The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1889-05-16
EXECUTED.
The LOng-Delayed Sentence Against
the Bald Knobbers
Carried Out at Ozark. Missouri,
this Morning.
A Terribly Bungling Piece of Work
on the Part Of the Officers.
The Ropes Broke and ALI Three Men
Had to Be Re- Hanged.

tiers gave the scaffOld its finishing
touches last evening. ana everything
was ready by O'Clock. William
Walker was baptized at 8 p. m. by i'm
mersion in q bath basin carried into
the Jail. The scene was very affecting.
John Matthews made a long prayer,
which could be distinctly heard in the
street fronting the jail. The prisoners
ate their supper with as much relish as
usual: and appeared very quiet, except
Matthews, who is taking his fate very
hard. He passed a restless night.
praying at short intervals, asking
the Lord to give him strength to
60 through the ordeal, and claiming
he was q martyr. He did not
sleep over two hours during the night
The two Walkers retired about IL
O'Clock, went to sleep and did not
wake until after four o'clock. They
stated that they rested well. They
were up early and ate their breakfast
at the usual hour. The Jail yard was
full of guards armed with winchesters,
shot guns and revolvers and were In
charge of Captain G.. w. Taylor, who
was forman of the grand jury which
indicted the Bald Knobbers.
Matthews wife and mother came in
last evening and several other of his
relatives are here. Divine services
were opened in the jail at 1870 o'clock,
conducted by Revs. s. Thomas Hanks,
ID. +. Grogstone and Il. Il. Horne, as
sisted by few ladies. Matthews took
part in che exercises and delivered an
earnest prayer in loud voice. William
Walker also led in prayer. Once, at
1853 O'Clock, the sheriff entered the jail
and read the death warrant to the
doomed men, after which Themes De
lany, one of their attorneys, was ad-
mitted to have an interview and bid
them farewell. John Matthews came
to the window and had a conversation
with correspondent. He said: u
have to die, but thank God can say
am innocent and have told the truth al
along about this matter. ] have moth
ing to regret. 1 went out through tn,
hole, not because was guilty
but to escape a shameful death
but it is only the will of God that
should die and ought to be proud OF
it. l was soldier in the federal army
and l am proud of my record. / an
willing for the people who have known
me all my life to say what kind of ;
prisoners commenced dressing them
selves for the scaffold. They were
dressed with white shirts, linnen col
lars. black cravats, low slippers ant
black coats, vests and pants.
The jury and reporters were admit
ted to the inside at o o'clock. Just be
fore leaving his cell John Matthews
proclaimed his innocence in lou
voice. The sheriff helped Matthew
the stems UOun0 WaIxRr fOlInvUa
with firm step. his father tOllowin
close behind as firm as ever. at tn
trap a short PRAYER was delivered b
Rev. L. b. Horn, after which all jolne
in singing. Rev. Il. b. Horn rendere
selection from the book of Job, Rev
Thomas Hanks delivered beautiful
prayer. The hood was adjusted at GAG
John Matthews said he had nothing t
add, he was there, but took no part
the crime. Matthews called on all win
were willing to help his little ones I
hold up their hands. and nearly ever
one in his sight held up their hands
The black caps were adjusted at 9:5-
and at 9:53 the drop fell. John Ma
thews fell praying. The stretch of til
broke and William Walker fell loos
and lay there struggling and groaninl
He talked for three minutes when /
was taken up by the sheriff ar
deputies on the scaffold. Dave Walk,
was drawn up and died in about Il
teen minutes. Matthews lived abol
thirteen minutes and died with
feet on the ground. The scene Wi
horrible in the extreme. Matthew
and Dave Walker were cut down
1910. The rope was again adjustC
and VIM. Walker lifted helpless ar
grooming and gurgling and almost i
sensible and the rope again adjusts
and the trap again sprung; this tin
the descent came to a sudden ste
with his feet full thirty inches fro
the ground and he died without
struggle.
The three Bald Knobbers, Da,
Walker. better known in Christis
county as Bull Greek Dave" chief
the Bald KnoObers, his son, Villa
Walker, and John Matthews, we
hanged for the murder of Charl
Green and William Ejens, on Mare
18th, 1887. They were firmly of Il
opinion up to within forty-eight hou
of the execution that they would new
be called upon to pay the extreme pc
atty of life for life. Neither of ii
trio had yet reached his fiftieth yea
and William Walker was barely min
teen years of age. The three men. I
gether with Wiley Matthews, nephe
of John. were to have been hanged ,
May 18th, 1888, but on an appeal
the supreme court escaped the gallo,
supreme court affirmed the Christi;
county circuit court, and fixed Decel
Der 18th, as the day of execution. A
other stay was subsequently secnr
and Friday, February 18th, named
the day of execution. Inasmuch
the supreme court had not vet pass
upon the case of David Walker, VIII
hnt dot ~
reprieve until April 10Th to WiIlis
Walker and John MATTHEW
Wiley Matthews being still
large and he and his uncle, 10
Matthews, having escaped from I
Ozark Jail on December 2S, an
count of which appeared in these d
patches at the time. 1t will be RENE
bered that the confederates of the b;
Knobbers broke into the jail and GA
the condemned men an opportun
to depart. John and WILEY Matthe
took advantage of the CHANCE
Dave and Bill Walker declined to ie;
and gave the alarm to the sheriff. "
resided in the Jail building. They O;
as a reason for not leaving that Il
preferred To await the action of {
courts in their cases, the youn
Walker stating that he would rat
hang than be bounded all over
country by officers of the law. 1t '
generally thought at time. hoWeN
that the Walkers fully anticipa
leniency and feared that such action
their part would prejudice their chan
for clemency. The weather was /
terly cold and John Matthews s
gave himself up, saying he prefer
anything to death from starvation
cold. Wiley Matthewe has never b
heard Of, though there "
at one time rumors to
effect that he had been seen in Ind
territory. The supreme court deci
adversely in the case of Dave Wall
the Bald KnObber chief and fixed
execution for May 10. About Apri
the attorneys for Bill Walker and j
Mathews made strong appeal
Communication Of the sentences of n
clients, and when that was den
asked for respite to May 10, the {