Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-05-15
Died A DOUBLE DEATH.
Horrible Scene at the Hanging Of
the Baldknobbers.
ROPES BREAK AS THE DROP FALLS.
The Three Outlaw Leader Slowly Strar.
gIed at the Second Fall of the
Trap-Story Of the Rise
and Fall of the Or
ganiZatiOn,

NAAAO Va AK 1oAN AA0 CO1A
William, and his able lieutenant, John
Matthews, were hanged this forenoon
for the murder of Charles Green and
William Edens, on March IL. 1887.
With them died the Mollie Mcguire or
ganization of the Southwest.
Just before leaving his cell, John
Matthews proclaimed his innocence In
a loud voice. The sheriff helped
Matthews up the steps. Young
Walker followed with a firm
step, his father following close
behind as firm as ever. At the trap a
short prayer was delivered by Rev. T.
B. Horn, after which all joined in sing
ing. Rev. T. B. Horn rendered a selec-
ton from the book of Job. Rev. Thorn
rs Hanks delivered a beautiful PRAYER
The moose was adjusted at $40. John
Matthews said he had nothing to say;
he was there, but took no part in the
crime. Matthews called on all who
were willing to help his little ones to
in his sight held up their hands.
The black caps were adjusted at 9:51
and 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 VIM. Walker fell and
lay struggling and grooming. He talked
for three minutes, when he was taken
up by the sheriff and deputies on the
scafold. Dave Walker was drawn up
and died in about Is minutes Matthews
lived about Ia minutes, and died with his
feet on the ground. The Gene was
horrible in the extreme. Matthe VS. and
Dave Walker were cut down at 1910.
The trap was then adjusted again, and
VIM. Walker al lifted helpless and
groaning and struggling, and almost in
sensible. to the platform, where the rope
was again adjusted and the trap sprung.
This time the descent came to a sudden
stop with the victims feet full thirty
inches from the ground. He died with
out a struggle.
The three Bald knobbers were firmly
of the opinion up to within forty-eight
hours OF the execution, that they would
never be called upon to pay the extreme
penalty Of a life for a life. Neither of
the trio had yet reached his 5Oth year,
and William Walker was barely 10 years
of age. The three men, together with
Wiley Matthews, nephew of John, were
to have been hanged on May IS,
1888, but on an appea! to the
supreme court escaped the gal
lows temporarily. Last October the
state supreme court affirmed the
decision of the Christian County circuit
court. and fixed December Is as the
day of execution. Another stay was
subsequently secured, and Friday, Feb
ruary 10 named as the day of execu-
ton. lnasmuch as the supreme court
had not yet passed upon the case of
David Walker when that date arrived,
he governor granted a reprieve un-
til April 10, to William Walker and
John Matthew VS., Wiley Matthews being
still at large, he ana his uncle John
Matthews having escaped from the
Ozark Jail on December %. It will be
remembered that contederates of the
Baldknobbers broke into the Jail
and gave the four condemned
men an opportunity to depart.
John and Wiley Matthews took'
advantage of the chance, but Dave and
Bill Walker declined to leave and gave
the alarm to the sheriff, who resided in
the jail building. The weather was
bitter cold and John Matthews soon
gave himself up, saying he preferred
anything to death from starvation and
cold. Wiley Matthews has never been
heard of, although there we're at one
time rumors to the effect that he had
been seen in Indian Territory. The
supreme court decided adversely in
the case of Dave Walker, the Bald
knobber chief, an9 fixed his execution
for May 10. About April II the attor-
neys for Bill Walker and John Mat
thews made a strong appeal for commu-
tat1on OF the sentences of their clients.
and when that was denied, asked for a
respite to May 10, the date of Dave
Walkers execution, which was granted.
The arrest, trial and conviction of the
Baldknob leaders attracted widespread
attention. and Tor the first time the his
was made public. fancy County. Mis-
souri,, was the birthplace of the order of
masked regulators. It is in the widest
section of the state, and early day lawless-
ness caused the formation of leagues for
the protection Oflife and property. The
regulators first came into prominence
when the notorious Frank and Tubal
Taylor entered the home of a MI. Dick
inson, at Forsythe. Mo-, and murdered
an entire family. The outlaws were
captured by the new Law and Order
League and promptly lynched. Capt.
Nat Kinney, a physical giant, was then
leader of the regulators, and was shot
and killed by n of his old followers at
Ozark. not many months since.
Christian County, which adioins Ia
ucy CouuCy, uISC duOpCou
ism in 1886. Dave Walker was the
first leader, and the order soon num-
bered between 30 and 400 members.
All new corners were invited to Join the
order, and the majority did SO. The
candidate for Baldknobber honors was
compelled to pass through a trying or
deal. Instead of being indicted into
some fraternal order, composed of his
neighbors, as he had anticipated. he
found himself at midnight in the dark
recesses of a lonely wood or ravine, sur
rounded by hundreds of masked men
who imposed upon the candidate a
b~lood-curdling obligation, the infraction
of which was punishable by death.
Once a member he could never desert
the organization and remain in that Sec
ton of the country alive.
The Chadwick raid was the first work
Of the Christian County BaIdknobbers
which attracted attention. Chadwick is
a small station located at the terminus
of the st. Lo, is & San Francisco Rail-
way extension from Springfield south
east. The opening of a saloon at Chad
wick was followed by utter demoraliza-
lion of the residents of the place. and
the Baldknobbers ordered that the
eo1oon ho olocoG Tho u,orpirc u,oa I:a