Cincinnati, Ohio,February 6, 1896.Postmaster, South Bend, Ind.: Kindly sent all mail addressed to Wm. Wood from this city to me.John A. Caldwell, Mayor.
Young Wood, who was present, said he had got a letter from Jackson yesterday, which he had torn up. It went on to ask him to stick to him, and not to say too much.Young Wood was perfectly satisfied to have the mail sent back here.
Chief Deitsch after sending the information to Mayor Caldwell continued his investigation with:
"I have just talked with Jackson, and he puts all the blame upon you. He says you performed the abortion somewhere across the river."
"I don't know a thing about it, except what he told me."
"Well, now, did you do it or did Jackson? He says you did it."
"He's putting it all on me now, is he? Well, he's the one who is guilty. I know nothing of it."
"What did he tell you had become of the head?"
"I understand that he threw it in the Ohio River."
"Do you know where the operation was performed?"
"No, I don't. If I did, it would make it much easier for me to clear myself. As it is, I can prove where I was Friday night. It will all come out in a little while."
"Jackson says that you threw the head into the river, and that the next day you told him to get rid of anything lying around loose at the boarding house by throwing it into the river."
"I never saw the head, and he told me that he threw it into a sewer."
"Didn't you throw the girl's stockings, skirt and other things, which were covered with blood, into the river Saturday morning from the Suspension Bridge?"
"No, he did this himself."
"Then he says the skull was cut up and thrown over piecemeal by you."
"I don't know about the cutting up part, but deny the other."
Scott Jackson spent a sleepless night at the Central Police Station, and early next morning was taken to Chief Deitsch's private office. He had a haggard, restless look,and when asked to make a confession, sought to throw the blame upon Wood, and subsequently upon Walling.
His story was: Wood was the author of Pearl Bryan's ruin. When Jackson went home to spend the hollidays, Wood told him that Miss Bryan was in a delicate condition, and, knowing Jackson to be studying medicine, asked him what could be done in the matter. Jackson said he could do nothing in the matter, but Wood insisted that he help in an attempted abortion, as this was the only thing which would save him (Wood) and the girl from disgrace. Jackson refused to do this.
"What have you to say regarding the information now in the possession of the authorities that you and Walling were seen in the vicinity of Fort Thomas last Friday night in a hack drawn by a gray horse?"
"That information is erroneous. I was not there, and can establish the fact."
"Who do you think murdered the girl?"
"Alonzo Walling."
"Do you think the murdered girl is Pearl Bryan?"
"Oh, there is no question about that. It is her."
"How, and where was she killed?"
"I do not know."
"For what purpose?"
"To cover up previous wrong doings."
"And to shield who?"
"William Wood."
"Was Wood supposed to be Miss Bryan's sweetheart?"
"Yes sir; he was."
"And how was the affair planned?"
"Wood wrote to me, telling me of the trouble, and asking me to assist him out of it. I showed the letter to Walling, and he volunteered to undertake the job. It was then planned to bring the girl here. She arrived on Tuesday of last week, and what I saw and know of her after her arrival here, I have told."
"How do you account for the condition of yourtrousers, which have been found and are now in the possession of the authorities?"
"Well, the only way I can account for that, is that they were in our room and Walling put them on the night of the crime. I have not seen them since, and did not know that there was blood and mud on them."
It was 9 o'clock Thursday night when Sheriff Plummer and Detectives Crim and McDermott arrived in Cincinnati with William Wood, the third man in the terrible tragedy. Nothing else had been talked of during the day. Both in Newport and Cincinnati the excitement was intense. When early in the morning it was learned that the two men who were undoubtedly implicated in the horrible murder had been arrested in Cincinnati and an accessory to the crime arrested in Indiana and on his way to Cincinnati under guard, expressions of satisfaction at the arrests were heard on all sides. The subject of lynching the fiends,—Walling and Jackson—was freely discussed. That ominious appearance of suppressed excitement, which shows the keen determination of a mob and which they seek to hide as much as possible, was seen everywhere in the crowds gathered in knots all over the two cities. All that was needed in Cincinnati was a few good, trusty, fearless leaders. In Newport it was different. Determination and decision were seen on the blanched faces of men everywhere. Even Chief of Police Stricker and Lieutenant Smith, said it would be a very risky matter to bring the prisoners to Newport. There is no telling what would be done. Excitement has reached a very high pitch. "We will be well prepared for any outbreak of mob violence," said they, "and upon the slightest indication of any will arrest everybody concerned in the least with it."
