BALES, Jasper - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Jasper N. Bales, son of Samuel and Ellen Busenbark Bales, was born in Attica, Ind. November 24, 1884. On August 1909, he was united in marriage to Miss Naomi Abolt, to which union was born two sons, Vernon William and Melvin Keith. During their entire married life they have resided in this community. Jasper was a good, father, very industrious and a splendid neighbor, ever ready to help in the time of need. His tragic death occurred on Sunday evening, June 8, 1930. Relatives left to mourn are his wife, two sons, Neal Bales of Attica; Charles Bales of Lakeview, Washington; Mrs. John Engle, Milford, Ind., and Mrs. Belle Bybee of Indianapolis.

Attica, Ind., June 9 - Surrounded by a posse of armed men and determined not to give himself up alive, Jasper Bales, 42 years old, committed suicide by shooting himself through the head in a corn crib on the farm of his mother-in-law, Mrs. Marian Abolt, near Newtown last night. He was being hunted as the man who killed Grover Smith, 45, Newtown world war veteran, and wounded Mrs. Abolt at his home Saturday night when he became infuriated at Mrs. Bales' attempt to obtain a divorce. Bales, who had been sought since the shooting was found by two children hiding in a wagon bed in the Abolt outbuilding. They reported to neighbors, who surrounded the crib and ordered him to come out. Their only answer was the shot with which he took his life. By his body were found two rifles, a shotgun and a revolver. The shooting followed estrangement between Mr. and Mrs. Bales, in which the wife filed suit for divorce. Bales, according to information given to the Fountain county sheriff had warned her to withdraw the suit or "she would be sorry." Saturday night as Mrs. Bales, her sister, Mrs. Grover Smith, Grover Smith and Mrs. Abolt returned to the Bales home after a drive, Mrs. Bales went to a woodshed to get some kindling. There, according to her story, she saw her husband crouched in a shadow holding a repeating shotgun. She screamed and fled and Smith approached the woodshed, where he was fired on and wounded in the right arm. It is believed the shot was intended for Mrs. Bales. Smith fled to the road, but was shot again in the chest, a wound which proved fatal. A third shot wounded Mrs. Abolt.