Ballzell, William 1866 – 1908

BALLZELL, GEDDES

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 7/14/2022 at 13:57:40

Source: Decorah Republican Apr. 2, 1908, P3 C6

ENDS HIS LIFE.
Ballzell, the Allamakee Murderer, Chokes Himself to Death in Jail at Waukon.
Last Saturday morning when the cell of William Ballzell, the man who murdered Mrs. Geddes near Frankville a few weeks ago, was opened, it was found that some time during the night he had committed suicide by choking himself to death. According to reports from Waukon he had wound a piece of twine about his neck a number of times, tied it securely and forced a broom handle under the twine. It requires little imagination to understand that when he gave the broom handle a twist, death came to him quickly. Whether Ballzell was insane or not has been a matter of doubt in the minds of many. However, it cannot be otherwise than with a sense of relief to the officers of Allamakee when they contemplate that the man has proven his own judge and jury.

Transcriber’s Note: Find a Grave shows he was born Sept. 14, 1866 and died March 27, 1908. He is buried in the Frankville Cemetery.

Source: Decorah Republican Jan. 23, 1908, P6 C1

Great excitement was created last evening when the report was circulated that Wm. Ballzell had shot and killed a Mrs. Geddis. He with one of his daughters had been to Postville, and on their return stopped at Harry Bollman’s, where the lady was, (she has been working for Mrs. Bollman for some time), and asked her to marry him, but she refused. He started o home and on reaching there gave his daughters about $600 in checks, kissed them and said if she would not marry him they wouldn’t see either of them alive again. He left the house and went to Jim Emery’s, where he ate supper and then went back to Harry Bollman’s and when Mrs. Geddis came in the door drew a revolver and shot her. She died about five minutes later. After doing the awful deed he started back towards Jim Emery’s and hid along the road and when a wagon in which Harry Bollman and another man who were coming home from town, passed him he shot at them just missing Harry’s head. Going to Marshall Bollman’s he tried to get them to come out. It is thought he intended to kill Mrs. B., whom he thought had influenced Mrs. Geddis to leave his home. When they would not come out he set their barn on fire. He went back to Jim Emery’s and had just left there when Sheriff Hall and his deputy and nine militiamen arrived from Waukon. A crowd of men and boys from town went down and also joined in the search. They found and captured him about two miles from Emery’s, on the Postville road, and took him to Waukon and placed him in jail. Balzell is a man between 45 and 50 years of age and a widower with a large family of children. His wife died about seven years ago and Mrs. Geddis, whom he killed, was her sister. Mr. Bollman’s barn was burned to the ground with the contents but fortunately he did not lose any of his stock, as he had not done any of his chores and they had not been put in for the night.

Transcriber’s Note: Find a Grave shows this was Sarah Geddes. She was born Feb 1878 and died Jan. 21, 1908. She is buried in Manning Cemetery in Readstown, WI.

Frankville Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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