It was just 11:30 o'clock when Wood was subjected to an examination in the Mayor's private office. The father and uncle of the young man were present. The examination was as follows:
"What is your name?"
"William Wood."
"How old are you?"
"Twenty years old."
"Where do you live?"
"Greencastle Ind."
"You knew Pearl Bryan?"
"Yes sir."
"Very well?"
"Yes. She was a second cousin of mine."
"Does your family visit the Bryans?"
"Yes sir."
"Where you intimate with the girl?"
"No, sir."
"Did you know that she had been betrayed?"
"Yes sir."
"How did you find that out?"
"Jackson told me."
"What did he say?"
"He told me that he betrayed her in September."
"Did he tell any one else that?"
"Yes sir, he did. A young man in Greencastle."
"He will substantiate your statement then?"
"Yes sir."
"Did you receive any letters from Jackson about the condition of Miss Bryan?"
"Yes sir."
"When?"
"About the 10th of January, I think."
"What did he say?"
"He said that he was going to have an operation performed on her if he could get hold of enough money."
"Did the girl know of that at that time?"
"Yes sir."
"How did she find that out?"
"I told her myself."
"Why did you do that?"
"Because I wanted to shield her."
"Was the letter you received from Jackson the only way that you knew that the girl had been betrayed?"
"No, she told me herself when I was out at the house several weeks ago."
"What did you say to that?"
"I told her to wait until I heard from Jackson."
"You took a great deal of interest in the case, did you not?"
"Yes, I would have done the same if she had been my own sister."
"What arrangement did Jackson say he had made when he wrote to you?"
"He said he had procured a room in Cincinnati, and that she would be taken care of by an old woman."
"What else did he say?"
"He said that the operation would be performed by a doctor and chemist who was an old hand at that kind of business."
"Did he mention the name of the doctor?"
"No, he said the party was a friend of Walling."
"Did the plan suit you?"
"Yes, I thought it was just the thing."
"What did you tell her?"
"I told her that I thought it would be best for her to go."
"At that time you thought you would accompany her?"
"Yes, sir."
"Why did you change your mind?"
"Because my father requested my staying at home."
"But you met the girl at the depot when she came to Cincinnati?"
"Yes, sir."
"What day was that?"
"Monday, January 27."
"Did you have a long talk with the girl?"
"Well, I talked with her."
"About the operation?"
"Yes, sir."
"Did she seem pleased?"
"I never saw her so happy in my life."
"Did you have any other business at the train?"
"Yes, sir, I came to meet my father."
"Where had your father been?"
"To a quarterly meeting at Terra Haute."
"Then Miss Bryan left on the same train that your father came home on?"
"Yes, sir."
"Were you over in Cincinnati before?"
"No, sir."
"When did you see Jackson last?"
"When he was at home. It was on a Sunday. I think about the 5th or 6th of January."
"Where you with him very long?"
"Yes, nearly all day."
"Where did Jackson go when he left Greencastle?"
"He came to Cincinnati on an evening train."
"Do you know Walling?"
"No, sir."
"Never saw him?"
"Never in my life."
"Ever see a picture of him?"
"Yes, I saw a tin-type of him when Jackson was at home."
"Would you recognize that picture if you were to see it?"
"I think I would."
At this juncture of the examination Chief Deitsch went to get a picture of Walling but failed to find it.
Wood was taken down to Central Station and registered.
He gave his name as William Wood, aged 20, residence South Bend, Ind. After registering he went to the Grand Hotel with his father.
Excitement was running high by this time. The crowds in and around the City Hall, where the prisoners were, steadily increased, and the gravest fears were entertained by the officers. Cordon's of police lined the passage-ways from the Mayor's and Superintendent's offices to the cell-roomsbelow where the prisoners were confined, and every movement was guarded with the most jealous care.
