The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1889-05-18
DIED 4 DOUBLE DEATH.
Horrible Scene at the Hanging ot
the Baldknobbers.
ROPES BREAK AS THE DROP FALLS.
The Three Outlaw Leaders Slowly Strar
gled nt the Second Fall of the
Trap-Story of the Rise
Hnd FaI; OF the Or
ganization.

cnlef or the Bad huObberS, his son
William, and his able lieutenant, John
Matthews, were hanged this forenoon
for the murder of Charles Green and
William Edens, on March II, 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 firm
step, his father following close
short prayer was delivered by Rev. T.
B. Horn, after which all Joined in sing
ing. Rev. I. B. Horn rendered a selec-
ton from the book Of Job. Rev. Thorn
ss Hanks delivered q beautiful PRAYER.
The moose was adjusted at $40. John
Matthews said he had nothing to say;
ne was there, but took no part in the
crime. Matthews called on all who
were willing to help his little ones 10
hold up their hands. Nearly every one
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 groaning. He talked
Tor three minutes, when he was taken
up by the sheriff and deputies on the
scattold. Dave Walker was drawn I'D
and died IN about Is minutes. Matthews
lived about Ii minutes, and died with his
feet or the ground. The scene was
horrible IN the extreme. Matthews and
Dave Walker were cut down at 1910.
The trap was then adjusted again, and
VIM. Walker was lifted helpless and
groanlng and struggling, and almost in
sensible. 10 the platform, where the rope
was gain adjusted and the trap sprung.
his time the descent came to a sudden
stop with the victims feet full thirty
inches from the ground. He died with
out struggle.
The three Bald knobbers were firmly
OF the opinion up TO within fortv-eight
hours of the execution, that thew would
never be called upon to pay the extreme
penalty OF life for a life Neither of
the trio had yet reached his 5Oth year.
and William Walker was barely 70 wears
OF age. The three men, together with
Wiley Matthews, nephew Of John, were
TO have been hanged on Nav IS,
1855, but on an appeal to the
supreme court esCsFped the gal
lows temporarily. last October the
state supreme court affirmed the
decision Of the Christian County circuit
court, and fixed December % as the
day Of execution. Another stay was
subsequently secured, and Friday. Feb
ruary 10 named as the day of execu-
ton. Inasmuch as the supreme court
had not yet passed upon the case of
David Walker when that date arrived.
the governor granted a reprieve un-
I'll Aprll 10, TO William Walker and
John Matthew VS., Wiley Matthews being
stlll at large, he ana his uncle John
Matthews having escaped from the
Ozark Jail on December 2S. 1t viii be
rememb bered that con federates of the
Baldknobbers broke into the iaIl
and gave the four condemned
men an opportunity to depart.
John and Wilev Matthews took
advantage Of the chance, but Dave and
Bill Walker declined to leave ard 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 be preferred
anything to death from starvation and
cold. Wiley Matthews has never been
heard OF, although there were 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, and fixed his execution
for May 10. About April y the attor-
neys for Bill Walker and John Mat
thews made a strong appeal for commu-
tation of the sentences of their clients.
and when that was denied, asked for
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 for the first time the his
tory OF the BaldkRobber organization
was made public. Taney County, Mis-
sourl, was the bIrthp ace of the order Of
masked regulators. 1t is in the widest
section ofthe state and early DAY lawIess-
ness caused the formation OF leagues for
the protection OF life and property. The
regulators first came into prominence
when the notorious Frank and TubaI
Taylor entered the home of a Mr.. Dick
inson, at Forsythe, No. and murdered
an entire family. The outlaws we're
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 adioins Ia
ney County, first adopted Baldknobber-
ism in 1886. Dave Walker was the
first leader, and the order soon num-
bered between 3 0 and 400 members.
All new corners were invited to Join the
order, and the majority did so. The
candidate for Bsldknobber honors Vas
compelled TO pass through a irving o.
deal Instead Of being indicted into
some traternal order, composed Of his
neighbors, as he had anticipated. he
found himself at midnight in tue dark
recesses OF a lonely vocd or ravine. sur
rounded by hundreds OF masked men
who imposed upon the candidate
blood cUrdIDg Obligation. the lnfracfiou
OF which was punishable bv death.
Once member he cou-d 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 i
S small station located at the terminus
o. the St. Louis x san Francisco Rail-
way extension from Springfield south
east. The opening of 4 SaloCn al Chad
wick was FLOWED by utter demOra!iza-
uOn OF the residents OF the place. eud
the Baldknobbers ordered tha- the
saloon be closed. The warning Was dis
regarded, and one bright night along IN
tue summer OF 1856 the famous rezu-
iators entered Chadwick, DESTROYED tue
saloon and poured the LIQUORS IN the
streets. The saloon at Chadwick re-
CURED one more visit, and then ceased
10 exist.
There were numerous visits bv the
Baldknoobers to petty offenders, but
nothing occurred to attract especial at
tention until the Green-Edens affair,
which terminated in the downfall Of
Baldknobberism. The Green-Edens
killing occurred on the night Of March
Il. ISS-. Ats point eight miles east Of
OZARK. and near the Edens dwelling, one
John Evans was whipped by the Bald