Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-11
BALD KNOBBERS DIE.
Three of the Celebrated Band Expi-
Their Awful Grimes.
PARDON HOPED FOR TO THE LAST,
The Dangling Ropes Broke and Horrible
Scene Ensued.
A HISTORY OF THEIR BLOODY DEEDS

OZARK, Mo-, May 1O.-The leaders Of
the Bald Knobbers have expiated their
crimes on the gallows. Christian county
first adopted Bald-Knobism in 1885. Dave
Walker was the first leader, and the mem
bership soon reached between 300 and 400.
Each newcomer was invited to join and the
majority did so. There was fearful ordeal
for the candidate, who found himself in
dark and lonely wood or ravine surrounded
by masked men who imposed blood-curdling
obligations, the infraction of which was
punishment by death. Once in, he could
never get out and remain in the country.
There were numerous visits by the band
to petty offenders, but nothing occurred to
attract widespread attention until the Green
Edens affair, which terminates in the over
throw of Bald-Kpobism. The Knobbers
first came into prominence when the notori-
Gus Frank and Juba Taylor entered the Dick
enson home in Forsythe, Taney county, and
murdered the inmates. They were captured
and lynched by the Law and Order League.
Captain Nat Kinney, who was himself
killed by one of the band at Ozark not long
.
bers at that time. The Green-Eden killing
occurred on March II, 1887. A friend of
the Edens had been whipped by the regu-
lators and Edens had condemned the Bald
Knobbers for the act. The night of March
10, 1887, the band met to consider Edens'
offenses. There were 66 present, of whom
20, after a brief deliberation. proceeded to
Edens' house to punish the inmates.
A DESPERATE FIGHT.
They were met with resistance and fired
several volleys into the house, killing Will
lam Edens and Charles Green, his brother
in-law, and seriously wounding old man
Edens. The outrage aroused the people
and the Sheriff of Christian county with a
posse pursued and captured the entire
gang. The prisoners were taken to Spring
field for safe keeping, afterward transferred
to new Jail building at Ozark, from whence
John and Wiley Matthews escaped last De
cember. John Matthews returned later and
surrendered himself, but Wiley is still at
large
The -Knobbers were sentenced to
They were David Walker and his son Bill,
John Matthews and Wiley, his nephew
None of the condemned men had reached
their 50th year, andBill Walker was not yet
20.
The drop fell at 9:53 A. M. The ropes
broke, and the three men fell writhing to
the ground. The scene was terrible, and
the execution was simply bungled butch
cry. The men were carried again to the scas-
fold at 1910 o'clock, Bill Walker groaning
and almost insensible. Theropes were adjust
edagain and the poor wretches were strangled
Dave Walker died in 15 minutes, John
Matthews in Is minutes and Bill Walker
in IA minutes. The streets in the vicinity
of the Jail were crowded with people from
the surrounding country, but there was no
trouble, although the excitement was in
tense.
BAPTIZED IN BATHTUB.
Last night William Walker was baptized
by immersion in bathtub which had been
carried into the Jail. Matthews passed
restless night, praying at intervals, but the
Walkers slept soundly until 4 o'clock this
morning. Services were held in the Jail at ]
1880 A. M. Matthews took part and prayed
earnestly. William Walker also led in
prayer. Up to the last moment Matthews
declared that he was innocent.
The jailyard was full of guards armed
with Winchesters, shotguns and revolvers,
and were in charge of Captain G. W.
Taylor, who was the foreman of the grand
jury which indicted the Bald Knobbers.
The three Bald Knobbers were firmly OF the
opinion, up to within 48 hours OF the exc
cution, that they would never be called upon
to pay the extreme penalty of lite for
life. Neither of the trio had yet reached
his 50th year and William Walker was
barely 19 years Of age.