The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-05-15
WAS A BUNGLED UP AFFAIR
HANGING OF THE BALD KNosssRs.
The First Time the Trap Was Sprung the
Rope Broke and the Doomed Men Had
to be Carried Back on the Scaffold
"A Second Attempt Successful.

OZARK, No., May 1O.-The three Bald Knob
bers, Dave Walker, better known in Christian
county as Bull Creek Dave" chief of the
Bald Knobbers, his son William Walker and
John Matthews, were hanged this morning for
the murder of Charles Green and William
Edens on March IL, 1857.
The carpenters gave the scaflold its finishing
touches last evening and everything was ready
by o'clock. William Walker was baptized
last evening by immersion in bath basin car
ried into the Jail. The scene was very affect
ing. John Matthews made a long prayer.
which could be distinctly heard in the street
fronting the Jail. The prisoners ate their sup
per with as much relish as usual and appeared
very quiet, except Matthews, who was taking
his fate very hard. He passed a restless night
praying at short intervals, asking the Lord to
give him strength to go through the ordeal,
and claiming he was a martyr. He did not
sleep over two hours during the night The
two Walkers retired about IL O'clock went TO
sleep and did not wake until after o'clock
They stated that they rested well. They were
up early and ate their breakfast at the usual
hour
The iail-yard was full of guards, armed
with Winchesters, shotguns and revOlvers, and
were in charge of Capt. G. w. Taylor, who was
foreman of the grand jury which indicted the
Bald Knobbers. Matthews wife and mother
came in last evening and several other of his
relatives were here. Divine services were
opened in the Jail at 80 o'clock, conducted
by the Revs. Thomas Hanks, ID. +. Graystone
and I. b. Horn, assisted by few Christian
ladies. Matthews took part in the exercises
and delivered an earnest prayer in a loud
voice. William Walker also led in prayer
once. At S:53 o'clock the sheriff entered the
Jail and read the death warrant to the doomed
men, after which Thomas Delany one of their
attorneys, was admitted, to have an interview
and bid them farewell. John Matthews came
to the window and had a conversation with a
reporter
At 9:10 o'clock the prisoners commenced
dressing themselves for the scaffold. They
were dressed with white shirts linen collars
black cravats low slippers and black coat
vest and pants. Just before leaving his cell,
John Matthews proclaimed his innocence in
loud voice The sheriff helped Matthews up the
steps. Young Walker followed, with firm
step, his father following close behind, as firm
as ever.
At the trap a short prayer was delivered by
the Rev. I. B. Horn, after which all joined in
singing. The Rev. T. B. Horn rendered selec-
ton from the book of Job. The Rev. Thomas
Hanks delivered a beautiful prayer. The
moose was ADJUSTED at S:4U. Matthew's calieU
on all who were willing to help his little ones
to hold up their hands. Nearly every one in
his sight held up their hands. The black caps
were adjusted at 9:51.
At 9:53 the drop fell. John Matthews fell
praying. The stretch of the rope let all fall to
the ground. The rope broke and William
Walker fell loose and lay there struggling and
grooming. He talked for three minutes, when
he was taken up by the sheriff and deputies on
the scaffold. Dave Walker was drawn up and
died in about fifteen minutes. Matthews lived
about thirteen minutes, and died with his feet
on the ground. The scene was horrible in the
extreme. Matthews and Dave Walker were
cut down at 1910. The trap was again ad-
iusted, and William Walker lifted, helpless
and grooming and gurgling ana almost insensi-
BILE, and the rope again adjusted and the trap
again sprung. This time the descent came to a
sudden stop with his feet fully thirty
inches from the ground, and he died without a
struggle.