Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-06-06

COUNTY Newton had promised TO send
the Sheriff out from West Plains, and
when that town was neared he left the
covered wagon with Bill Walker and
Bean in the woods while he went to
town, ostensibiy to purchase provisions.
The Sheriff got his telegram, and when
young Walker, Newton and Bean, later
in the day, were moving toward the rail-
road depot at West Plains they were
halted by the Sheriff and his deputy and
arrested and taken to Jail.
On April 10 a special Grand jury OF
Christian County commenced the inyes-
tigation of the Edens-Green murder,
and ON the same day the prisoners We're
removed from Springfield to Ozark Jail.
Wiley Matthews, John Matthews, will
liam Newton, Charles Graves, Bill
Walker, Dave Walker, Parson O. s.
Simmons, William Stanley, Andrew
Adams and Joe Inman were indicted for
the murder of William Edens, and also
for that of Charles Green, Joe Hyde,
James Matthews, Lewis Davis and Pete
Davis were indicted for the murder of
Charles Edens. Dave Walker was in
dicted in twenty cases outside of the
Edens- Green murder. In all, $50 in
dictments were returned against some
eighty Knobbers for various crimes.
John and William Mapes, sons of Rev.
H. j. Mapes, were indicted for perjury
before the Grand Jury. When aTaign-
ed each and every Knobber pleaded not
guilty.
The first Knobber tried was Gilbert
Applegate, who was tried in September,
1887, and acquitted. Bill Walkers trial
commenced March l, 1883. He was
defended by S. IL. Boyd, o. H. Trayers
and d. NJ. Payne. Prosecuting Attor-
ney Watson was assisted by Colonel
Almus Harrington, j. j. Brown and }.
A. Hammond. Old man Edens testified
for the State and Mrs. Emma Edens,
wife OF William Edens, who was killed,
told how the Knobbers went out Of the
house, when she saw her husband and
Charles Green and old man Edens lying
wounded on the floor. Her husband
was lying near the door and trying to
get up. She went to his side, when
some one of the crowd outside said:
"Put it to him again." Immediately q
gun was polxed in at the door and fired,
the shot taking effect in her husbands
head, from which he died instantly.
The trial came near being mistrial
on account Of sick juror, but the juror
stuck it out, and Bill Walker was con-
victed of murder in the first degree on
March 9. Wiley Matthews was tried
next, and convicted ON March 10.
John Matthews was not tried before
Judge Hubbard, having filed an afi-
davit alleging prejudice, but was tried
before Judge McGregor, and convicted.
Tie three convicted Knobbers were sem
fenced to be hanged May 18, 1888.
Dave Walkers trial commenced April
8, and he was convicted April IL, and
sentenced TO be hanged.
Parson G. 0. Simmons pleaded guilty
to murder in the second degree, and got
twelve years in the Penitentiary. Viii
liam Stanley and Amos Jones got twen-
ty-one years each.
All the capital cases were appealed to
the Supreme Court, and, pending decis-
ion, at a. m. December 20, 1888,
Wiley Matthews and John Matthews
and five railroad car thieves escaped
from Ozark Jail. Dave Walker and Bill
Walker had the chance to escape and
refused to go, asserting that they had
done nothing to be hanged for. John
Matthews was recaptured within three
miles of the Jail, and returned to GUS
tody. Wiley Matthews is still at large.
Early in January, 1889, the Supreme
Court affirmed the judgments in the
case of John Matthews and Bill Walker,
and set February Ii for the day of exc
cution. A reprieve was granted by
Governor Francis until April 10. In
the interim tho Supreme Court al
firmed the finding in Davo Walkers
case, and set May 10 for the day of his
execution. The Governor reprieved the
other two convicted Knobbers to the
same day. Much pressure was brought
to bear in favor of q Communication of
sentence, but ON May Governor Fran
els finally declined to interfere.
OF the twenty-six Knobbers who met
at the smelter on the night of March IL,
1878, nineteen went with Chief Walker
to Eden's house. Sixteen of these we're
indicted for murder in the first degree.
Dave Walker, Bill Walker, Wiley Mat
thews and John Matthews were SEN
fenced to death. Parson Simmons,
Amos Jones and William Stanley went
to the penitentiary. Joe Inman, Char
ley Graves, Bill Newton, Lewis Davis
and Reber Davis were used by the State
as witnesses, and thereby escaped. Gil
pert Applegate was acquitted. Little
Jimmy Matthews was discharged from
custody after the conviction of his
father. The other Knobbers punished
served Jail sentences and paid fines.
The three leaders were hanged short
time ago. Cincinnati Enquirer.