The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-17
Newport Jail Delivery Last Night, but \
the Dental students Wisely Re-
mained Inside.
JACKSON FEARED A PLOT
AND A H0wLING MOB OF 5000 KEN
TUCKIANs WAS DISAPPOINTED.
waiiing's Lawyer Says Hts Client Will
Go ON the stand and Tell the
story of Pearls Death.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
NEWPORT, Ky, May ia nicely-con-
cocted plan to lynch Scott Jackson and
Alonzo Walling was frustrated tonight by
the prisoners themselves. Had the con-
victed murderer OF Pearl Bryan beer duh
as the ordinary criminal bis body and that
Of his companion in crime. 10 be tried in
ten days, would have been riddled with bull
lets and hanging side by side from tree
in Newport before midnight. The plot was
worked from the inside OF the jail and Il
looks very much as II some OF Sheriff Plum
mer's recently sworn in deputies. II not the
sheriff himself. may have had hand il
| 1t.
The plan was a Jail delivery In which
| seven prisoners confined with Jackson and
| waliing. took part and easily made their
escape. Both Jackson and walling were in
vited 10 join in the delivery and make a
break for liberty. but they selected to re-
main behind. and thus escape a terrible fate
which was no doubt prepared for them.
one of the prisoners sawed of the hinges
of the back door of the jail at o'clock and
seven men escaped. II was not yet dark
when the delivery occurred and Sheriff
Plummsr was mysteriously quickly in
| formed of what had happened. He selected
| his men and rushed 10 the jail at once, ex-
pecting TO find Jackson and Walling gone.
| To his intense surprise he found both men
| crouched in a corner, half frightened 10
| death. and fearing a mob would rush In any
minute and take them out TO lynch them.
| The news spread all over town in an In
| credibly short time. too quickly, in fact.
| some think, and the citizens 10 a man turned
out and ran to the Jail. The report was that
Jackson and Walling had broken jail. and
men armed themselves TO take part In
man hunt which promised TO be the greatest
| sensation of the town. The jail was sur
rounded in less than half an hour by prob
ably five thousand people. including men.
| women and children.
As yet none but the sheriff and deputies
had been in the little old prison Deputies
were drawn up in line in front OF the
| broken door and the crowd was kept back
| until the doorway could be barricaded- The
mob was frantic. and was kept back from
forcing an entrance only by threats on the
| part of the officers TO shoot the first one
who attempted TO cross the threshold.
INSIDE IMPORTATION.
1--WE irnow jackson amt in there" shouted
a big-boned Kentuckian. who seemed to
have knowledge of the jail delivery. Every
- man in jail got out that door half an
hour ago. You can't fool u.s. he shouted.
The officers assured the mob that Jackson
and wallIng were botn safe in their cells.
That's all - rot." retorted the spokes-
man. You say they're there but are theyf
Why don't you let in committee to see
| for ourselves?'
The main body OF the crowd was In real
ignorance and their passions became more
infiamed each minute py the agitators who
industriously did their best TO work up the
mob until an attack would be made on the
jail. 1t became apparent that the excited
people could not be restrained very long
At this point Sheriff Plummer appeared in
the door anu assured the people that jack
son and walling were in their cells.
Friends, you all know me-" he shouted,
when he saw the temper Of the mob rising
from the disappointment that was felt at
having no chance 20 engage in a man-hunt-
III give it to you straight. Seven prison.
ers have escaped. but neither Jackson nor
walling went with them"
mo lies. now. JULIE" yelled voice from
| the crowd.
That's no lie." replied Piummer. Both
jackson and Walling refused to leave the
| jail"
d the towards" muttered the big Ken
| tuckian-
''Al right. julie. II you say so. that's set
4 ties IL. SAID another.
The word was quickly passed back TO the
! rear of the crowd and the mob began Z,
disperse. All kinds OF threats were mu,-
tered about 'the cowards." who had sus-
pected the trick and refused to leave the
| jail to be shot full OF holes
When Sheriff Plummer returned to the
cells where Jackson and wal:ing were
locked Up he found two men completely
broken down and expecting every minute
to hear the rush OF the mob through the
doors. He assured them that they were In
no danger and both breathed easie~.
They wanted me TO go. but would not.
feared the first man met outside would
send bullet through me and ] thought the
jaR- the safest place"
wall.ng was particularly happy over his
narrow escape. He Is less quick-witted than
/ Jackson, and at first was red-hot 10 join
his escaping fe.iow-prisoners- Ever since
the jury found Jackson guilty Walling has
felt that ne was destined TO receive similar
treatment. When he learned OF the jail
breaking scheme he considered II piece OF
luck and in favor OF making a break
with the others. The unseemsy time In the
evening when IL occurred aroused Jackson's
suspicious at once, and he tod Walling he
was sure ii was only scheme to get them
'I did not know the plan TN prisoners
were escaping" said Waiiing afterwards
'.and decided no place was as safe as the
jail"
IL being Saturday night. there was a num-
Der Of daredevil characters in Newport from
the surrounding country and nothing would
have suited them better than getting shot
at the men held for Pearl Bryan's murder.
Some one had evidently furnished the pris-
oners with and chisel 10 effect the
escape. IL Is believed the prisoners were I'm
the plot and that a man had been selected
TO dog the heels OF both Jackson and Wall
ing had the two men Joined In the escape.
and when they had safely hidden In the
woods they would have been betrayed 10
the searchsrs-
WALLING WILL TELL ALL
II Is now almost an assured fact that
Alonzo waiIing viii go the stand when
his trial comes UP before the Campbell coun-
~ Circuit Court and make clean breast Of
his connection with the Pearl Bryan murder.
His attorney. Colonel Washington. when
seen Saturday morning. virtually substan-
tiated the statement.
.I have finally decided TO put Wailing on
the stand" he said 'and let him tell his
story. He must stand or fall by what he
says but II he tells the story he told me-
and IL II found that he Is telling the truth.
/ am sure he will be found innocent OF the
charge against him.
We are not going 10 attempt TO prove an
abb By the AcNevin ladles. but min have