Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-05-17
PAID A LIFE FOR A LIFE
After Many Reprieves Baldknobbers
Pay the Peualtiesot Their Grimes.
The Rope Breaks and They are Preeip.
itated to the Ground.
They Hang Twice Before the Sparkle o
Life Departs

OzARS, Mo, May l0.-Dave Walker
chief of the Bald Kuobbers, his sor
William, aud his able lieutenant John
Ma thews, were hanged this forenoon for
the murder of Charles Greeu and William
Edens, on March IL, 1887. With them
died the Mollie Mcguire organization OF
the Southwest.
The jury and reporters were sdnittsd
10 the inside at $50. The condemned
men ascen6ed the seafold with firm
step. After reading of Scripture, sing
ing and prayers by several ministers
present, the nooseS were adjusted. John
Matthews proclaimed has inpocence.
When the drop fell the stretch of rope
let all fall TO the ground. The rope broke
and William Walker fell loose and lay ON
the ground struggling and grosu,uS. He
talked for three minutes when he was be.
ing taken upon the scStfold again. Dave
Walker was drawn up and died in about
fifteen minutes. Matthews lined about
thirteen minutes and died with his feet
on the ground. After William Walker
had been lifted helpless, inseasible and
groanlng TO the trap, the rope WAS again
adjusted and the trap again sprung. He
died this time without q struggle.
The three Bald kuohherS were tirmlv of
the opinion up to within forty-eisht
hours of the execution, that they never
would be called upOu ~ pay the extreme
penalty Of a life for life. Neither of
the trio had yet reached nus 50tn year,
and Wm Walker WAS barsly - years of
age. The three mer, together with
Wiley Matthews, nephew of John, were to
have been hanged on May Is, 1855, but
on an appeal to the supreme court
escaped the kallows temporarily. Last
October the state supreme court affirmed
the decision OF the Christian county cir.
cult court, aud fixed December IS as the
day of execution. Another stay was
subsequently secured, and Friday, Feb
ruary - unmed as the day of execution.
Inasmuch Rs the supreme court
had not yet passed upon the case of
David Walker when that date arrived,
the governor granted reprieVe until
April 18Th, to William Walk r and John
Matthews, Wiley Mathews being still at
large, he and his uncle, John Matthew'S,
havirg escaped from the Ozark jail ON
December 2S.h. Ii will be remembered
that confederates of the B.ddk uobbers
broke into the jail and gave the CON
demned men an opportunity to depart.
John and Wiley Matthews took advant-
aSe OF the chAhSe, pu5 bANe anu OH
Walker declined to leave and gave the
alarm 70 the sheriff who resided in the
Jail building. The weather was bit
ter cold and John Matthews soon
gave himself ut, saying he 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 su-
preme court decided adversely in the
case of Dave Walker, tho Baldknobber
chief, and fixed his execution for May 10.
About April Il the attorneys for Bill
WalEer and John Matthews made
stroGg appeal for Communication 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.