Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-05-16
BALD KNOssERs HANGED.

walker hanged TWice-IEe NEh-o -
Which They suffered.
OZARK. No., May 10-Dave Walker ana
his sou W lillian and John Matthews were
hanged here this morning for the murder
of Edens and Green in October. 1886. The
execution was conducted in q most bpng-
ling manner and the scene on the scSffold
was q CHASTITY one, as the first fall was
complete failure. At 8 As O'Clock Sheriff
johnson read the death warrant to the
men, at the conclusion of which they
dressed for the last act The two Walkers
bore up well and Matthews talked
piously. At $3.50 their hands were
pinioned and the men conducted
to the scaffold. As they assembled the
scaffold Matthews exclaimed: Farewell
vain world" Rev. Mr.. Horn read the
scriptures and Revs. Hanks and Grayson
sang hymn. The men had but little to
say, the black caps were adjusted and at
800 the trap was sprung. Then the scene
was horrible. The feet of both the Walk
ers touched the ground and the father had
to be held up until the rope could be adj
justed, when he was again swung or and
strangled to death. The rope slipped
on Williams neck and he fell
TO the ground moaning piteously.
Matthews was soon pronounced dead and
young Walker was being prepared for a
second hanging. while his father was
strangling to death. Young Walker was
again taken upon the scaffold, begging
piteously that they would hurry; the moose
was again ad justed, he was swung of, and
the sickening scene ended.
Dave Walker died in fifteen minutes
John Matthews in thirteen and Bill
Walker in fourteen minutes
BY the time the men We're pronounced
dead a crowd Of O thousand people were
about the Jail
THE EDENs- GREEN MURDER
The crime for which the Bald Knobbefs
were condemned occurred substantially
as follows:
Some time in the month OF October. 1886,
William Edens, q respectable young farmer
living near Sparta, Christian County, shot and
Killed dog that was trespasslng on his ground.
He regarded it as great joke and so related
1t some days later when in Sparta. Informed
that the dog belonged to John Matthews. he
remarked: Reckon 1 done killed Bald
knobber, then" Matthews being well known
member of the organization. The crowd
laughed at Edens' remark and took il as n Joke,
but it was practically Edens' death sentence.
On the night after the election in Novembera
gang OF knobbers went to Edens' house and,
taking him out, whipped him numerically. He
vowed vengeance and bitterly denounced the
organization. He was warned to keep quiet or
he would be visited again. He paid no atten-
tion to the warning, however and on the night
Of Friday, March II, the knobbers met ia
Smelter hollow, a long, dark ravine, and the
regular rendezvous of the gang when any
scheme or deviltry was to be concocted- After
going through a little routine business Dave
Walker proposed to go down to Edens'
hon nd rri,- ;,l-S ,s
leaving the country or keeping his mouth shut"
number OF the Knobbers refused to 20, but
the men already mentioned heartily seconded
Walkers proposition. The march was taken
up for the Edens homestead 1t was nearly
eleven o'clock when the vicinity OF the house
was reached After a short consultation the
door was burst open. but no one was found
there young Edens and his wife having gone
TO his fathers home few rods away to spend
the night
The knobbers then went to old man Edens'
house. The whole family were asleep, and the
first they knew of the presence OF the crowd
was a yelling US il demons had broken loose.
Get up and get out Of here, you --7,
W are going TO kill you" was the cry.
Will Edens and his wife were sleeping on
small shakedown in q west room of the house,
Immediately under the only window in that
side OF the house. Will Edrns and his mother,
who was sleeping il the Lext room. jumped up
and the old lady seized pistol from her hus-
bands coat.
ats the Bald Knobbers after me again."
said young Edens, and at that moment the
firing began on the outside. In the II. eantime
Charlie Green, Edens' brother-in-law. who was
sleeping in the house, joined the family already
up. He had pistol and shotgun. The firing
had aroused old man Edens and he came into
the small room armed to the teeth.
At that moment both the westerly and east
erly doors were burst IN by the Knobbers. The
masked fends poured into the well lighted
room, Bill and Dave Walker leading. Up
with yer hands," yelled Bill Walker at young
Edens Promptly both hands vert raised, ana
| after looking at him a moment Walker brought
| his pistol down on a level with Edens' breast
| and yelled, Now pop it to him." There was
| roar of guns and young Edens fell his body
riddled with bullets. The Knobbers then rushed
! on the family. firing as they advanced, and IN
| the front rank was Bill Walker, his eyes lit
| with the fire of hell itself ana his right hand
| dripping with the gore OF young Edens, IN which
he had dipped it.
| Charlie Green was trying to carry his young
wife from the room when Bull Creek Dave"
sent bullet crashing through his brain. Green
tumbled headlong to the floor, his body falling
on his wife and his blood squirting out into her
face. The young wife screamed and Bill
Walker brutaly kicking her in the side, yelled,
She seized Walkers mask and screamed the
louder. Deliberately he lowered his revolver
and placing the muZzle to her breast fired
Old man Edens, who at first seemed para
yzed with fright, now raised his pistol and fired
at young Walker. The bullet took effect in
Walkers leg. and he at once yelled: DO the
old cuss. He has shot me-" Old man Edens.
was seized and thrown on bed While one
man hit him in the head with an axe another
shot him through the neck.
Surprising everybody now dead the Knob
bers slipped out, but Wiley Mathews hearing
gasp turned and saw Will Edens trying TO get
up. Matthews raised shotgun and sent
dozen slugs into the wounded mans side, kill
ing him instantly. Then the Knobbers rode
AWAY Charlie Green and Will Edens were
killed but old man EGens and Mrs. Green final
ly recovered wave Of Indignation and
horror swept over the country at this hendish
butcherv and the sheriff OF the county began
hunting for the murderers. They were finally
arrested and after long trials and much labor
on the part OF the State were convicted.
THE GOVERNOR APPEALED TO.
The attorney for the condemned men
exhausted every means to secure a COM
mutation of sentence to life imprison-
ment. The Governor was flooded with
petitions signed by lawyers, ministers.
business men and citizens generally, as
serting the belief that life imprisonment
would meet the requirements of justice as
completely as the death penalty. A few
DAYS ago, however, the Governor made
his final decision, declining to interfere.
and in lengthy letter gave a review Of
the case and his reasons for permitting
the sentence of the court to be executed
Will Destroy Themselves.
ALBANY, N. Y, May 1.-THE State Sem
ate General Laws Committee ordered last
year to investigate trusts has reported.