The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1889-05-14
BALD KNOBBERS TO HANG.
Governor Francis Refuses to
Interfere.

Jefferson City Mo-, May S.-Gov. Fran
els spent the greater portion OF last night
considering :the petitions for commute
| ton OF the death sentence passed npon this
Bald knobbers, Bill and Dave Walker and
John Matthews. His time to-day is also de-
, voted 10 determination of the papers in the
case. Immense pressure had been brought
to bear on the Governor aud the decision
was awaited with almost breathless anxiety
by the friends of the condemned men.
Late las: evening it was announced that
the Governor had decided to let the law
take its course.
THE NEWS AT OZARK.
Ozark, No.. May S-The long, painful
suspense respecting the fate of the Bald
Knobbers has at last gave place to set
tied conviction that David Walker, Will
liam Walker and John Matthews will
meet their doom on the gallows here next
Friday. Communication was family thought
OF as a vanishing hope yesterday among
those who have been praying for executive
clemency, but that prospect of mercy died
with the going down of the sun, and every
body went to bed believing that the gov
ernor would allow the law to take its fatal
course The prisoners were frankly told
by several visitors last night that the
gallows seemed inevitable, and that they
might prepare for the worst. John Matthews
was deeply shocked by this terrible news,
and began to cry and bewail his fate, though
he said the case had seemed hopeless to
him for long time. The Walkers re-
ceived the grim intelligence with the nerve
that always sustained them, and did not
show as much signs OF weakness as on some
former occasions. Bill Walkers clear, blue
eye met the informer with fixed, steady
gaze, and his whole manner was firm and
resolute. He spoke with the most perfect
apparent composure and said ii seemed
strange that the governor had not yielded
TO the strong pleas for mercy that had been
made for their lives. He felt grateful for
all the efforts that had been made on the
side Of mercy, and mentioned some friend
ly actions from persons in Ozark with
special warmth of feeling. 1t seemed
hard that he must die on the gallows, but
if there was no escape, the young knobber
said, he had the strength to face the pen
atty
Dave Walker said but little, and main |
tanned much more composed appearance
han when he received the news that the |
Supreme Court had refused to grant him |
new trial. There was no tremor In his |
7oice, and the keen, twinkling eve that has |
always constituted such a marked feature !
IF the Knobber chief, did not lose its luster
Is the prisoner spoke of the prospect OF the
,allows. This morning Bill Walker mailed
! letter to his mother bidding her good by.
rhe letter said that all further hope seemed
Useless, and closed as follows;
'Dc not worry and grleye any more than
you can help. You need not to come to
ZEE us any more it will do no good. The
heriff viii not let you inside of the jail"
Three carpenters began work on the gal
ows this morning. Sheriff johnson re-
,eived from ST. Louis to-day Is pounds Of
Temp rope for the hanging. The burial
clothes and collins for the three men have
already been selected. The sheriff has al
o summoned the jury to witness the exc
ution. Some of the men summoned open
y declare they will not serve, but mean to
cave town Friday midnight.