Miller County Archives Obituary for John Ball 1908

Submitted by Debra Boswell Crosby http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00010.html#0002467

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Miller County Liberal

Colquit, Georgia Feb 12, 1908

John Ball Killed

"Saturday morning John Ball rode a mule to town. About 12 o'clock, few people witnessed a fracus between him and Dal Washington, a negro under the employ of P.M. Jno. R. Bush.
This took place on the vacant lots at the rear of Joe Toole's store. Some time before Dal left the community adjacent to the farm of Mr. Bill Cook he became indebted to Mr. Jiles Cook. Young Ball was a brother-in-law of Jiles Cook and he informed the negro that Jiles had told him to collect the $2.00 due Jiles. Dal told Mr. Ball that he had made satisfactory arrangements with Mr. Cook before leaving out there; but before they parted Mr. Ball became infuriated and threw a brick bat at Dal. Dal picked up the brickbat as if to hurl it back at Mr. Ball when Mr. Ball drew his pistol and it is said he would have fired on the negro who was running had not Mr. Luther Franklin who married a sister of Mrs. Balls knocked the pistol up. The negro ran to his employer Mr. John Bush who talked to young Mr. Ball and told him that he would pay the $2.00 and asked Mr. Ball not to hurt the negro nor cause him to pay a fine for Dal. He explained to Mr. Ball that Dal owed him about two hundred dollars; but further assured him that he would pay amount due Mr. Cook, and young Ball promised to let the matter drop; but about 2 o'clock he came across Dal not far from Mr. J. R. Bush's and he or his father Mr. W. H. Ball perhaps both of them threw the negro down andJohn Ball hit Dal over the head with the end of a pistol and the negro shot at young Mr. Ball. That young man began firing on the negro. Five or six shots were fired in quick succession. Dal ran to the hom of Mr. Bush; and the town which had been unusually quiet was thrown into a fever of excitement. Men rushed from every direction asking with bated breath "Is fire out?" "What's the matter?" Neither of the men had been hit; and the town grew more calm. Several said both Mr. Balls were threatening to kill Dal Washington and that Dal was locked in Mr. Bush's smoke house. A warrant was sworn out by one of the Mr. Ball's for Dal. Sheriff Jno. A. Phillips arrested the negro and Dr. Bush stood his bond. This seemed not satisfactory to the father and son. Dr. Bush then had warrants for rioting issued for both of the Mr. Balls.
Men said the older man was drinking some and that the younger one was much under the influence of whiskey. Sheriff Jon A. Phillips took the warrants and for some reason he asked Ex-sheriff J. S. Wilkin to make the arrests; and then asked Marshall J. S. Thompson. Both men refused to do so. Mr. Phillips approached Mr. Ball who was sitting on a mule and said in a friendly manner: "John, I've got a warrant for your. Come on give bond." Mr. Ball said something (We could not learn what) and drew his pistol. The sheriff reached for his, and said G-d d--n it, John Ball don't draw your pistol on me. But the pistol was drawn and the sheiff dodged a little to the rear on the left side of the mule to get out of the range of Ball's weapon and with the words: "I'll kill you," fired his pistol; and the ball passed through the body of young Ball. Mr. ball with a cry of pain threw or dropped his pistol, which was a thirty eight caliber Smith &Wesson revolver, down and slided from the mule. Mr. J. S. Wilkin caught him and laid him on the side walk on the north side of the square. After lying there perhaps twenty minutes he was carried to the office of Dr. J. P. Cook where he expired about five o'clock p.m. Mr. W.H. Ball the father of John seized Mr. Phillips and tried to wrench the pistol from the hands of the officer. This he failed to do. Citizens parted the two men. The sheriff gave up his weapon to Ex-Sheriff J. S. Wilkin, and the crowd dispersed. The town grew quiet again. The shooting took place about 4:30 and the wounded man lived about half hour. Young Ball sometime ago, killed at a party a young white man by the name of Mears and seriously wounded Mears brother. Very much to the surprise of the public Ball was aquitted last year. Before he was tried for the murder of Mears, his sister, Mrs. Mullins, testified before the corners jury that here brother, John Ball had killed the negro man and the negro boy over whom the jury was holding an inquest. He was under a ten thousand dollar bond for this offense when he was killed. Good men attach no blame to the officer who acted in self defense. Sympathy has been manifested for Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Ball, the parents, and for the wife of the deceased. The body of Ball was carried Saturday night to the home of his parents and was interred Sunday afternoon at Salem church.