There were all kinds of rumors floating about the City Hall when John Kugel, the saloon-keeper at Ninth Street and Central avenue, walked into Clerk Vickers office and told him that he thought he had a valise belonging to Jackson.
"Then get it quick," said Vickers.
Kugel hurried over and in a few minutes returned with a brown leather hand-satchel about 15 inches long. It was taken to Chief Deitsch, who made an examination. There was nothing in it, but the sides were heavily stained with blood. Chief Deitsch closed the valise and asked Kugel who gave it to him. Kugel said that last Monday night about 8 o'clock a young man with a blonde mustache walked in his place and asked him to take care of the valise, saying he would call for it the next day.
After Kugel's arrival at headquarters Jackson was ordered brought up-stairs and a dramatic scene followed. Jackson was seated facing Chief Deitsch with the valise at the Chief's feet. Standing around were many persons at work on the case.
"Pick up that valise," said the Chief.
Jackson picked it up and held it in his lap.
"Open it."
He did so.
"What is in there?"
"Nothing that I can see, except that it is stained."
"What is it stained with?"
"It looks like blood?"
"Don't you know it is blood?"
Jackson's face flushed and his eyes twitched. He pulled his mustache and ran his fingers through his hair. He was only a moment answering, but it appeared to be an hour to those who were waiting for a reply. He finally moistened his lips with his tongue and said:
"I think it is blood, but I have not examined it carefully."
"Well, then, examine it carefully."
Jackson picked up the valise and held it close to his face. He peered down the blood-stained bag and his eyes rolled around his head. He put his hand to his forehead and slowly said:
"Yes, that is blood."
"Isn't that the valise in which you carried the head?"
"I guess it is, but I did not carry it."
"Well, who did?"
"Walling."
"Well, then, where is the head?"
"I guess it is in the river."
Kugel then identified Jackson as the man who had left the valise in the saloon.
"What did you leave it in Kugel's saloon for?" asked the Chief.
"I wasn't going to leave it there. I was going to get it and do away with it."
"Why did you want to get rid of it?"
"Well, it was better out of the way."
"Why?"
"Well, I wanted to shield myself of all those things."
"What were you so anxious to get rid of them for?" persisted the Chief.
"I just didn't want them about," was the prisoner's non-committal answer.
"What was in it first?"
"A lot of clothing and such things."
"Whose clothing was it?"
"Miss Bryan's, I think."
"What did it consist of?"
"Well, there was a skirt, a petticoat, some stockings and other things."
"Where are they?"
"I guess they are in the river, too."
'Yes, that is blood.'Jackson put his hand to his forehead and slowly said: "Yes, that is blood."
Night Chief Renkert then produced a small alligator valise that he had found in Lawrence's barber shop, 133 West Sixth Street, where Walling and Jackson often went. Jackson identified it as Pearl Bryan's. He said that the blood-stained one was also the property of the murdered girl.
David Wallingford, the proprietor of the saloon at Longworth and Plum, which Jackson and Waling frequented, and his colored porter Allen Johnson were brought in by the officers and questioned in the presence of Jackson and Walling by Chief Deitsch as follows:
"You knew Jackson pretty well, eh?"
"Oh, yes; he came into my saloon every night. He frequently brought his lady friends along, too."
"Was he in your saloon on Friday night last?"
"Yes, he brought a lady in with him and went back into the sitting-room."
"Do you know who the lady was?"
"Well, I didn't then. Of course I do now."
"Who was she?"
"Why, she was Miss Pearl Bryan. I saw Pearl Bryan's picture since, and haven't the slightest doubt it was her. They were back in the sitting-room."
"Did Jackson act queer that night?"
"No; I can't say that he did. But one thing that looked rather queer was that he came in a carriage and brought a new satchel in the saloon with him."
"Did Jackson order any drinks?"
"Not after he had ordered whiskey for himself and sarsaparilla for the girl, they then went away in the carriage."
"What time was that?"
"Oh, about 7 o'clock, I think."
"Did you see him any more that night?"
"No; he came in the next night (Saturday night), though."
"Did he bring a satchel with him on Saturday night?"
