The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-24
An Epileptic Girl Burned to Death.
A PLAUSIBLE STORY.


tered pataloons turned up and intensified
the horror and inffamed public Indignation.
Nor did the fact of the exceptional high
standing OF the families of the victim and
OF the Inventors and perpetrators of the
crime tend to relieve the tension of public
Indignation. They found the strong walls,
The barred doors and the dim cellars of the
Jail a welcome shelter from the ominous
storm OF threatened vengeance gathering
around them on the outside.
A lapse OF three weeks since the perpetra-
den Of the crime together with the un-
doubted discovery Of the participants, as
well as the prospect Of speedily committing
the effect OF allaying the impatience of the
nrst public sentiment. During the past
week, in the absence of new and striking
developments, the public interest in these
accused men, Jackson and Wallng, has as
sumed new phase. That fascination
which mystery has for the masses has
dreds; but by the thousands. to the jail ev-
cry day. Beginning on Monday of last
week the flow to the Jail of curious humani-
ty was continuous from morning till night
In both fair and lowering weather. In fact,
as the weather grew colder the stream of
callers grew larger in volume and steadier
In now On last Thursday the number had
grown TO one thousand; on Friday IL in
creased TO 1,5eo. Jai-er Lew Kushman and
his guards were absolutely worn out I'm
letting the people in and out. This became
80 Durdensome that on and after Saturday
all visitors were excluded In fact. this
excitement was telling on the nerves of the
two leading prisoners. Scott Jackson and
Alonzo Walling. Not one visitor in a hun
dred cared TO see the boy. William Wood
The best that can be said for him is that
his hands are not actually wet with his
cousins blood A limit placed on the
time visitors were permitted TO stay. Every
rev minutes the Jail was cleared and new
insta.lment OF sight-seers was admitted
itors were arranged in two lines facing
inward. forming lane through which the
Two ehief prisoners were led. slowly, one at
q time. Tor public inspection, like horses at
an auction before group of buyers. Both
jackson and Walling stood this ordeal with
steady nerve and firm step. but WEAKNESS
ara DEPRESSION came TO both at the close
Of the day after this daily scene was over
William Wood. the boy who is charged
with aiding and aoetting these criminals.
tons. From the balcony OF his corridor
which Is two stories above Jackson's and
Waliinss floor. he could command an ex-
e es,1 view or the whole performance.
simply looked at the prisoners, much after
the manner OF viewing some beasts al a
menagerie. "
As TO the character of these visitors. the
singular fact Is that al least two-thIrds M
them are women. OF these the greater mum.
cheeks and bright eyes. Once in a while
group Oh matronly women called. but this
- comparatively rare OF course. the most
=. the callers nave been from Cincinnati
ana the neiglboring towns A highly re-
spectacle minority are from Iniiars and
more distant states. Occasionally mothers
take tnelr little sons AMI daughters. Chris
tan people who are Sunday habitues of the
1aii. seek TO talk TO the prisoners on re-
ton. e0ep
What Inspires the desire to see these can
ltal culprits furnishes a problem for the
psychologist Mystery has it's charms for
men. and this Jail has held many a man
with dark secret locked in his bosom, but
IL never inclosed IN rs gloomy walls fwa
men with blacker or mere CHASTITY secret
weighing on their consciences. IL they have
any, than that OF Pearl Bryans murder
both OF these men have In their guilty
keeping. They are distinguished as partici-
pants IN a crime that will go into the cal
enaar as one or the most singularly and
artistically atrocfous OF the last decade OF
the century. AMI this greatly enhances pub
TIC interest In them. and in a measure ac-
counts for curiosity to see them. There is
also IN the public mind a belief that they
are In great danger OF dying by the sen
fence Of Judge Lynch's court which makes
them objects OF peculiar interest. This be-
lief may not be we'll grounded, but IL ex-
Interest IN the present inmates OF the fail
u SHOWN by every pasSerby on the street
Groups OF men and boys pause and stare AT
H. Inmates or the rich mans carriage gaze
at It's massive walls and barred windows as
their vehicle rolls by. Market women and
factory girls riyet their eyes on IL as they
trudge past William Wood the mere how
eatangled in the beginning OF this enormous
crime. has no such public distinction as that
OF the two chief actors in IL. An Indiana
victor betrays the State from which he
comes by inquiring for young Wood, and
by the peculiar Indignation he SHOWS against
that lad for his share In the outset OF the
crime Win the great mass Of people Wood
~ not taken into considere ton. The hidaous
ruonstrosity Of the crime OF watch the two
chief prisoners are accused gives them
shastiy distinction that shadows ana OBJ
scures the personality Of all minor actors