The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-05-17
l. PEMBINA PEMBNA COUNTY,

would never be called upon to pay the ex-
trcme penalty Of life for a life. just be-
fore leaving hts cell, John Matthew'S pro-
clatmed his innocence in q loud voice. The
sheriff helped Matthews up tho steps. Young
Walker followed with firm step. his father
following close behind, us firm as ever. John
Matthews satd he had nothing to say. He
was there. but took no part in the
crime. Matthew'S fell praying. The
stretch Of the rope let oil fall to the
ground. The rope broke and William
Walker fell loose ind lay there struggling
and grooming. He talked for three minutes.
when he was taken up by the sheriff and
deputtes on the scatfold Dave Walker was
drawn up and died In about fifteen minuves.
Matthews lived about thirteen minutes and
died with his feet on the ground. The scene
was horrible IN the extreme. Matthews and
Dave Walker werc cut down and the tan
was ngain adjusted William Walker was
lifted, helpless and groaning and struggling,
and almost insnnsible, and tho rope again
adjusted and the trap ngatn sprung. This
time the descent caine to sudden stop with
his feet fully thirty inches from the ground.
and he died without struggle.
The arrest. trial and conviction of the Rail-
Knob leaders attracted wide spread attention'
ana t9r inc first ttmo the history Of the Bald
coaaty Mo was .s p9I p9 ths Isney
masked regulators. The reRulators first came ne
nsS aS prSnsncs .s5sl when The notorous Frsk aud
son IN Forsyth. Mo-. and murdered an entire
family. The outlaws were captured by tho new
Hv,, lnW apd orIsr league and promptly lynched.
leader Of the regulators and was shot md killed
Dy one OF his old followers at Ozark not MANY
Tamsn m.ns s.ncr ., Christian county which adjoins
bc.isin in lss5-I Dave Walker v nas an1Sc ISo
first leader, and the order soon numb.red he
tween three and four hundred members There
petty Offenders. but nothing occurred to attract
especial attention until the Green Edens afiair.
Mncm r,sm term,natsd h In the downfall of bald Knob
the night OF March II, 1887. at a point eight
miles enst Of Ozark and near tho Edens dwell.
1nS One Joh1 Evans was whipped by the bald
Edens who was friend Of Evans, intertered
and received four blows with the WHIP beforo
Msiker could Edens
~ inc ,Ina,t,e. ma1ht OF March II the band met
e.ra IN sr,i ,csn out r., to the old man who dared
six Bald knobbers present at the meetinv. and
after very brief deliberations they proceeded to
1hs,! 1no Eaens residence to punish the in,natcn
but finding no one there proceeded to The house
OF OF James Edcna. Williams father There were
III the mouse at the ttnlc father, mother son
aau0hter-tn: law. daughter and son-in Jaw and
TWO grandchildren The knobbers fired pro-
lniscuouslv into the house, without regard to
Sn.,na Elk na age . killing younR William Edens and
9lu man Edens on the floor for dead, The
daughter barely escaped with her life. During
ne melee Bill Walker was shot in the Loo. AMI
THIS afterward aided in completing the chain nj
tvidence Wy agninst the Offenders
inis outrage brought about a elimination ~
ublic in.iignatt0n and Zach johnson. the fear
less sneriM 1f Christian county, with a picked
posse had the murdcrers, save Iili Walker. in
wa. captured three weeks later in d uvias
county, where he had He'd to nurse his wound
and avoid detection. The trials Of the men were
attended with many scenes Of an exciting char
aeter, nut three Of tho prisoners finally confessed
70 secure Immunity and four were sentenced to
pc hanged. C0nfedcratcs Of the Bald KuObllrrs
DroAe into the Jail and gave the four condemned
!..i men W opportunity to escape. John
anu .,an wiley whey Matthews took advantage Of
the chance. but Dave and Bill Walker
ueci.ncd TO leave, and gave the alarm
building. They gave, as u reason for not leav
ing. that they preferred to await tho action Of
tne courts III their eases, the younger Walker
stating that he would rather hang than bo
lounded all over the country by Gflicers of the
law. II was generally Thought at the time, how
ever, that THE Walkers fully anticipated lcnen-
W. ana 1eare'i that such action on their purt
Mould would prejudice their chances for cIemcncy
Jhe weather was bitter cold, and John Mai.
thews soOu gave himself up, sayinv hc uroferred
anything any to death from starvation aud COLI
whey Matthews has never been heard of, though
thera We're Mt one time ruinUrs that lie had bcen
seen III Indian Territory.