one of the fastest and on,
of the most fearless one-gun men o.
the southwest, was borne home Frida,
night in an airplane, the victim of
man who beat him to the draw.
Ballew, former deputy sheriff here
the notches on whose gun bore test
money that he had killed at least eigh
men and had been the victor Of count
less other gun fights, was widely knowl
for his quickness on the draw in tn,
early days in the southwest. Friday
]. w. Mccormick. former Texas ranger
and now chief of police at WIGHT,
Falls, Texas, drew and fired first.
Bud took in too much territory ant
for once was too slow on the draw,
is the opinion expressed by many here
Sheriff Calls 1t Murder
bud Ballew was murdered; / am
satisfied of that. Five shots and all
from the back. He did not have a
chance"
Tears glistened in the eyes of Buck
Garrett as he emerged from the under
taking shop in which there had just
been placed the body of his lieutenant
Bud Balew, idolized. by many as a
hero and hated and feared as a killer
by others.
Ballew's prowess with a six-shooter
was reputed in this section as second
only to that of his chief, former Sheriff
Buck Garrett, under whom Ballew
served as deputy for 10 years. until
Garrett was ousted from office several
months ago.
Terror to on Field Outlaws
Ballew was feared among the outlaws
of the oil fields and cattle country in
the early days when this section of the
state was headquarters for notorious
outlaws.
He was afraid of but one man and
that was his chief, Buck Garrett. When
Bud went on rampage here and in
towns, it was usually Buck
Garrett that took away his gun and
cowed him.
Lurid streaks of gun-fire and the
cracking of pistols told Ardmore and
other towns many times that Bud Bal
lew was ION a tear" 1t was Bud 8
delight, after imbibing, to shoot up a
town in true wild west fashion. Citi-
zens made way when Bud was out to
indulge in his sport. But when Buck
appeared, Bud became meek. People
will take one down the main street of
Ardmore and point out bullet-pierced
buildings which stopped some of Buds
bullets.
Ran Against. Then Joined Sheriff
Ballew became one of the famous
Garrett deputies after he had opposed
Garrett for office in an election. A
short time afterward. he made himself
CARROTS right-hand man when he saw
ed the sheriff's life in fight with two
alleged bandits near here. Garrett
pursued the bandits in the dark. He
overlook them and when they drew
their guns he refused to give up.
Dusty Mills. one of the men. was pre-
pairing to shoot Garrett when Ballew
arrived. Ballew beat Mills to the draw
md another notch was added to Buds
,un. Later in an Ardmore cafe. Bal
ew shot Dow Brazil to death.
Wounded, He Shot His Mans Head OFT
In Healdton, an oil field towa near
,ere, Ballew shot and killed an 2Aleged
,andit named Highnote after being
shot twice through the abdomen. In
lis wounded condition, Ballew calmly
,oked his pistol under Highnote's jaw
md fired. tearing off the top of his
lead. Highnote was reputed a bad
nan.
Steve Talkington. alleged bad man,
gambler and whisky runner, was an
'ther of Ballew's victims. He was
TILED when Ballew led raid on his
,lace at Writ. Talkington reached for
rifle but was too slow
Arch Campbell was killed by Ballew
ind other deputies in barber shop
lere.
Killed Man Staging Hold-ap
Another time when Rallew was
was when he killed Pete BY
,um in the oil fields near here. Ballew
inferred resort where Bynnm was
eported staging a hold-up. The dep
,ty sheriff beat another man to the
raw.
Ballew's body reached the flying
ield here Friday evening, and scores
{ persons were waiting. No funeral|
have been made.
Ballew was born in Fannin county, /,
rexas, in 1871. and came to the oldi