The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-01
Claimed the Criminal Operation Was
Undertaken Solely to Help Out
His Friend.
WALLING is THE MURDERER
JACKSON SAYING HE ONLY HELPED
TO HIDE HER CLOTHING.
The State Causes Surprise by Refus-
ing to Subject jackson to Cross
Examination.


NEWPORT, KY, April 30-As was FORE
told last night Scott Jackson took the stand
to-day in ms own behalf and was examined
all day, Colonel Crawford closing shorty
before adjournment. If it was surprise to
see Jackson on the stand, 1t was greater
surprise when Colonel Crawford had finished
this afternoon to hear Colonel Nelson say
that he did not desire to cross-examine the
witness. 1t had been given out that jack
sons evidence would be torn TO tatters
when Nelson got ho,d of the witness and
that the dental student would be made to
convict himself out of his own mouth. No
explanation is given for the States refusal
to exercise this privilege except the firm
belief OF Nelson that Jackson's testimony is
useless and will have no weight with the
jury. AS matter of fact he tod nothing
except what has been brought out by the
State.
Jackson insists that he never saw Pearl
Bryant after Wednesday afternoon. and, with
out directly charging Alonzo Walling with
the murder, all the incidents he related leave
no other impression. He made no attempt
to explain why or how Pearl Bryan came 10
her death, but unblushingly admitted help
ing dispose of her effects
A dispatch was received tonight from
Greencastle saying that Mrs. Jackson and
Mrs. DR.. Post. mother and sister. respect
lively, of Scott Jackson, left this evening on
the Knickerbocker for Cincinnati to attend
the trial of Jackson at Newport tomorrow.
Mrs. Jackson is said to be greatly improved
In health. and it Is thought will stand the
trip without much trouble.
JACKSON ON THE STAND.
When Sheriff Plummer called court 10
order this morning there were some fifty or
sixty empty seats, but undoubtedly had 1t
been known that Scott Jackson would take
the stand the jam would have been terrific.
Jackson came into the court room with jailer
vieth at $40 and took his usual seat beside
DR.. Post, his brother-in-iaw. The jury then
filed in and the morning session formally
began.
Colonel Crawford arose and stated that be-
fore the proceedings began he wouldelke to
have the sheriff turn over to him the pack
age of letters taken from the prisoners
trunk. which belonged to the prisoner. Dep
uty Clerk Reuscher then brought in the let
ters and handed tcem to Colonel Crawford
who began to sort them out Jackson, sit
ting near by, looked on in an uninterested
way. 1t was undoubtedly to be the greatest
day of the trial. Up TO "Wednesday il was
testify and Colonel Crawford's decision was
a great surprise The reading of the letters
occupied almost a quarter OF an hour, but
the audience, with the States attorneys,
waited impatiently for Colonel Crawford to
make some move.
Jackson. pale. but determined. took the
witness stand in the Circuit Court room to
testify in his own behalf. He walked to the
stand with tirm step, was sworn and COOL
ly took his seat and awaited the first ques-
Jackson's eyes were not lifted TO the star
ing faces in the court room. He kept his
| gaze almost constantly directed on the move
ments of his lawyer who seemed nervous.
but confident. 1t was remarked that jack
! son acted more like a man hypnotized by
| had the courage TO take the stand in his
| own behalf In murder trial. The fact that
guilty wretehes with less sense but but, more ore
| fore making the one great fatal blunder in
| their cases, did not seem to impress itself
| on Jacksons understanding. AS said before,
| he did not show that he felt the intense
| dramatic effect of his own position.
There was pause and everyone waited
| breathlessly for the first move Of Jackson's
| lawyer The jurymen were plainly more dis
| tracted by the situation than was the culprit
| in the witness chair. They. glanced nervous
| seemd impatient for him to begin. Colonel
Crawford's. first question was:
9stHow old are your
| clearing his throat and fidgeting slightly.
The attorney. then had Jackson tell brief
| ly the story of his life. He told about his
| father, the sea captain, who ran boats be-
| tween Jersey City and Antwerp, and said
| his father died when he (ScotD was four
| teen years old. Before that. however, Jack
| son had been taken on severa. trips across
| the ocean. He had not attended school after
Wife Wit % Of DR.. Edwin Post of Greencastie @ % Ind. t
| He also told of his life in Jersey City. where
| he was employed by the Pennsylvania rail-
| road, and the trouble he got In with the
| chief clerk, Let's, who was sent to prison
] for embezzement. He said he lost his job
| for being intimate with the chief clerk and
f,rHh ha1 tell @f ec~f..
| He said:
THE EAIBEZZLENIENT AFFAIR.
"Well. when was made an inside messen-
| ger boy was thrown with Let's, who was
| subsequently made assistant cashier, while
| I became lighterage clerk 1 wasn't under
| his direct command. but under his jurisdic-
| ton. We became very friendly and we were
seen together every night Then there was
| discovery that Letts's accounts were
astray, amounting to $4,000. On some of the
| freight bills was found my name, as II the
money had been paid to me. The bills
signed by me amounted to about $500. ex-
| planned that had signed the bills at Mr..
had told the truth. Then j received my dis
! charge from the railroad"
What did you do then?"
! gents furnishing store. l also sold corn
| medicine TO the drug stores. l then exhib,-
| ed ginger ale and beer Tor a nrm IN New
/ York. After that / came West. Went to
| Greencastle. where my mother and sister
lived"
when did you go to Greencastle?"
Aug. Is. 1884,"
did you take up any employment there?''
| mo, sir
What did you do .there?"
Nothing in particular. l went down to
DR.. Morrison's dental office to learn about
| the study of dentistry. We talked ii over
| there. l there met DIR. Gillespie"
When did you leave Greencastle?'
ION Sept. IL, the same year. i went from
Greencastle TO Indianapolis. where l en-
tered the Indiana Dental College"
Did you ever get in trouble there?
Yes. One night some OF the boys pro-
posed We see the town. We went TO a
house OF ill-fame on West Washington