"Yes, he brought in the same satchel and put it on thetable. I noticed that he sat it down rather heavily and I asked him what was in it. He said: 'Oh, some underclothes,' and we both laughed."
"Was Jackson as merry as usual?"
"No, he was rather depressed. He said his head hurt him devilish bad and he looked worried."
Johnson played an important part in the affair.
He persisted in the statement that Jackson, Walling and the girl, Miss Bryan, were at Wallingford's place on Friday night, and moreover that Albin the barber who shaved the two chums, was on the box and drove the cab in which they departed.
"I tell you I am not mistaken," persisted Johnson. "Let Albin put a cap on and I can recognize him; he wore a cap that night."
"Why are you so sure of the night?" was asked.
"Cause I had an engagement with my girl on that same night, and I remember distinctly."
Johnson said that he saw Walling on the outside and saw the woman get into the cab and drive away.
All of this Walling denied. Once Walling admitted that he was at the place, but he changed it again and declared that he was not there until Saturday night, when he saw Jackson borrow a dollar of the bartender.
Johnson stood in front of Walling and said:
"I don't want to get you into trouble, but you know you were there Friday night, and there is no use of you denying it."
Walling however, still refused any admission.
Once during the talk Jackson shook his finger in the face of Walling and said:
"Be careful; do not go too far."
Again he said: "You lie, and you know you are lying."
To which Walling answered: "You show in your eyes that you are lying."
The colored porter persisted in all the statements made to the authorities that Albin, the barber, was driving the cab.
Detectives Witte and Jackson were at once sent for Fred Albin the barber, and were not long in bringing him in. He and Johnson, the porter, were seated on the same lounge in the Mayor's office and Albin was examined by Chief Deitsch when he told the following story:
"I have known Alonzo Walling for about two years. He lived across the street from my home in Hamilton, O. Last fall he concluded to come to this city and study dentistry. He told me this and I offered to come to this city with him. I saw him nearly every evening, and in fact, we chummed together.
"About four months ago he introduced me to Jackson. Jackson came to the shop where I was employed and got shaved about twice a week.
"He was always considered a peculiar fellow—rather eccentric. I know little concerning him.
"I do not know whether it was Friday or Saturday morning that Jackson came into my shop and had me shave his whiskers off. On that day he had a grip when he entered, and I asked him what he had in it. He replied that he would tell me some other day."
Johnson then repeated his statement regarding Albin's connection with the crime, after which Chief Deitsch said:
"What have you got to say about the statement made by Johnson which implicates you with the murder?"
"There is no truth in that. I think I wore a cap on Friday night, but I was not in Wallingford's saloon, as Johnson says. I went home with Walling about fifteen minutes after 9. Jackson came into the barber shop several times with the grip. I naturally had some curiosity to know what it contained but he never would tell me anything definite.
"One day this week I picked up a paper while Jackson was in the shop and read an item about the shoes bought at Greencastle. I knew that Greencastle was the home of Jackson, and I asked him if he had heard about the shoes comingfrom his town. He said that he had, but that he did not believe it. I suggested that he and I go over and look at the body, but Jackson said that he did not want to see it, as he felt sure that he could not identify it. During this conversation I noticed that Jackson acted somewhat peculiar, but I never dreamed what caused it at the time."
Col. Deitsch and Mayor Caldwell had a long talk with Albin. He persisted in the statement that he knew nothing of the murder.
Clew after clew was run down. Everything reported to the police regarding the murder, no matter of how little importance was thoroughly investigated and the officers were kept continually on the run.
Satisfied that Jackson and Walling were the murderers, and that the identification of the victim was complete the whole energy of the entire detective and police force was turned to the finding of the head, and the identity of the man who drove the cab and the securing of positive evidence on which the murderers could be convicted.
In response to Mayor Caldwell's notice to the postmaster at South Bend, Ind., the Mayor on Saturday, Feb. 8., received from that city a letter written by Scott Jackson to William Wood, South Bend, Ind.
