Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-06-06
BALD-KNOBBERS.
THE HISTORY OF A NOTORIOUS
ORGANIZATION.
A Sketch of Their Crimes and Afro
cities-Three Hung, Three in the
Pen and Nearly Score Jailed.


Below is given faithful account OF
the organization and exploits of the
scourges of portion of Missour1-the
Bald Knobbers.
The first company of Bald -Knobbers
in Christian County was organized in
April, 1886, on the banks of Bull Creek.
Among the members of that company
were Dave Walker, Bill Walker, Wiley
Matthews and William Stanley. There
were eleven companies in Christian
County, with an aggregate membership
of four hundred. The organization had
its grips, pass words, masks, secret
meetings and terrifying oaths. Its pur-
pose, originally, was to keep liquor
sellers in check and punish wife-beaters.
From this it drifted into the business of
whipping those who spoke disrespect-
fully of the organization, or who Offend
ed its members. Its biggest gathering
was at the first whisky raid at Chadwick,
when 1877 men We're on hand. Its late
raids were smaller affairs-mere night
riding adventures always lawless, of
course.
The raid out of which grew the cases
that sent three men to the gallows and
others to States Prison occurred Gu the
night of March IL, 1887. Their clan
had gathered at the old smelier ON Bull
Creek. 1t was reported that young
William Edens had spoken lightly Of
the clan, and punishment was decided
on. A squad Of masked men visited
William Edens' house and broke in the
door. He was not at home, but was
spending the night at the house Of his
father, James Edens, two and a half
miles from Sparta. In that house that
night were old man James Edens and
wife, Charles Green and his wife, Mrs.
Green being daughter of James Edens,
and William Edens. AS soon as the
Knobbers got to this house they burst
both doors open. Old man Edens fired
at the crowd and shot Bill Walker, one
of the Knobbers, in the thigh. The
Knobbers returned the fire.
Charles Green and Charles Edens
we're killed and the cd man Edens shot
in the neck. John Matthews was slightly
wounded ON the top of the head. Young
Edens had been shot down in the first
volley, and was lying ON the floor when
There was a consultation in the yard,
and one of the Knobbers came back to
the house, fired at young Edens and
killed him instantly. The Knobbers,
before dispensing, were instructed by
Chief Dave Walker rs to the disposition
of their masks and as to the abb to be
set mp in case of trouble. Walker took
his wounded son away. None Of the
raiders fed the district. Apparently
they felt secure that no Knobber would
betray his fellows.
Next day Mrs. Green went to Ozark
and swore out warrants against four per
sons. One of these was Bud Ray. Bud,
ON being arrested, sought legal advice
from Colonel Almus Harrington, law
yer who, Of all men, had been the most
outspoken against the Knobbers. I'M
der Harrington advice Bud gave the
names Of ali the Knobbers figuring in
the Edens- Green raid.
BY March 10 nineteen Knobhere were
in jail. The jail at Ozark had been de-
stroyed by fire, and the prisoners were
guarded in the court house, and Ozark
was protected by armed sentinels and
countersigns the same as l. it was in a
state of siege. The nineteen prisoners
We're: Sam Preston, Sr; Sam Preston,
Jr.; James Preston, Bub Ray, William
Roberts, Joe Hyde, a member of the
Christian Church and teacher; G. 0.
Simmons, a Baptist preacher; Charley
Graves, Dave Walker, the Knobber
chief, a member Of the Baptist Church;
John Matthews, Wiley Matthews, Amos
Jones, Jack Hites, John Z. Hites, JAS.
Matthews, Jr.; Joe Inman, Wilson STAN
ley, William Newton. About this time
it became certain that one of the Knob
bers had been wounded in the raid, and
from shot gun left in the Edens house
by one of the party, this wounded man
was supposed to be Bill Walker. At
this time, too, Joe Inman made his con-
fession and gave clear account of the
raid and who took hand in the same.
On March 10 fifteen prisoners waived
examination, and for safe keeping were
taken to Springfield Jail. The same day
Christian County voted to have a jail of
its own, and later, when this had been
erected and furnished, the Knobbers
were brought from Springfield and con-
fined IN Ozark's new Jail. As class
they were rude and uncultured. Many
of them had never been ON a railroad
till the sheriff took them ON board the
train as prisoners bound for Ozark. and |