Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-03-30
KNOBBERS TO HANG.
THE TRIPLE EXECUTION AT OZARK,
MO-, SET FOR MAY 10.

Active Measures Toward Breaking Up an
Organized Band of Msrauders and Muir
derers-The Young Vice Chief Takes His
Sentence Cooi1y.
OZARK, Mo-, March 29,-Judge Nal
colin G. McGregor had John Matthews
brought into court to receive his death
sentence. Matthews was very pale, but
looked much more composed and resigned
to his fate than when convicted. A mo-
ton for a new trial was fled by Mat
thews' attorneys, which the court
promptly overruled. A motion for an ar
rest of Judgment was also filed and over
ruled.
Judge McGregor then said: stMr.
Matthews, please stand up. You have
beed indicted and tried in this court on a
charge of murder, and by a jury of this
county found guilty of the crime of MUIR
der in the first degree. The court has
duly considered your motion for a new
trial, and overruled the same. Ifsyou
now nave anything to say, or additional
legal Il to show why the judgment
and sentence OF the court should not
now be pronounced against you, you can
now be heard
Matthews said: NJ don't know that i
have anything to say
Judge MeGregor then sentenced him
to i'be taken to the jail of Christian
county, there to remain in the custody of
the sheriff of said county until Friday,
the 18th day of May, A. d., 1888, on
which day you be taken tor place, inolosed
90 fLa -, l,,onfc w. thn 1r, ~ nyorIr
In said county, and there, on said Friday,
tween the hours of 6 o'clock in the fore
noon and3 o'clock in the afternoon Of
thai day, you be hanged by the neck I'M
til you be dead, and may God have mercy
upon your soul" as
Judge McGregor then shook hands
with Matthews, and left Ozark for Car
thage. Judge w. D. Hubbard then took
the bench, which he had vacated in favor
of Judge McGregor for the trial of John
Matthews, and ordered Wiley Matthews
and William Walker brought into court.
These young Knobbers were both per-
fectly cool and as self-possessed as when
on trial The young vice chief of the
Christian county Bald Knob organization
was neatly dressed, and wore a silk scarf
around his neck. Many members of the
regulating order were in the court room,
and William Abbott, whose initiation
into the Sc rets of the Black Mask Broth
erhood at the smelter meeting the night
of the Edens-Green raid, was the last Of
fetal act of young Walkers life, sat on
the front seat near the prisoners box.
When Judge Hubbard told Walker to
stand up, and asked him il he had any
thing to say why sentence should not be
passed, the young Knobber spoke us fol-
lows, without a tremor in his voice, or
the slightest appearance of embarrass-
ment:
We'll, 1 have only this to say-that is,
l don't believe 1 had a fair and impartial
trial. believe the verdict was not rem
asred according to law There was no
evidence against me except the uncor-
roborated testimony of accomplices
That is all l nave to say
This little speech was delivered in a
clear, smoothyoice, and the entire audi
ence heard distinctly every word uttered.
There was no insolenee, 40 brayado in
young Walkers tone or bearing, and, de-
spite his crime, it was impossible not to
feel some admiration for the Bull creek
youth, who now stood up to hear the day
of his execution fixed. Judge Hubbard
then pronounced sentence against Walk
er, fixing the 18th day of May as the
time of his execution.
Wiley Matthews then stood up and said
he had nothing to say why sentence
should not be passed against him. He
heard his sentence without the slightest
sign of agitation, and took his seat by the
side of Walker as coolly ses though moth
ing unusual had occurred.
The execution of Wiley Matthews was
set for the same day named in the sent
ence of his Uncle John andypung Walker.