As soon as he received it the Mayor sent for D. D. Woodmansee the attorney for Jackson, and with his consent opened the communication. It was dated Feb. 5., the day on which Jackson was arrested. It was marked 8:30 p. m., less than two hours before his arrest. It was written on letter-heads of the Palace Hotel, while the envelope bore the style of Al Heider's Hotel, on Fifth Street. The letter says:
"2-5-96."Hello, Bill—"Write a letter home signed by Berts name telling the folks that he is somewhere & going to Chicago or some other place—has a position etc—and that they will advise later about it—Say tired of livingat home or anything you want. You know about the way he writes. Send it to some one you can trust—How will Smith at La Fayette—tell the folks that he has not been at I but at La Fayette and travelling about the country get the letter off without one seconds delay—and burn this at once. Stick by your old chum Bill—And I will help you out the same way—some times. Am glad you are having a good time—D."Be careful what you write to me."
"Bert" in the letter means Pearl. In that portion of the communication which explains that "he has not been at "I." "I" evidently stands for Indianapolis.
After the letter from Jackson to Wood was opened and read, a reporter went to Jackson and asked him if he wrote the letter.
"Yes, sir, I did."
"What does that signature, the letter D., mean?"
"Why, he called me 'Dusty,' and I signed it for that."
"Who is meant by Bert?"
"That is a nickname we had for Pearl. We always called her Bert."
"Then Bert means Miss Bryan?"
"Yes, sir."
"Now, why did you write that letter?"
"Walling told me to write it. He said that something had to be done, and I did it."
"Did he dictate it?"
"Oh, no, I wrote it Wednesday evening after supper."
"Why did you tell Wood to be careful what he wrote?"
"Because he was writing vulgar letters. He wrote me two postals to the college that were awful."
"What did you do with them?"
"I tore them right away. Besides all this, I din't know at what time I might be arrested."
Walling was then visited and told of the story of Jackson.
"No, I didn't tell him to write it.
"I met him on the street Wednesday afternoon, and he told me that he was going to write."
As a result of one of the lengthy cross-examinations to which Walling was subjected in which he said that the coat worn by Jackson when he committed the deed had been deposited by himself at Jackson's request in the sewer hole at the corner of Richmond and John Streets.
Detective Witte was at once sent to the scene, and, found a bundle wrapped in a newspaper in the mud. It was drawn out and found to be a black coat. On the lining of the sleeves were found blood stains, and in one of the pockets a lot of tansy flower, which, made into tea, is used to produce miscarriages. After a thorough cleaning, it was placed in a box and removed to headquarters, where an examination was made. Blood spots were found on the sleeves and front. The coat was of a blue black material, similar to the clothing worn by Jackson at the time of his arrest.
Walling was told of the finding of the coat. He displayed no surprise, but remarked:
"Well, I knew they would find it. I told them not long ago where it was; that I had put it there myself."
"Whose coat is it?"
"Jackson's."
"Why did you put it there?"
"Because he asked me to."
"Did you know for what purpose?"
"Yes; to get rid of it. It was bloody."
"And you knew this?"
"Yes, he told me so."
"Then you know more about the crime than you have admitted?"
"No, I don't. I have told everything I know."
In a locker at the Ohio Dental College—Jackson's individual locker—were found by the police a pair of trousers. Upon the knees were dried mud and blood, and upon the legs were other blood stains. Jackson and Walling each claim the trousers belong to the other.
Mayor Caldwell and Col. Deitsch Friday morning had a private consultation at which it was decided to hold all examinations of the prisoners in the Bertillion room, behind the iron bars of the Place of Detention. No one but Col. Deitsch and the Mayor were allowed to be present.
It was about 9 o'clock when both Jackson and Walling were brought into the Bertillon room and turned over to Superintendent Kiffmeyer. Both were photographed and had their measure taken according to the rules governing the Bertillon system.
The questioning of the prisoners while in the Bertillon room, related to the disposition made of Pearl Bryan's clothes.
It was found that Pearl Bryan's clothes had been conveniently wrapped into five bundles and brought to Jackson and Walling's room at 222 West Ninth Street. Jackson took two of the bundles and threw them into the sewer on Sycamore street. Walling put the other three under his arm and went down Plum Street with the purpose of throwing into the river the evidences of the bloody and brutal crime in the muddy depths of the Ohio. Jackson says Walling afterwards told him he had disposed of them.
