Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1896-05-07
SCOTT JAcksoN's STORY. I
Defendant In Pearl Bryan Murder Case
~ Takes the Stand.

Newport, KY. May Whether guilty.
or innocent, Scott Jackson is possessed of
wonderful nerve. Under the Kentucky
criminal code the defendant, If he wishes
to testify in his own behalf, must be the
first witness Introduced by the defense
Consequently Jackson was called to the
stand Thursday morning. With self-pos-
session and nerve which aroused both adj
miration and amazement he told his story
in calm. clear voice and without ire
NOR. Not once during the six hours he
was on the stand did he contradict him
self, and the straightforward, unhesitat-
ing manner In which he answered all ques-
tons propounded made decided impress
sion on everyone who heard him.
Jackson recited the incidents Of his life
up to the time he was arrested for COM
plicity in the murder Of Pearl Bryan He
met Miss Bryan in Greencast1e, Ind, in
1894, being introduced to her by VIII Wood.
His acquaintance resulted in undue famil-
iarity with her. WOOD mad acknowledged
a like familiarity. In November, 1895,
while living in Cincinnati. he received a
letter from Wood in which the latter said
he was in trouble with Miss Bryan.
Jackson then detailed HIS correspondence
with Wood. in which it was arranged that
the Bryan girl should go to Cincinnati.
He spoke to Alonzo Walling, his room
mate, who said he would try to help Wood
out When Miss Bryan came to Cincinnati
Jackson and Walling called on her She
gave jackson her valise. requesting him to
keep it until WaIling should get her q
room On the afternoon OF the same day
Jackson and Miss Bryan took a a walk.
The couple agreed to meet that evening
at seven O'Clock at Fourth and Race
streets That night Jackson took the girl
to Wallingford's saloon and met Walling
there. After another walk Jackson took
the girl to her hotel, agreeing to send
Walling to meet her the next day. The fol-
lowing evening he looked for Walling but
could not find him. There was package
lying on his trunk. He opened it and found
it contained a shirt and box of face
powder. He took them to the river and
threw them overheard. When he returned
he found Walling in the room. He re-
ceived an invitation to go downstairs and
spend the evening and did so. Tuesday
morning he attended lecture and spent
the afternoon at his room.
Jackson continued: "Walling told me
that afternoon to take valise and bundle
to the depot and put them under seat. On
the road down I saw a gate open, so
threw the bundle into the gate. I was
afraid to leave the val1se, for fear some
one would see me- so I brought it back
and left it at kuger's saloon. Wednesday
evening after supper met Walling at AL
biOn's barber shop and he said he wanted
me to write to Wood to tell him to send
letter to Pearls folks and say she had gone
to some other place. fOOlishly complied
with his request. I wrote Wood a letter
after that, but did not tell him had made
mistake. then started home and was
intercepted by Detective Bulner and taken
to the central station. I was told was
under arrest for the murder of Pearl Bryan
and Col. Deitsch asked me If I killed
Pearl Bryan. I said no. They told me I
had to answer their questions. Deitsch
asked what had done with Pearl Bryan's
head. and told them had not seen it,"
6o9orihaH n ho al
Of the officials and reporters to make him
confess the crime, but declared he did not
do 80.
He again went over his doings that week
and told every place he visited and the
time he spent at each. He said: Il did
not see Pearl alive after Ileft-her at noon
Wednesday. was not with her at the
music hall Wednesday afternoon. stayed
In my room that afternoon. was not out
on the Licking pike Thursday at any time.
Walling did not come to the house Wednes-
day. I was not at Bellevue Thursday or
Friday. Never was atsBellevue or Day
ton, KY. Was at Fort Thomas one Sat-
urday afternoon. Walling and were out
riding. We went to the end of the car
line and spent probably 30 minutes at the
barracks. I never was in Fort Thomas ex-
cept that.ttme.'' .l.-
4 Friday morning he was shaved. He had
worn whiskers since November 1. He
shaved them off at the suggestion of Fred
Albion. barber. He continued:
I received letter from my mother jan
within few days. received draft from
her Saturday. bought a paper and read
It while I was eating my supper. Walling
was with me and said he didn't care TO
read it. He got up and left. When fin
1shed eating supper went to my room and
found Walllng there. He had several bum
dies tied up. He said: Jack, help me get
rid OF these asked why, and he refused
to tell me. but said: Throw them in to the
river and I'll tell you afterward.' took
the bundles and went toward the bridge.
When got to the bridge one Of the pack
ages had become opened. noticed it con-
tanned woman's underwear and pair
of stockings. I was scared and didn't know
what to do. I didn't have a chance to
throw the valise away, so kept it with me,
and as was afraid to take it to my room
I left it at Kuger's saloon. Walling told
the head overheard
"Co1. Deitsch came to me one morning
and said: I'm going to send you to Ken
lucky. The people over there are just
aching to get hold Of such persons as you.
If you don't tell me where that head is
within five minutes, over the river you co.
They could not get me to do this, and left
after saying would be taken to Newport
at once. In the afternoon they came and
took me over to an undertaking establish
nent, ana IN the presence OF the dead girls
family, was forced to view the remains
and answer questions. They tried to scare
me into making confession by telling
me they would hang me if didn't was
exhibited to about 5000 people during the
first four days. and almost everyone iden-
titled me.
Il first saw George H. Jackson, the col
ored cab driver. who claims to have driven
me to Fort Thomas, about month after
my arrest. was taken into the presence
OF about 80 people. and Jackson was re-
Quested to pick out anyone he knew. After
few moments he picked, out Walling as
the man who sat on the scat with him. He
didn't recognize me until some one adj
dressed me as Jackson"