The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-05-11
A HORRIBLE BUNGLE.
The Execution Of the Three Bald
Knobber Leaders,

knobher leaders,
SL0WLYSTRA ANGLED T0DEATE
A Botohed Job Of Hanging aud u Ter
Fible Sight to WItuess-Stpry of
the CrIme-pemeanor of the
Men,,End of Bald KpobDIng
OZARK, Mo-, May lO,-Dayid and VIII
liam Walker, and John Matthews, thu
leaders Of the Bald Knobbers, were
hanged to-day. The carpenters gave
the scafold It's finishing touches
last evening and everything was ready
by s o'clock, William Walker was bap
tlzed at 0 p, m, by immersion in a bath
basin carried into the jail, The scene
was very affecting, John Matthews
made a long prayer, which could be dis
tlnctly heard in the street fronting the
Jail. The prisoners. ate their supper
with as much relish as usual and appear,
ed very quiet, except Matthews, who Is
taking his fate very hard. He passed a
restless night, praying at short intervals,
asking the Lord to give him strength to
go through the ordeal, claiming he was
a martyr, He did not sleep over two
hours during the night. The two Wal.
kers retired about II o'clock, went to
sleep and did not wake until after 4
o'clock, They stated that they rested
well. They were up early and ate their
breakfast at the usual hour.
The jail yard was full Of guards armed
with WinChesters, shot.guns and reyol.
yers, and were in charge Of Captain G.
W. Taylor, who was foreman OF the
grand Jury which indicted the Bald
Knobbers. Matthew'S wife and mother
came In last evening and several other OF
his relatives are here.
Divine services were opened In the
jail at 1880 o'clock, conducted by Revs.
Thomas Hanks, Degraystone and 7. B.
Horn, assisted by few Christian ladies.
Matthews took part in the exercises and
delivered an earnest prayer in a loud
voice, William Walker also led in
prayer once. ti-''
At 1868 o'clock the Sheriff entered the
jail and read the death warrant to the
doomed men, after which Thomas De.
laney, one Of their attorneys, was ad.
mitted to have an interview and bid
them farewell. John Matthews came to
the window and had conversation with
correspondent,
CLAIMING INNOCENCE.
He said: II have to die, but, thank
God, can say am innocent and have
told the truth all along about this mat.
ter. have nothing to report. went
out through the hole, not because / was
guilty, but to escape q shameful death.
But II was the will OF God that | should
die, and ought to be proud Of 1t. III
was q soldier In the Federal army and
am proud Of my record. am willing
for the people who have known me all
my life, TO say what kind Of q man ]
have been." %.
At0:10 the prisoners commenced dress.
Ing themselves for the scaEolds They
were dressed with white shirts, linen
collars, black cravats, slippers and black
coat, vest and pants. iri
The Jury and reporters were admitted |
10 the inside at 9:20 o'clock. Just be.
lore leaving his cell, John Matthews
his innocence In q loud voice.
The Sheriff helped Matthews mp the
steps. Young Walker followed. with |
Rrm step, his father following close be.
hind, as firm as ever. AT tho trap a
short prayer was delivered by Rev. T. B. |
Horn, after which all Joined In singing.
Bev. T. B. Horn rendered a selection
from tho book OF Job. Rev. Thomas
Hanks delivered,a beautiful prayer.
The moose was adjusted at O: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 |
hold up their hands. Nearly every ono
In his sight held up their hands. The |
black caps were adIused'at Dol.
A BUNdLlNG BuTcnERY.
Al 1868 the drop fell. John Matthews
Iell praying. The stretch Of the rope
Iet al fall to the ground. The rope
broke ahd William Walker fell loose and
10y there struggling and gro9nlng. He
talked for three minutes when be was
taken up by tho sheriff and deputies on
the sCaffold. Dave Walker was drawn
up and died In about fifteen minutes.
lived about fifteen minutes
and died with his feet on, the ground.
The scene was horrible ii the extreme.
Matthews and Dave Walker wero cut
down Of 1910. The trap was again ad.
lusted and William Walker lifted help.
less and groanlng and struggling, and
almost insensible, and the rope again
adjusted and the trap again sprung.
This time the descent came 10 Rsudden
stop With his feet full thirty inches from
thS ground, End he died without a
struggle,
sKBTpHEs or TAESNEN.
"Bull Creek Dave" Walker, according
TO his own story, was born In Christian
county, Kentucky, in June, 1S4S, His
pareptu moyed to Christian county, Mis-.
iouri, when he' vas four years old, and
settled near Sparta. The secEion they Aeb.
tied on was at that time q part Of Greene
county. They had a hard life up 10 tho
war. Dave enlisted In Company NJ,
Sixth Missouri Volunteers, In 1852, but
aftor a few months Feryice was did.
charged, as he was under age. lie gBnt
back home, but had a stronger inClina.
ton for war than ever, and enlisted In
Company II, oil the Sixteenth Missouri,
His age was not found out, and he went
throIga the Yas. After the war he re.
turned To Bull Greek and entered forty
acres ol Government land. This was
his homestead. He Joined the Bald
KnobbCrs three years ago, when the hrst
company was formed In Christian CouH.
" Chen Bull Greek county, and was
fiadp .he chief. He claimed that beside
The pouring out Of liquor at the Chad.
xick S4loqf ard the whipping Of John
Evans for Hcltttng On I'd church, hIs
company had not done my regulating.
II was the whipping Of Evans which
excited the hostility ol The BdonB,
William Walker 10 the oldest son Of
the Bald Knobbet. He was born on
March b, 1870, He lived Cd the farm