When Turnkey Henry Underwood was passing Jackson's cell yesterday morning Jackson said:
"Well, I'm going to see the Mayor and tell him about the clothing."
"What did you do with the clothing?"
"Well, there were three bundles. I threw them in a sewer on Richmond Street."
"Where on Richmond Street?"
"I don't know exactly, but west of Central avenue."
"Was the head in the lot?"
"I don't know where the head is now."
"Why don't you tell where the head is and it will save you a good deal of trouble."
"Well, Walling told me that he threw it overboard."
"What do you mean by throwing it overboard?"
"Why, in the river, and that is the truth."
As soon as the Chief could be seen Turnkey Underwood reported to him the talks he had with the prisoners. Walling was taken before Mayor Caldwell and Chief Deitsch, Detectives Crim and McDermott. Walling was asked what he had to say.
"Well, I'll tell you how Jackson killed Pearl Bryan.
"For several days before the murder Jackson would sit about our room and read a medical dictionary to try and learn all about the effect of poisons. He finally selected cocaine as the most suitable for his purpose. At last he took four grains of cocaine and put in sixteen drops of water. He told me that he was going to give the cocaine solution to Pearl and make her drink it, and that it would kill the vocal powers. She would be unable to scream or talk and then he was going to cut her head off."
"Do you think he did that?"
"Yes, I am almost sure that was the way he killed her."
"I don't know how he gave her the poison, but think she took it before getting into the cab, so that it would have its full effect by the time she was driven over to Ft. Thomas."
"Well, what became of the head? You know where it is."
"I do not. If I did I would tell."
Jackson was then sent for. He appeared to be worried, and when Mayor Caldwell asked him if he had bought any cocaine he said:
"Yes, I bought some cocaine."
"When?"
"Last Wednesday night."
"What did you do with it?"
"I gave it to Walling."
"Now Jackson I want you to tell me where the head is.You know where it is, and for the sake of the poor old mother I think you ought to tell."
"Well, I can't tell you where the head is. I don't know."
Walling and Jackson were then brought together again. They eyed each other and then the questions were put to them, but like in every other interview they denied the charges made by each other. Walling finally said:
"Why don't you tell where the head is, Jackson? You know they will find it sooner or later."
"I don't know where it is."
"Why don't you tell? You know where it is."
"I do not."
There were two post-mortems held by Coroner Tingley, of Newport over the remains of the headless body of Pearl Bryan. The first held on the Monday following the finding of the body and the second, which was ordered for the purpose of deciding whether the murder was committed where the body was found or the head cut off after death had been caused by the administering of anaesthetics. Dr. Charles S. Phythian of Newport, conducted both post-mortems assisted by Drs. Robert Carothers, J. L. Phythian, J. O. Jenkins, W. S. Tingley, C. B. Schoolfield and J. H. Fishbach. The unanimity of opinion was that life was not extinct when the wounds from which the blood found egress were inflicted.
Dr. Charles Phythian said:
"The post-mortem shows beyond a doubt that Pearl Bryan died by the knife and was conscious when she was killed."
"Had she been dead when she was taken to the Highlands the blood in her body would have been somewhat coagulated no matter how soon after dissolution she was taken there, and while there would have been a great flow of it if she had been placed there within a short time after death there must have been a slight coagulation which would havecaused at least a small quantity of blood to remain in the body."
"The cut on the left hand shows that she fought with her murderer. The cut goes clear to the bone and proves that she did not receive it by making the weak attempt at defense that a person in a semi-comatose condition would have made."
As was brought out at the first post-mortem there was absolutely not a drop of blood in the body of the woman; all of it had flowed from her.
Not a drop of blood was found in the veins nor was any found in the arteries or heart. Every organ of the body was found in perfect and healthy condition. The blood vessels were entirely devoid of any blood, and all the surgeons gave as their opinion that the girl had bled to death, for had life been extinct before bleeding began the blood vessels would not have been emptied.
A microscopic observation was made of the body in hope of discovering a puncture that might be construed as the place where the needle of the hypodermic-syringe had been inserted, but no such puncture had been discovered, though subjected to the most careful examination with the strongest glasses.
