Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-05-11
Indicated The Law.
A Lesson for Regulators to Bear
in Mind.
THREE BALD-KNoBBERs STRUNG UP

THREE BALD-KNOBBERS STRUNG UP
Shameful Display of Ohhcisl Lack of
Skill, Entailing Untold Tortures on the
Condemned Wretches-Dave and Will
lam Walker and John Matthews Pay the
Penalty for Doing the ''white Cap" Act
The Crime and Events Connected
with 1t.
OZARK, Mo-, May l1.-Three men paid the
sxtreme penalty of the law in the Jail here
yesterday morning, for murder. They were
David and William Walker father and SOM
and John Matthew'S al. members of the gang
which, going by the name of "Bald-Knob-
bers, terrorized Christian county in 1885 and
1856, by organizing as regulators" and tax
ing the law into their own hands-a la
"White-Caps"-in the punishment of Of
tenders. Neither of the trio hung yesterday
was so years old, and William Walker was
barely 49,
Origin of the Gang.
The arrest, trial, aud conviction of the
Bald-knobber leaders attracted widespread
attention, and for the first time the history
of the organization was made public. fancy
county, Missouri, was the birthplace of the
society of masked regulators. 1t is in the
widest section of the state, and at an early day
iawlessness caused the formation of leagues
for the protection of life and property. The
deed that called public attention to their do
ings was the murder of the entire family of
Mrs. Dickinson, at Forsythe, Mo, and it re-
Tod in ha ,f
Frank and Tubal Taylor. Then Christian
county began to be notorious for the acts of
these lawless regulators" and after a num-
Der OF petty outrages they capped the climax
by going to the house of Charles Green, and
after being refused admittance firing into
the house and killing Green and William
Edens.
The HIurderers Arrested.
But several of the murderers ha d been
recognized and in due time four of them, the
two Walkers and John and Wiley Matthews,
were arrested and put on trial They were
found guilty and sentenced to be hung That
public sentiment in the neighborhood of their
homes, and In fact all over southwestern
Missouri, disapproved of this verdict was
very plain, and from the day of their conyic-
ton up to day or two before the execution
efforts for their pardon or the Communication
of their sentences were never discontinued
The authorities were firm, however, and in
sisted that the dread penalty should be
visited upon them. 1t is doubtful if the pri-
soners despaired until the last moment
Released by Confederates.
On Dec. 2S, ISIS, party of Bald-Knobbers
broke into the Ozark Jail and released John
and Wiley Matthews, the two Walkers de-
Ginning to leave, and giving the alarm to the
sheriff They alleged as a reason for not
leaving that they preferred to await the
action of the courts in their cases, the
younger Walker stating that he would rather
kSng than be bounded all over the country
BY officers of the law. 1t was generally
thought at the time, however, that the
Walkers fully anticipated leniency, and
feared that I'M udicious action on their part
would prejudice their chances for clemency
The weather was very inclement and John
Matthews soon gave himself up, saying that
he preferred anything to death from starva-
ton and cold. Wiley Matthews has never
since been heard from, though rumor has it
that he had been seen in the Indian terri
tory.
Last Moments of the Cond emned.
The last appeal having been made, and
failed in behalf of the prisoners, there was
nothing to do but prepare for death The
two Walkers, father and son, met their fate
bravely, but Matthews broke down, and de-
clared he was innocent. He said: Il have to
die, but, thank God, / can say am lnno-
cent and have told the truth all along about
this matter. l have nothing to regret 1
went out through the hole, not because
was guilty, but to escape a shameful death.
Knit tina will Of I'D hot 1
die, and ought to be proud of it. | was a
soldier in the Federal army, and am proud
of my record. l am willing to let the peo-
pie who have known me all my life say what
kind of man have been"
William Walker Baptized.
William Walker was baptized at 6 D. m ,
Thursday, by immersion in a bath basin car
ried into the Jail. The scene was very affect
ing. John Matthews made long PRAYER
which could be distinctly heard in the street
fronting the Jail The prisoners ate their
supper with as much enjoyment, apparently,
as usual and appeared very quiet, with the
exception of Matthews. The latter passed a
restless night, praying at short intervals,
asking the Lord to give him strength to go
through the ordeal, and claiming that he was
martyr. He did not sleep more than two
hours during the night The two Walkers
retired about ii p. m. went TO sleep, and did
not wake until after O'clock They were
up early and ate their breakfast at the usual
hour The Jail yard was full of guards,
armed with Winchesters, shotguns and re-
volvers-
The Hanging Horribly Botched.
The march to the scaffold was begun shortly
after O'Clock yesterday moring and the
men went to their death with firm steps,
Matthews proclaiming his Innocence again
after the caps had been adjusted Religious
services were held while the men stood on
the fatal drop, and with Matthews PRAYING
the signal was given and the trap was sprung
And here ensued horrible sight The
ropes stretched until all touched the ground,
William Walker dropping entirely to the
earth, owing to the breaking of the rope,
and requiring to be again taken to the scat
fold David Walkers feet touched, but he
was drawn up again and died in fifteen min
utes- Matthews struggles ceased in fifteen
minutes Then young Walker, grooming and
half suffocated, was taken up on the drop,
the rope was again adjusted and in few
minutes his sufferings We're ended 1t was a
shameful exhibition of cruelty, arising from
want of Skill and called forth some strong
language from those present.
VIII Run the Factory for Their Wages.
PITTsBURG, Pa, May ia special from
New Castle, Pa, says: "The Croton Glass
works were LEVIED on a day or two ago by
employees for wages due A settlement has
been made by which the employees will run