GBR Law & Order, Life & Death Series

Great Basin Research

Law & Order Life and Death In the Great Basin – Ballarat, California Historical News of Misdemeanor, Felony and Internment Death and Near Misses by Natural Causes, Accidents and Human Hand compiled from newspaper research by David A. Wright

All new additions to this page will be noted by this symbol --
Articles are quoted from their source unless otherwise indicated by “Summary”

Ballarat, California

Newspaper Articles

Inyo Register, November 2, 1905
Summary: Killing of Richard Decker.

Inyo Register, November 9, 1905
Summary: More information on the murder of Richard Decker.

Inyo Register, November 16, 1905
Summary: Autopsy of Richard Decker, recently murdered.

Inyo Independent, September 7, 1906
“SHOOTING SCRAPE”
The news of a most unfortunate affair was telegraphed in from Ballarat Tuesday, the message stating that Ed. Shuey and Billy Williford had been shot by Jack Keane. T.B. Kelly came in from there yesterday morning and from the best information we can obtain the facts are as follows: There had been a difficulty of some kind between Keane and George Vollmer and it was expected that serious trouble would result. Keane had been drinking for several days and in company with two women had raised a disturbance at Calloway’s hotel. Ed. Shuey, who is a peace officer, went to Jack Curran’s house to place Keane under arrest when Keane shot him, the bullet ranging up the arm and into the body. A little later Williford, also an officer, attempted to arrest Keane when the latter shot him in the hand; Williford took his gun in his left hand and fired at Keane but missed him. Later on Ralph Williams arrested Keane and telegraphed that he was being brought up. A later telegram, however, states that Keane is being held at Ballarat and Sheriff Collins left yesterday and expected to arrive at Ballarat this morning. District Attorney Dehy accompanying him. A telegraph from Los Angeles yesterday stated that Williford was not seriously hurt but that Shuey was in a dangerous condition. There being no doctor at Ballarat, it was deemed best to send the wounded men to Los Angeles for treatment, and they left about midnight the day of the shooting. Mr. Kelley helped to dress Shuey’s wound and says he did not consider it serious but the bullet had not been located and is probably lodged in some vital place rendering the injury far more serious than it first appeared.

Inyo Register, September 13, 1906
Summary: Shooting at Ballarat. Perpetrator was Jack Keane, discoverer of Keane Wonder Mine.

Inyo Independent, September 14, 1906
Sheriff Collins and District Attorney Dehy arrived here last evening from Ballarat. P.W. Forbes Esq. went to Ballarat to look after the interests of Jack Keane at his preliminary examination.

Inyo Independent, September 28, 1906
Ed. Shuey has had his right arm amputated at the shoulder and at last reports grave fears were entertained for his recovery. Billy Williford is getting along nicely and will soon return to Ballarat.

Beatty Bullfrog Miner, October 20, 1906
“TWO RIGHT ARMS”
The two men shot by Jack Kane [Keane] at Ballarat are in Los Angeles hospitals. Each will lose [sic] a right arm. It is reported that Jack has been released on bond.

Inyo Register, January 16, 1908
Summary: "Ballarat Kid" dies in Big Pine.

Inyo Register December 24, 1908
With deep regret it was learned that Lester Callaway had died at Independence Tuesday night. He had been ill for some weeks with bronchial or lung troubles, but recent advices had been that he was on the way to recovery. He was the third son of Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Callaway, former residents here, more recently of Ballarat. He was a young man of stalwart and fine physique, and that he should be thus taken away, at the early age of 23, is a fresh demonstration of the uncertain tenor of existence. To his sorrowing parents, brothers and sister we tender sincere sympathy. Deceased was a member of the local lodge of the Fraternal Brotherhood, a large delegation of whose members went to Independence by coach last night to attend the funeral.

Inyo Register, August 27, 1908
Summary: Jack Hilderbrand, a miner from Ballarat, fell out of the window of the Valley View Hotel in Bishop, shortly after he came from Rhyolite.

Ballarat Cemetery Headstones:
Charles Ferge ("Seldom Seen Slim")
1889 -1968
"ME LONELY? HELL NO!! I'M HALF COYOTE, HALF WILD BURRO!"

Joseph H. Gorsline
Born Randolph, New York, March 6, 1849.
Died Los Angeles, California, June 15, 1924."

John L. Benney
1859 – 1908.
Initials W.F.M. in the corner.

Michael Sherlock
August 1860 - November 1885?

Benjamin Smith Bennett
May 21st 1876 to June 8th, 1937.

Niel J. Cummins Jr.
September 14, 1945 to November 26, 1988.
"HE KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES IN GOD'S HANDS."

From Inyo County Book of Marriage Licenses, Book B.

Frank Clayton Kennedy, native of Arkansas, age 58, resident of Ballarat; to Catalina A. Loughrey, native of California, age 43, resident of Darwin. Applied for a marriage license July 29, 1915. Married in Darwin. Witnesses: Henry Hitmore, resident of Darwin; Jean Carthey, resident of Darwin. Married by Theo Peterson, Justice of the Peace.

Law & Order, Life & Death California Site List

Law & Order, Life & Death Other States List

Page Revised: 05/04/2007