Fred Bryan a brother of the murdered woman and Mrs. Stanley, a sister, together with a number of friends from Greencastle, Ind., arrived in Cincinnati Friday, for the purpose of fully identifying the remains, and having them removed from the Newport morgue to Greencastle for interment. The identification was complete, and permission having been obtained from the authorities, the headless body was prepared for interment and removed to the undertaking establishment of John P. Epply, in Cincinnati.
The body was clothed in a cream white silk dress, the same that the girl had worn when she graduated from the high school in 1892 at Greencastle. The feet were incased in dainty satin slippers.
The casket was one of the most beautiful of its kind made. It was white cloth-covered, and trimmed with cordand tassel. The handles were of burnished silver. In the center of the casket lid, on a silver plate, was the name "Pearl."
Inside the casket was full-satin-lined, and handsomely trimmed. The absence of the head was made scarcely noticeable the placing of a square satin pillow in the head on the casket down to the shoulders of the corpse.
The authorities resolved on a plan which they hoped might make the prisoners weaken. It was to have them look upon their murdered victim and have the crime recalled in all its hideousness.
Mayor Caldwell Chief Deitsch and Sheriff Plummer went to Epply's morgue, where the remains lay.
In a short time Detectives Crim and McDermott arrived with the prisoners. Crim had Walling in charge and McDermott Jackson. The latter was placed at the head of the coffin and Walling near the foot. Both faced the brother and sister of the murdered girl, who were on the other side of the casket.
Jackson was terribly excited and nervously clasped and unclasped his hands. His eyes roved from one end of the body to the other and he shook his head and sighed deeply. His face was terribly flushed, and he looked as though he might break down every second. On the other hand Walling was to all appearance the coolest man in the room. He gazed at the corpse without a shiver and looked around on the faces of those present. His only noticeable display of agitation was to tap his foot nervously on the floor.
Not a word was said until Chief Deitsch, at the other end asked:
"Walling do you recognize the corpse?"
"I do not."
"Do you know who it is?"
"I believe it is Pearl Bryan."
"What reason have you for this belief?"
"What Jackson has told me."
"Jackson, do you recognize the corpse?"
"I do not."
"Do you know that it is the body of Pearl Bryan?"
"I have not taken a close and careful look at the body."
"Would you recognize it if you did?"
"I think I would."
"Walling did you kill this woman?"
"I did not."
"Jackson did you kill this woman?"
"I did not."
"And do you deny, in the presence of the corpse, that you killed her?"
"I do."
"Who did kill her?"
"I have every reason to believe that Walling did."
Determined to make one more effort to secure a confession as to where the head was, Chief Deitsch arranged for Mrs. Stanley to ask the prisoners. Almost begging on bended knees, and sobbing heavily she cried: "Mr. Jackson, I come to you and ask where is my sister's head. For the sake of my poor mother and for my sister and for my brother I beg of you to tell me where my sister's head is. It is my last chance and I want to send it home with the body. Won't you please tell me, I beg of you?"
Jackson looked at her, and, without turning a hair, said:
"Mrs. Stanley, I do not know."
The same question was asked Walling to which he coldly and without any semblance of feeling, replied:
"I do not know where it is."
The same evening Pearl Bryan's headless body was taken back to her home in Greencastle accompanied by her brother, sister and friends.
Coroner W. S. Tingley, of Campbell County, began the formal inquest in the famous case, on Tuesday Feb. 11. E. G. Lohmeyer, a jeweler; A. J. Mosset, a steamboat agent; W. C. Botts, a coal dealer; John Link, ex-Chief of the Fire Department; Michael Donelan, a shoe-manufacturer, and F.A. Autenheimer, a retired steamboat Captain, were selected as jurors. The first witness called was Sheriff Plummer.
"Please state if on February 1 you saw the headless body of a woman on the premises of John Lock, in the Highlands?"
"I did."
"What evidence have you to submit in identifying the body?"
"The body was Pearl Bryan, of Greencastle, Ind. I received information that the body was that of a woman at Greencastle, and went there for that purpose. The clothing found on the headless body and the shoes were identified by Mrs. J. F. Stanley as belonging to her sister, Miss Pearl Bryan. Frederick Bryan corroborated Mrs. Stanley's identification, and afterward identified the headless body as the corpse of their sister, Pearl Bryan."
