The Iola register., 1889-05-17
BALD knoesERs HANGED.

A Sickening Scene on the scaf1old-Young
Walker Hanged Twice-The Crime for
Which They Suffered.
OZARK. No., May 10.-DAve Walker and
his son William and John Matthews were
hanged here this morning for the murder
of Edens and Green in October. 1886 The
execution was conducted in a most bpng.
ling manner and the scene on the scaffold
was CHASTITY one, as the first fall was a
complete failure. At S:45 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 scaffoid. As they ascended the
scaffold Matthews exclaimed: Farewell
vain world" Rev. Mr.. Horn read the
scriptures and Kevs. Hanks and Grayson
sang hymn. The men had but little to
say, the black caps were adjusted and at
s.aS 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 ad.
1usted, when he was again swung Off and
strangled to death. The rope slipped
on Williams neck and he fell
70 the ground moaning piteously.
Matthews was soon pronounced dead and
young Walker was being prepared for q
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 were pronounced
dead crowd OF O thousand people were
about the Jail.
THE EDENs- GREEN MURDER
The crime for which the Bald Knobbers
were condemned occurred substantially
as follows:
Some time in the month OF October 1885,
William Edens, 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
II some days later when in Sparta. Informed
that the dog belonged to John Matthews. he
remarked: Reckon ! done killed a Bald
knobber, then" Matthews being well known
member Of the organization. The crowd
laughed at Edens' remark and took it as a joke,
but 1t was practically Edens death sentence
On the night after the election in Novembera a
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 IL, the Knobbers met Ia
Smelter hollow, long, dark ravine, and the
regular rendezvous of the gang when any
nr to ha fad
going through little routine business Dave
Walker proposed to go down to Edens'
house and give him another ''lickin' for not
leaving the country or keeping his mouth shut"
A number Of the knobbers refused to 60 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 q 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 yelling as IL demons had broken loose.
Get up and get out Of here, you u---
We are going to kill you," was the cry.
Will Edens and his wife were sleeping on q
small khakedown in a west room OF the house,
Immediately under the only window in that
side Of the house. win Edrns and his mother,
who was sleeping il the next room. jumped up
and the old lady seized Q 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 Meantime
Charlie Green, Edens' brother-in-law. who was
sleeping in the house, joined the family already
up. He had a pistol and shotgun. The firing
had aroused oh man Edens and he came into
the small room armed to the teeth.
At that moment both the weste rly 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 wer. raised. and
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 o
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 W. lker, 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 a bullet crashing through his brain. Green
turlbled 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, brutally kicking her in the side, yelled.
'Shet up your - head, or you'll get il next" |
She seized Walkers mask and screamed the |
louder Deliberately he lowered his revolver, |
and placing the muzzle TO her breast fred.
Old man Edens, who at first seemed para |
lyzed with fright, 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 Il 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 q |
gasp turned and saw Will Edens trying to get |
up. Matthews raised a shotgun and sent a |
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 Edens and Mrs. Green final
ly Iecoyered. A wave of indignation and
horror swept over the country at this iendish
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.
TEE GOVERNOR APPEALED TO.
The attorney for the condemned men
exhausted every means to secure COM
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 thst life Imprisonment
would meet the requirements of Justice as
as the death penalty. A few
days ago, however, the Governor made
his final decision, declining to interfere,
and in a lengthy letter gave 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 Sen.
ate General Laws Committee ordered last