Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-05-11
TRIPLE HANGING.
BALU-KNoBBERs PAY THE PENALTY FOR
MURDER IN MISSOURI
Touching Scenes Prior to the fxscution-
One Of Them Asserts His Innocence
10 the Last-A Bungling Job.
IBy telegraph TO tho pi.ps,ch. ]

ST. LOUIS, May l0.-A special from Oseark,
Mo-, 10 the Post Dispatch SAYS: The carpen-
tiers gave the scafIOld its finishing touches
lsst evening. william Walker was baptized
at Il. N. by immersion In bath-basin car.
ried into the Jail. The scene was very Affect
ING. John Matthew made long PRAYER,
which could be distinctly heard ~ the street.
The prisoners ATE their supper with as much
relish as usual aud appeared very quiet, except
Matthews, who Is taking his fate very hard.
lie passed restless night, praying at short
intervals, asking the Lord 10 give him
strength 10 go through the ordeal and claim
ing he was martyr. He did not sleep over
two hours during the night. The two Walk
ers retired about IL O'Clock ald went to
sleep, and did not wake until after O'Clock.
They stated that they rested well. They
were up early and ate their breakfast AZ the
usual hour. The jail-yArd was full OF
guards armed with Winchesters, sbOtguns,
and revolvcrs, and were IN charge OF Cap
tain &. W. Taylor. who was fore
man OF the grand jury which indict-
cd the B1ld.KnObbers. Matthew's wife and
mother came in last evening and several
other oi his relatives are here. Divine ser-
vices were opened in the jail at 1880 o'clock,
conducted by Reys. Thomas Hanks, ID. +.
Graystoue. and 4. b. Horne, assisted by
few Christian ladies'. Matthews took part In
the exercises snd delivered an earnest PRAYER
IN n loud voice. William Walker also lead in
prayer once. At 1853 O'Clock the Sheriff en-
tered the jail and read the death-warrant 10
The doomed men, after which Thomas De-
lanev, one OF their ATTORNEYS, was admitted
10 have an interview and bid them farewell.
John Matthews came to the window and had
a conversation with the Post-Dispatch cor
respondent. He said "l have 20 die; but,
thank God, | can say | am innocent,
and have told the truth all along about
this matter. ! have nothing TO regret.
/ went out through the hole not because !
wss guilty but 10 escape a shameful death.
But IL is the will Of God that | should die
and ought 10 be proud OF n. | was & SOL
der in the Federal army and am proud Of my
record. | am willing for the people who
have known me al my lie to say what kind
OF a man have been"
At $40 the prisoners commenced dressing
themselves for the scof0ld. They were
dressed with white shirts, linen colors, black
crayats, low slippers, and black coats, vests,
aud trousers.
The Jury and the reporters were admitted
10 the inside at $500 O'Clock. just before
leaving his cell john Matthew'S proclaimed
his innocence In loud voice. The Sheriff.
helped Matthews mp tho steps. Young
Walker followed with a firm step, his father
following close behind as firm az ever. AT
the trap a short prayer was delivered by
Rev. Mr.. Hern, after which oil Joined IN
singing. Rev MIR. llern rendered selec-
ton from the Book OF JOB. Rev. Thomas
Hanks delivered a beautiful PRAYER. The
moose was adjusted at $40. John Matthews
said he had nothing 20 say. lie was
On ri Ff4
lie called on all who were willing 10 help
his little ones to hold up their hands. Nearly
every one in his sight held mp their hands.
The black caps were adjusted at 9.5I. At
q. 50 the drop Tell. John Matthews fell pray
Ing. The stretch Of the rope let all fail 70
ne ground. Che rope broke and Will
liam Walker fell loose and lay strug.
Cling on the ground. He talked for three
minutes, when no was taken up by the
sheriff and deputies on the sesdOld. Dave
walker was drawn mp aud died m about
fifteen minutes. Matthew's lived about thlr-
teen minutes, and died with his feet on the
ground.
The scene was horrible in the extreme.
Matthews and Dave Walker were cut down
al 1910. The trap was again adjusted and
william Walker lifted helpless aud grooming
and struggling aud almost insensibie and The
rope sgaiu adjusted and trsp agln sprung.
This time the descent came 10 sudden stop
with mis- feet fully thirty inches from the
ground, aud he died without struggle
/ All three Of the murderers were FIRMLY Of
he opinion up to iory.eight hours OF The
execution that they would never be called
upon TO pay the extreme penalty OF lie Tor
he.
An legal methods had been exhausted In
! their behalf, but they counted Oh Executive
/ clemency. A very peculiar feature 81 Bald
! Knobberism, now dead, il that a majority Of
the most prominent members ofthe band were
deyout church members. Cllef Naser Was
an exhorter, Temperance sdvocaie. and a
generally deyout man. The Bald-knobber
chief chung 10 the belief that the regulators
were champions OF the right, claiming that
the Eden Green's killing was an unfortunate
but unavoidable mistake.