The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-28
pecial to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
NEWPORT, KY. April H.-will Wood.
the Greencastle scapegrace who was Scott
Jackson's chum when the latter was drag
ging Pearl Bryan to her ruin, was on the
stand as witness again this afternoon Ia
the great murder trial that is occupying
the attention OF all Newport. He was placed
In the box to answer several questions re,
garding two letters written by him to jack
son under date OF Feb. and 8. The con-
tents OF the letters are so indecent that
the Judge ordered the women spectators to
leave the court room while they were be-
Ing read and explained.
One of the sensations OF the day was the
announcement by Judge Helm from the
bench. just before the noon adjournment,
that he had received letter addressed to
the attorney for the defense and gave IL
to court messenger, TO hand to Colonel
Crawford. The information it contained
was startling, IL II is credible 1t was signed
by Wesley T. Wilson, Cincinnati, who says
he saw Pearl Bryan on the fatal Friday
night, the 31st of January, in company with
a young country surgeon now residing in
Cincinnati. They came out of AL Heiders
restaurant on Fifth street, near Vine, about
o'clock, and walked away. The girl ap.
peared to be in pain. He declares that he
could identify the surgeon at any time
Wilson is a solicitor for J. d. Mackenzie.
of Cincinnati He told Mr. Mackenzie thas
he was in the habit of rooming at Al
Heider's restaurant; that on the fatal Fri
day evening he went to the hotel later than
usual and was told his room was taken.
but that he could have 1t in a little while.
He waited around, and afterwards a man
and young woman came out. The woman
was crying and seemed to be in pain. The
man was known by the hotel people as
Doc" Wilson told slr. Mackenzie he
would know the man again should he see
him. Wilson has been positive all along
that the girl was Pearl Bryan from the
descriptions he has read of her and the
picture of Pearl he has seen in some of the
papers. He said that the man Doc has
not shown up at Heider's since, but he
heard that he had gone to the country, and
is positive that he saw him on the street a
few days ago. Colonel Nelson and Prose-
cutor Lockhart say that Wilson was to see
them, and they take no stock In his story.
Not only was every available seat in the
court room filled to-day, but the occupancy
of standing room in narrow passages was
permitted. Ten witnesses were examined,
making fifty-two up to the present time.
Much time was devoted to debating by coun-
sci. Many questions during the day offered
by the Commonwealth were ruled out The
number of objections by the defense over
ruled was too great to enumerate Twice
during the day the jury were required to re-
tire during debate. 1t has been the policy
of the prosecution to bring out the bloody
garments of the dead girl every day since
-
no exception. The testimony of several wit
nesses was to strengthen links in the chain
that have already been forged Such was
the case with the evidence Of Mr. Legner, in
whose saloon the valise was hidden: of Ed
Grillo, the reporter, who saw a river bridge
ticket found on Jackson when first arrested,
calling for the passage of horse and vehicle.
Mr.. and Mrs. Bryan, the broken-hearted
parents of poor Pearl Bryan, were among
the first to arrive at the courthouse this
morning. They were accompanied by Mr.
and Mrs. Elijah Grantham. of Greencasile.
intimate friends of the Bryans, who will re-
main with Mrs. Bryan in Newport for a few
days. They all took seats inside the bar, on
the west side Of the court room. There were
not a score of people in the court room when
they entered, but soon after their arrival the
court room slowly began 10 fill and by the
time the proceedings began the usual large
crowd Of spectators was present.
Court was called to order at 8 O'Clock Mon
day morning in order to allow some routine
business to be disposed of. This occupied the
time of the court up to nearly 9:45 o'clock.
While this was going on Sheriff Plummer
quietly slipped over TO the Jail and brought
jackson to the jury room leading off the
court. where the prisoner awaited the call
ing of his case. The crowds about the court
house Monday did not total hundred per-
sons. Unlike the other days, there was no
crowding in the corridors of the courthouse
while the crowd along Southgate street, lead
ing from the courthouse to the jail, was not
three score strong, and many Of them were
women and children, and not a word or COM
ment was made as Sheriff P;ummer. hand
cuffed to Jackson. made his way through
the little gathering.