Show BANQUET FOR EX-CONViCt EX f 1 Oklahoma Town Tot Doo noes Honor to Man Iun j Believed cd Innocent I Monte Monto Ballard Dalard a citizen of Maud was tendered a reception an and banquet banquot i ily by ly thc he leading business aH and amid professional profession al men of or the thc town when Ho lie returned home during the past last week weel from Iho tho federal at Fort Leaven Leaven- worth where he lie was tas sentenced sentence in Iii 11 1898 to serve ten years ealS for Cor participating I ing In iii the time burning to death of or two young youn Seminole Indians who had criminal criminally crim crini- luau inal assaulted a n white while woman vonian Tho Thu home-coming home of Ballard lalard and amid tho the events given In hIs Ills honor formed forme ono ono i of oh the most remarkable occurrences ever recorded in the history of or the tho Southwest The leading leadIng citizens headed headed head head- ed by a hm brass s band marched to the he train ti trin to meet Ballard Balard and amI escort him up imi Ip to town lown Ballard lalard served his sentence sent sent- once ence counting time off oc for good be beh leoa be- be le- le h oa havior As soon oon as ns II it was learned In Maud that thai Ballard was released release from prison on onam and amid am would n ii home preparations t to tc give I e him a monster oval 1 ovation iou Ion were commenced Money Ione was liberally donated do lie- by the time townspeople with which lo to provide a banquet Ct i a program of exercises was wm hastily arranged am and soon ample provisions were veru on hand for Cor a n genuine thanksgiving i feast east feast Tho Thu banquet hanquet it was as served anti and the tho speeches I an ing were made male at th time thc public school buldan build build- buld- buld By S o'clock in Iii the time owning time the t Its utmost ca en- en building was ivas crowded lo to Is C- C Somo Some of or the thc spectators camo came 1 from Imely rom miles mies distant to join In the thc lubi- lubi Ice lec and participate In itt II th time the general feast Ballard was wa made tho time editor center of or attraction r tion i lon iou anti and time Iho band band- played Homo Sweet Home and America In hl his honor Speeches reciting the tho scenes ln folo following the lime al assault uJ on fn the white while woman woman wo wo- 0 r man and amid an tho the burning of or the tIme Indians were made malc by Rev He Heh Mr Mi h e Hodges Hodges- tho time J Methodist minister Mc Diddle ei alB and amid other prominent citizens J Ballard has always alwa's maintained lila his hi Innocence and It I was vaS on his statements state state- ments that thai his Ills wife ba based cd ed her unceasing mig ing work in his behalf Sh Sue She has made mada madr J trips to toVa Washington Va Sho Simo Has a r petton petition signed I ned by hy eVel every man of promInence prom- prom nonce In lii county who anything whatever about aboul tha tho v vaso A C aso se hut but her hem efforts effort were fruitless At the line lime of or the lie conviction of Balard hal Bal ard d and his companions companions Horace Speed was j United SUites Slates attorney for Oklahoma and He lie was commanded by hc the Department of or Justice to search hc the entire country for tho the men who whit t lad hall burned the thc Italians Indians Indians lb Ho was ac ac- t by Bill UI then u ii n United Spates Sates marshal and amid then as now flow as ns time the most feats feat fear les ess s officer In the lie territory Fossett's as a fearless officer had much inch to lo do with wilh protecting both his 1 fe and Speeds Speed's while they were hunt hunt- ing time the evidence e which tho the department commanded thom to lo secure Maud Okla Okia Cor of or Kansas Kans City Journal |