The Butler Weekly Times

PROTESTING INNOCENCE.
Arrested Bald Knobbers Stand Firm.
A Queer Letter From One Prisoner.

Ozark, Mo., March 17.-All fears of an attack from the Bald Knobbers have subsided and the general feeling is that the officers, supported by the law abiding citizens, are masters of the situation.

Sheriff Johnson and Almus Harrington returned from Chadwick this afternoon, bringing five more Bald Knobbers charged with being implicated in the murder of Green and Edens Friday night. Their names are Andrew Adams, J. W. Robinson, Lew and Pete Davis and Gil Applegate. Jim McGuire was also arrested and brought in on horseback. making the twenty fifth man now under arrest.

Most of the prisoners are handcuffed together in couples or manacled at the ankles and kept under a strong guard at the court house. All still protest their innocence. notwithstanding the confession made by Joe Inman yesterday. They appear by no means cheerful, however, and are quite cautious in what they have to say. Their avocation is farming, and nearly all have lived in this part of the State for many years and have families.

C. O. Simmons, who was ordained as a Baptist preacher three years ago, is perhaps an average of the lot in intelligence and education. He is 30 years old and has a wife and three children, and combines preaching with farming.

When asked if he had anything to say to the public. through the press, he handed the Times correspondent the following. which is given verbatim ad literatim:

Ozark, Mo., March 17.--I feel that a few lines would add some thing to your paper. It looks hard that honest men has got to be cathalled in this way whule they have to, toil all day for surport for theur famnily and then lay down at night to rest from a hard davs toil. Some nigbt prowler willget out and comunt such bloody deeds an ennocent men has to suffer for it. I want to say this to the people that the god of heaven noes who done that bloody deed and he noes that I, C. O. Simmons. is more ennocent of that crime than Plate was of tbe blood of our savier but there is one thing that is a consolationto me andthat is christ savs that he will ner forsake his peo- ple. That is what does my sole good. Though all men may cast your name out as evil yet will I not forsake vou. I know that men around Ozark would hang me it they daire. but the goodlord is able and will take care ot his people, The apostle Pal was put in prison and prayer was made without crying for him and the holy spirit was all his comfort. So it is mine while in this horable condition I no that I have friends that is sending there petitions to a throne ot grase in my behalf. Among them is my old mother and a darling companion and two darling girls and plenty of brothers and sis- ters and sisters in christ Jesus.

C. O. SIMMONS.

Rev. Simmons was handcuffed to A. J. Hiles, a young man, and appeared very much grieved in spirit over his unpleasant surroundings.

"Bullock Dave" Walker, the alleged chief of the company who commited the murder, denounced Inman's statements as false, and declared that he had never attended a meeting of the Bald Knobbers or been connected with the organization in any manner.

He said he had never seen a Bald Knobber to his knowledge except Captain Kenney. the reputed chief of the Taney county companies.

William Walker, the young man who was wounded, has not yet been found, and it is surmised by some that he died the same night and his body was hidden by the other members of the company. His father claims that he is in Peirce City.

The gun found at the Edens house after the murder. however. has been positively identified as the one kept by him, and which corroborates Inman's statement.

The prosecution feel assured they have the guilty parties as well as ample evidence to secure their conviction, although other clues are being followed up and still further developments are anticipated.