"Have you discovered by what means she came to her death?"
"The evidence we have leads us to believe that she died of having her throat cut."
Dr. Heyl, Assistant Surgeon of the Sixth Regiment, U. S., stationed at Ft. Thomas testified the manner in which the head was severed plainly showed that an accustomed hand had performed the work, and it was obvious to a professional eye that the work had commenced from the back of the neck.
Detective Cal Crim of Cincinnati gave his testimony as follows:
"I was notified by the Chief of Detectives Hazen, to report to Newport and assist in clearing the mystery of the crime. With Detectives McDermott and Sheriff Plummer I went to where the body was found, and came to the conclusion that she was murdered there. There was so much blood on the ground that it led me to this belief, and I also found blood high up on the surrounding bushes, which I believed to have been caused by the blood spurting from the neck. I found blood on all the under side of the leaves, showing that the course of the blood was upward, as though the body wason the ground when the throat was cut. The ground was literally saturated with blood. The earth was upturned and blood was found to a depth of eight or nine inches."
"State from your examination to your best knowledge and belief who committed the crime?"
There was a deathlike stillness in the room as the detective answered: "Scott Jackson and Alonzo Walling."
"What have you found to lead you to that belief?"
"The dead girl, Miss Pearl Bryan, left her home at Greencastle to visit a family named Bishop at 95 Center Street, Indianapolis. Her relatives identified her clothing. We discovered that Scott Jackson had been intimate with the girl. He left Greencastle October 14., and pregnancy having become apparent she, at the solicitation of a cousin, named Will Wood, went to Cincinnati to submit to a criminal operation. Jackson was to have the operation performed and Walling was to assist in the performance. The last we know of Pearl Bryan in life was in the company of Jackson and Walling Friday night preceding the finding of her corpse between 6 and 7 o'clock, when the three were seen to enter a hack at Wallingford's saloon, at George and Plum Streets. We have discovered that Jackson had hired Walling to perform the operation on Miss Bryan. Jackson's coat was found on evidence furnished by Walling in a sewer where it had been hidden. A pair of Jackson's trousers, covered with blood and with mud on the knees, were found in Walling's locker."
"Has Jackson or Walling made any statements in your presence concerning the crime?"
"Yes, sir. Each accuses the other."
"Can you account for Jackson and Walling the night preceding the finding of the body?"
"Only up to the time they entered the cab at Wallingford's saloon. Then all traces are lost. Neither Jackson nor Walling was seen or can give any satisfactory account of their whereabouts from 7 p. m. of Friday to 3 a. m. Saturday."
"Have you any other evidence?"
"We found two valises, one having blood stains on the inside, in which we believe the missing head was carried from the scene of the murder."
Detective Crim was excused and Detective McDermott was called. He corroborated Crim's statements. Sheriff Plummer was recalled and gave testimony corroborative of the two detective's statements. Dr. Robert Carothers submitted a report of the result of the post-mortem which was held by order of Coroner Tingley.
Dr. W. H. Crane, the chemist who made an analysis of the stomach of the murdered woman, regretted having no written report of the analysis, as it had not then been completed, but testified to having found cocaine in the stomach.
A number of other witnesses testified as to the finding of the body, the discovering of the foot-prints, blood, etc.
The examinations were completed, and after the court-room had been cleared the jury entered into a discussion of the examination.
The evidence as taken by the court-stenographer was carefully gone over and debated. Every little technicality was examined and passed on unanimously, and after an hour's session the jury returned the following verdict:
"We, the jury, of Campbell County, Kentucky, find that the headless body of the woman found on the premises of John B. Lock, near Ft. Thomas, on the morning of February the 1st., was that of Pearl Bryan, a resident of Greencastle, Ind.
"We further find that cocaine had been administered to Pearl Bryan for some reasons unknown.
"We further find that the decapitation took place while Pearl Bryan was still alive.
"We further find that Pearl Bryan was last seen in company with Scott Jackson and Alonzo Walling. The three got into a cab on the Plum-street side of a saloon, corner of George and Plum Streets, and were last seen in the cab turning toward Plum Street.