Edward Walton: The Notorious Serial Killer

Edward "Eddie" Walton (died July 17, 1908) was an American serial killer whose chilling confessions revealed a gruesome trail of murder across five states over a span of 12 years, from 1896 to 1908. Ultimately, Walton faced the gallows for the murder of Beulah Martin, a crime that would seal his fate and expose his dark history.

Quick Facts

• Born: Wilkes County, Georgia, United States
• Died: July 17, 1908, West Virginia Penitentiary, Moundsville, West Virginia, United States
• Cause of Death: Execution by hanging
• Other Names: "Eddie," Frank Harris, Frank Johnson
• Conviction: First-degree murder
• Criminal Penalty: Death
• Victims: 5
• Span of Crimes: 1896–1908
• Country: United States
• States: Alabama, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia

Biography

Walton's dark journey began in the small, unassuming town of Pistol, Georgia, where he was born. Interestingly, his first recorded crime was the brutal killing of a horse in 1890. Fast forward to 1896, and Walton's murderous impulses escalated dramatically when he claimed to have murdered and robbed a man in Blossburg, Alabama. However, investigators later found no evidence supporting this claim, and Walton evaded capture entirely.

The Marriage and Murder of Edith Hanna

In a twist of fate, Walton found himself in Joliet, Illinois, where he married Edith Hanna in 1902. However, their marriage was short-lived, resulting in separation for nearly two years. In August 1904, ignited by jealousy and anger, Walton sought out Edith at her Chicago home on South Peoria Street. When she refused to return to him, he shot her in a fit of rage. Edith succumbed to her injuries three days later, never regaining consciousness. This would mark Walton's first confirmed murder.

Following this horrific act, Walton attempted to eliminate any potential witnesses by attacking a man in Joliet who had ties to Edith. Thankfully, this unnamed victim survived, and Walton once again fled, managing to slip through the fingers of law enforcement as they investigated Edith's murder. The police questioned the family residing at Edith's address, but without any concrete evidence linking Walton to the crime, he remained free.

A Life on the Run

Adopting the alias "Frank Harris," Walton began a chaotic journey across the country. His next destination was Raton, New Mexico, but fearing recognition, he quickly changed his identity to "Frank Johnson" and headed to Gallup.

In 1906, he partook in a robbery in Youngstown, Ohio. Later that year, while passing through Shippenville, Pennsylvania, Walton learned that Marion Blue and several accomplices were plotting to rob him. In a panic, he shot at Blue multiple times, resulting in Blue's death months later from his injuries.

Walton's travels continued as he made his way to Steubenville, Ohio, where he met Mamie Gill from Roanoke, Virginia. Under the pretense of being married, they lodged at a residence owned by a Mrs. Brown. After a few days of tension-filled days, a violent altercation erupted between Walton and Gill. In a fit of rage, Walton brutally beat her, and in a tragic turn of events, he accidentally kicked her in the chest, leading to her untimely death.

Realizing the gravity of his actions, Walton carried her lifeless body for half a mile before hiding it in some bushes along the riverbank. Despite his attempts to cover up the crime, the river washed her body away, compelling Walton to flee the area once again.

The Murder of Beulah Martin and Capture

On March 3, 1908, Walton's killing spree reached a deadly culmination when he murdered Beulah Martin in Gypsy, West Virginia. This heinous act occurred after she refused his sexual advances. Following the murder, a massive posse—about 400 people—set out to find him. Walton fled into the nearby hills and barricaded himself in a barn, where he defended himself against the furious mob for two grueling days, injuring three individuals in the process.

His standoff ended when Sheriff Flanagan threatened to blow up the barn, prompting Walton to surrender.

Execution

After being sentenced to death for the murder of Beulah Martin, Walton's confessions poured out, revealing the details of his previous crimes. In the weeks leading up to his execution, he underwent a baptism in jail and expressed remorse for his actions.

On the day of his execution, Walton, despite his imposing stature, was visibly shaken. Capt. Joseph Bloyd and Warden Dawson had to support him as he made his way to the gallows. Witnesses noted that although his face was largely expressionless, his eyes betrayed a depth of anguish.

As Reverend Sanford concluded the last prayer for the condemned man, Warden Dawson pressed the button, and the trap doors opened. Walton's death was swift; he fell unconscious before the rope fully stretched, though the process still resulted in a broken neck and vertebrae. Medical professional Dr. Boone confirmed his death, and his body was then carried away by two convicts for burial preparations, with the likelihood that he was interred in the prison cemetery.

See Also

• List of serial killers in the United States

Notes

1. Walton claimed he married her as "Edith Hannon," but most newspapers reported her name as "Hanna."
2. Walton speculated her second name might have been "Staunton."

Sources

• "Fiend Hangs By The Neck: Frank Johnson Pays The Penalty on the Gallows at State Prison." Clarksburg Telegram, July 23, 1908.
• "Negro Murderer Confesses to Five Killings: Executed for Shooting Colored Woman." The Bennington Evening Banner, July 18, 1908.
• "Murderer of Five Dies on Scaffold: 'I Deserve to be Hanged', Negro Told Chaplain, as He Went to His Death." The Times Dispatch, July 18, 1908.
• "Walton confession." The Daily Telegram, July 17, 1908.
• "Killing True As To Chicago: Chicago Records Show Johnson Did Kill A Woman in That City." The Daily Telegram, July 18, 1908.
• "Slayer of Five; Negro Confesses: Crimes Began in 1896, Says Man Condemned To Be Hanged." The Washington Times, July 17, 1908.
• "Negro Confesses to Murder of 5." The Detroit Times, July 17, 1908.

Bibliography

• Michael Newton: The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers, 2000

For further reading, you can find the original Wikipedia article here.