The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1889-05-16
DIED HARD.
BungIing Work at the Execution OF
Three Bald Knobbers-One Man
Txuioa HonpoH

Twice Hanged.
OZARK, Mo-, May 1O-The three Bald
Knobbers, Dave Walker, better known in
Christian county as @Bull Creek Dave" chief
of thc Bald Knobbers, his son William
Walker and John Matthews, were hanged to-
day for the murder of Charles Green and
William Edens on March IL, 1887. They
were firmly OF the opinion, up to within
forty-eight hours of the execution, they
would never be called upon to pay the ex-
trCme penalty of life for life. just be-
fore leaving his cell, John Matthews pro-
claimed 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. John
Matthews said he had nothing to say. He
was there, but took no part in the
crime. 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 groaning He talked for three minutes.
when he was taken up by the sheriff and
deputies ON the scafrold. 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 and the trap
was again adjusted. William Walker was
lifted, helpless and groaning and struggling,
and almost insensible, 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 struggle
The arrest, trial and conviction of the Bald
Knob leaders attracted widespread attention,
and for the first time the history of the Bald
Knobber organization was made public. Taney
county. Mo-, was the birthplace Of the order of
masked regulators. The regulators first came
into prominence when the notorious Frank and
Tubal Taylor entered the house OF Mr.. Dickn-
son in Forsyth, Mo-, and murdered an entire
family The outlaws were captured by the new
law and order league and promptly lynched.
Capt Nat Kinney, physical giant, was then
leader of the regulators, and was shot and killed
| by one of his old followers at Ozark not many
| months since. Christian county. which Joins
Ianey county, first adopted Bald Knob
| berism in 1856 Dave Walker was the
| first leader, and the order soon numbered be-
| tween three and four hundred members. There
were numerous visits by the Bald Kuobbers to
petty offenders, but nothing occurred to attract
especial attention until the Edens affair,
which terminated in the downfall of Bald Knob
| berlsm. The Green-Edens killing occurred on
| the night of March II, 1887, at a point eight
| miles east of Ozark and near the Edens dwell
| ing One John Evans was whipped by the Bald
| knobbers for misbehaving in church Old man
Edens, who was friend of Evans. interfered
aud received four blows with the whip before
Chief Walker could interfere. Edens afterward
| fearlessly denounced Bald Knobberism and on
| the night of March IL the band met
| to consider what punishment should be
| meted out to the old man who dared
| six Bald Knobbers present at the meeting, and
| after very brief deliberations they proceeded to
| the Edens residence to punish the inmates.
| They first went to the home OF William Edens,
| but finding no one there proceeded to the house
| of James Edens, Williams father There were
! i'll the house at the time father. mother, son.
| daughter-in- law. daughter and son-in- law and
| two grandchildren. The Knobbers fired pro-
| miscuouslv into the house, without regard to
| sex or age, killing young William Edens and
| Charles Green, his brother-in-law, and leaving
| old man Edens the floor for dead. The
| daughter barely escaped with her life. During
| he melee Bill Walker was shot in the leg. and
| this afterward aided in completing the chain of
| Evidence against the offenders.
This outrage brought about elimination of
| public indignation and Zach johnson, the feat
| less sheriff OF Christian county, with picked
| posse had the murderers, save Bill Walker. in
| custody within forty-eight hours. Bill Walker
| was captured three weeks later in Douglas
| county, where he had fed to nurse his wound
| and avoid detection. The trials of the men were
| attended with many scenes of an exciting char
| to secure immunity and forr were sentenced to
| be hanged. Confederates of the Bald Knobbers
broke into the Jail and gave the four condemned
and Wiley took of
the chance, but Dave and Bill Walker
declined TO leave and gave the alarm
! 10 Cne snerlH' VINO resided IN the Jul
building They gave, as reason for not leav-
| ing, that they preferred to await the action of
| the courts in their cases, the younger Walker
| stating that he would rather hang than be
| bounded all over the country by officers of the
| law 1t was generally thought at the time, how
| ever, that the Walkers fully anticipated lenien-
| Cy, and feared that such action on their part
| would prejudice their chances for cemcncy
| The weather bitter cold, and John Mat
| thews soon gave himself up. saying he preferred
| anything to death from starvation and cold.
| Wiley Matthews has never been heard Of, though
| there were at time rumors that he had been
| seen in Indian Territory