New-York tribune., 1922-12-16
Outlaw Chieftain Shot to
Death in Shack in the
Cave Regions of Meni.
fee County, Kentucky
Bullets Riddle Body
OfProhibitionA Agent
Guy Cole, Ex-Service Man,
Rushes Cabin and Falls
as Weeks War Ends

LEXINGTON. KY, Dec. 15.-Federal
prohibition forces to-day lost their
third member within a week from guns
Of the same band Of outlaws. but the
leader Of the gang paid the penalty.
In a battle fought to-day about a cabin
In the mountains Of Menifec County
between twenty Federal agents and Bob
and Charlie Ballard, moonshiners bar
rieAded In q cabin, Bob Ballard was
killed. Guy Cole, ex-serviee man and
prohibition ofieer, was killed by Bal
lard or his brother, Charlie. The lat
ter escaped, but Is reported TO have
been wounded In the shoulder and leg
The Federal agents left here early
to-day and enetrated the rocky cave
area Of Menlfee County where the
Ballard band was known 70 have head
quarters. The Billiards. we're hunted
for the murder last Saturday OF Pro-
hibition Agent r. Z. Duff and the as
sassination Sunday Of Agent David
Treadway. On the way into the hills
to-day three members Of the gang we're
captured. The officers approach TO the
cabin was apparently not seen until
they had nearly surrounded the place.
when Guy Cole, with rifle ready, went
toward the cabin, there came n volley
and he pitched forward. his head fall
ing almost against the door Of the
little building.
Body Dragged Inside
Hands Of unseen men reached out
and dragged the body of the dead
agent inside the building. Then rifles
began 20 spit hre from every direction.
The dry forces poured yolley after
volley into the house. The outlaws re-
turned the FIRE. Suddenly the door was
torn open and Charlie Ballard rushed
out. rifles Of the ofieers poured bull
lets at him, but he reached the woods.
whore IL Is said he had a horse teth-
cred. He escaped into the mountains.
where blood-hounds are trailing him
tonight. Three men were arrested
Just before the battle. and said the
cabin was deserted. The raiders be-
iieved their story. The fatal battle
followed.
Members Of the outlaw band cap
tured by the posse were Jeh Ballard,
father, and Albert Ballard, brother, OF
the slain leader; william Ferguson,
Joseph Glen and Elwood Rifee.
The smashing Of the Ballard gang
followed a week marked by three spec
taeular gun battles. The drawn-out
hght was inaugurated last Saturday,
when Agent r. 4. Duff was shot 70 death
while leading a party Of raiders
against a cave used By the outlaws al
still site.
Posse Forced to Return
The following day a large posse Of
Federal agents and deputy sheriffs
went into the hills, but returned after
David Treadway. deputized by the
Federal authorities, was slain by bull
let fired by hidden riheman.
The large posse was disbanded fol-
lewing Treadway's death and the Fed
eral operatives adopted under cover"
methods 20 locate their men.
To-day's fight az the cabin was the
last stand OF the outlaws. Agent Cole
fell before the fire Of the defenders,
but bullets from high power rifes In
tNe handz OF the attacking party ripped
through the walls Of the cabin, killing
the outlaw leader and wounding his
brother.
Covering his retreat with his rine,
Charles Bnllard was successful Ia. elud-
ing pursuit. Whether his wound was
sufieieatly serious TO retard his flight
from the immediate vicinity OF the
hQht was not determined.