The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-11

his uncle JOnn nlattneNs having 'o'oPON
from the Ozark jail on December 2S, an ac-
count OF which appeared at the time in these
dispatches. 1t will be remembered that
confederates of the Bald Knobbers broke
into the Jail and gave the four condemned
men an opportunity 10 depart John and
Wiley Matthews took advantage of the
chance, but Dave and Bill Walker declined
10 leave and gave the alarm to the Sheriff,
who resided In the Jail building. They gave
as reason for not leaving that they pre-
ferred 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
lenency and feared that such action on
their part would prejudice their chances for
clemency. The weather was bitter cold,
and John Matthews soon gave himself up,
saving he preferred anything 20 death from
starvation and cold. Wiley Matthews has
never been heard OF, though there were at
one time rumors 10 the effect that he had
been seen in Indian Territory. The Supreme
Court decided adversely in the case of David
Walker the Bald Knobbcr chief, and fixed
his execution for May 10. About April IL,
the attorneys for Bill Walker aud John
Matthews made strong appeal for commu-
tation of the sentences of their clients, and
when that was denied, asked for n respite TO
May 10 the date OF Dave Walkers cxccu-
ton, which was granted. For the past two
weeks powerful pleas have been made 20
Gov Francis for Communication of the sen
fences Of the three men, and on Wednesday
last after reviewing the case at length, the
Governor declined 10 interfere further,
and the condemned men were notified that
they must die. Dave Walker and his .son
Dill received the news calmly and with the
nerve that has always sustained them, but
Matthews broke down completely and wepi
like a child.
The arrest, trial and conviction Of the Bald
Knob leaders attracted widespread attcn.
ton. and for the first time in the history OF
the Bald Knobber organization was made
public. fancy County Mo-, was the birth
place Of the order OF Masked Regulators. IL
i in the widest section of the State. and
everyday lawlessncss caused the formation
of leagues for the protection OF life and
property. The Regulators first came into
prominence when the notorious Frank and
Tubal Taylor entered the home Of u Mr.
Dickinson, In Forsythe, Mo, and murdered
nm entire family. Tho outlaws were cap
tured by the new Law aud Order Leagu,
and promptly lynchod. Capt. Nat Kinney
q physical giant, was then leader OF tn
Regulators, and was shot and killed by ON
al his old followers ut Ozark not man!
months since.
Christian County, which adjoins fancy
first adopted llald knobbprism In 1890
Dave Walker was the first leader aud th'
order soon numbered between 800 aud iO'
members All new comor were invited "a
Join the order aud the majority did 80. tn,
candidate for Bald knobbrr honors was com
PEELED 10 pass through n trying ordeal In.
stead Of being indicted into some fmtcrnnl
order composed Of his ncighburs NJ he had
ANTICIPATED he found himself at midnight
IN the dark rcccsscs Of lonely wood OF
ravinc, surrounded by hundreds at hidc1usly
masked men, who imposed upon the candi-
date n blood-curdling obligation. the inirac'
ton Of which was punishable by death,
Once member hc could never desert th,
organization and remain IN that section OF
the country alive. The Chadwick raid wa'
the hSt work Of the Christian
County Bald knobbcm which attracted
attention. Chadwick Is a small station
located at the terminus uf the ST. LOUISE *
San Francisco Railway extension from
Springfield southeast. The opening of d
kaloon ut Chadwick wns followed by utter
decentralization of the residents of the place,
and the lald knubhcr ordered thai the
saloon be closed. The warning was disrc.
gar,lcd. and one bright night along In the
summer Of 1886 the famous regulators en-.
poured the Liquors Ia the streets. The "a
loon at Chadwick required one more Nisi,
ami then ceased Ia exist.
There were numerous visits by the 1nll
Knobbrrs o. petty offenders, but nOthin
occurred 10 attract special attention unit
the Green Elcns Affair." which terminate,
IN the downfall IT Bald knobbcrism. IN,
Green. E,lcns killing occurred ON the nigh
OF March n, 1851. Al a point eight mile
east IT ozark. near the E1cns dwelling. on,
John Evans was whipped by the llal,
knobhers for misbchaying In church. ul,
man Edcns, who was friend of Evans
intcrfcrcd aud received four blows with th
whip before Chief Walker could intcHfr,
J. lens aitcrward fcarlcssly donounetd Bal,
knobbcrism, aud ON theSJ fhtsoi March |
the hand met 10 cons. what punishmct
should he mctrd out ~ the old man wi
-. DARED W criticisc the regulators. There We
twcntysix Baid knohbcrs present nj u
mcctinr aud after a very brief deliberate,
they proceeded to the Edcns residence
punish the inmates. They fret went Ia q
home Of Vim. Elcns but finding no nj
thcrr. they proceeded 10 the house OF Jam
Edens. williams father. There were in q
house at tie time father, mother M
daughter In. law, daughter and son-in.ll
and two grandchildren. Tho knobbcr- I'm
promiscuously into the house, without
gard io ser or age, killing young VIM. Edo
aud Charles Green, his brother .n.law. al
leaving old man Elcns ON the iloor Tor dca
The daughter barely escaped with her "
During the melee 1911 Walker was shot
the ler and this aiicrWari aided In compl
ing Uic chain OF evidence against the oiicr
cr.
This Outrage brought about culminati
Of public indignation. aud Zach Johns
the fearless Sheriff " Christian toun
with n picked posse, had the mufdcrcrs, vi
Bill Walker, Ia custody within forty cif
hour time. Bill Walker was captui
three weeks later Ia Douglass County WIZ
he had hcd to nurse bis wound and ~
detection. The capture Of 1911 Walker y
n very clever piece Of work. The Shcl
knew that Bill bad n sweetheart In Ozn
and came a. the conclusion that sooner
later 1911 would send fur her, which be Il
aud when she arrived IN Douglass Coui
60 meet her Young outlaw lover n detect
was shadoWing her, aud in ten minutes nl
the meeting ~ the lovers bill Walk
wrists were decorated with hundcu
A. the time thore was NO jail
:, %,aI spr hn9 a' s ,'0ns e, S .SIs 10
ing hnHl one could be built vii
wa promptly DONE and the Bald knobl
Transferred 10 Ozark, where they paid,
Ienalty ~ their crime TO-DAY The trial
the men were attended with many scene
an exciting character, but three ~ the 4
oncn finally confessed 10 secure immun
aud Chief Dave Walker admitted the nssf
81 the liald knobbcu on the Elens ho
but pleaded that be did not arrive nj
after the shooting had ceased.
A very peculiar feature Of Raid Knob
Ism. now dead. u that majority uf The M
prominent members ui che band " rur
tor we're dcyout church mcmhvr. II
Walker was nu cNhorter n temperance