The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-14
lost Il? why, they have lost a great deal.
Their whole string Of circumstances Is lost.
THE WOMAN FOOT PRINTS.


a woman about the scene where the body
lay. They said that they were oversize,
tracks of woman. who had run over the
ground. But they went out to the scene
four or five hours after the discovery Of the
body, when thousands had tracked the
grounds with perfect mush of mud. Oh.
what a great discovery 1 was fortunate
enough to find the young lady who made
those rubber shoe tracks. She was the first
lady at the scene, and she said she had on
her rubbers.
THE prosecution want you to think that
the head of Pearl Bryan was in that valise
when it was left at that saloon. They want
you to believe that Scott Jackson left that
cead a any e Seen 5ae ans
the identity OF the dead girl learned. Who
killed Pearl Bryan? No one can tell. The
coroner's jury couldn't tell, and the grand
jury couldn't say who killed Pearl Bryan.
and you can't tell who did 1t.
Scott jackson wrote a letter. to VIII
parents decoy letter. telling them that
she had gone to Chicago or somewhere else.
That was the natural thing for a panic
in measure be held responsible for Pearl
Bryan. He only suspected that the body
found at Fort Thomas was that of Pearl
Bryan But do you think that a man who
had gone out there and cut off the head of
Pearl Bryan would have written such a
letter to this girls cousin? Do you suppose
III a
written that letter? / think not.
How do We know that this body found
at Fort Thomas was Pearl Bryan's? We
were hers, but couldn't these clothes have
been put on another body? We know MOTH
ing positively. We don't know how she
died. where she died. or by whom she was
And now, gentlemen of the jury, we will
consider the question of punishment. 1 tel
you first that will ask and expect you to
bring in verdict of not guilty, but there
may be some doubling Thomas among you,
and will discuss these lesser punishments.
Capital punishment is a relic Of barbarism;
1t is disgrace on civilization. In Austria
IL has been abolished altogether. Why,
there was once a time in England when
man was killed for theft: he was killed for
most every crime. But can we, in these ad-
vanced days of civilization, follow in their
footsteps? / tell you. the only One who has
right to take human life is God Almighty.
He gives 1t and lie takes it away. Can you
take that away from fellow-man you
ca cannGt give back Think Of the probability al t
| jury. Can you send man to his death on
circumstantial evidence? Can you send a
man to the gallows on chain of happenings
| which Is incomplete?
Il will not attempt to read to you about
| circumstantial evidence for fear of con-
| tempt My money is nearly all gone now,
| but my little seyen-year-old boy sized UP
| circumstantial evidence in just about as
! clear a manner as have heard. When the
| question was being discussed he said: i
| know what you mean. IL / had two dogs
| and a chicken in the barnyard and the next
morning 1 found the chicken dead, I would
| tell which killed the chicken. and know 1
| ought not to whip them, for some one else
may have killed the chicken That is the
principle of circumstantial evidence.
CRAWFORD'S LAST APPEAL.
'The reputation of this young man has
| been shown to be good; he has kind and
| loving nature; he has all in him TO make
nd oct0 Of ffaf
dear old mother who sits by his side. Gen.
tlemen of the jury. return him to her. He is
| innocent; it is but his right. The dear old
| mother told me that when she heard Of her
sons arrest she prayed God that if he was
| guilty He would take her away before she
| heard of it. but If he was innocent she
prayed that she might have strength to hear
him so pronounced, and God Almighty has
| lifted her up; He has said, Take up your
| bed and walk and behold, here is the
mother waiting to hear the Joyous words.
/ the words and that her son viii be returned
to her arms. leave 1t with you!''
Colonel Crawford here concluded and
| court was adjourned a moment later. Dur
! ing the last part OF the argument Mrs
Jackson wept softly and when Colonel
4 spread her face as she shook the attorneys S
hand Jackson kissed his mother and was
greats sas sa ed out slowly
Commonwealth's Attorney Loekhart be-
| gan the closing argument for the prosecu-
i ton at the beginning of the afternoon ses-
| sion in the presence of a crowded court
| room. He had no more than taken his
| seat waiting for the court to be called to
/ order when Sheriff Plummer brought in a
| huge bunch of roses, presenting them to
| the prosecutor with the compliments of
| Mr.. and Mrs. L. d. Poock. Colonel Lock-
| hart the next moment arose and began his
| argument.
Gentlemen of the jury, / will not tire
you long as the attorney for the de-
| fense has seen fit to talk to you. Yesterday
| he made a brilliant and sensible address, but
| his talk this morning was wholly uncalled
| for. He says that in his experience he had
| never heard of a prosecution being made
| in more selfish and heartless maner. Cen
| tlemen. is 1T selfish and heartless for sworn
officers Of the law to run down such an in
| carnate fiend as this man Jackson?
| HE spoke OF detectives Grim and Nc
/ Dermott as amateurs. Why, j have never
seen such fruitful, such successful, such
| thorough and tireless efforts on the part
| of any officials. He told you of the change
| of public sentiment for this prisoner. Oh,
If could properly tell you of the feeling
| No jury can sit here
LOCKHART CALLED DOWN.
Judge Helm-Colonel Lockhart, If / were
you 1 would stop on that line of argument
| 1t is a dangerous line of argument to follow
out"
Colonel Lockhart-All right, your Honor,
but this question was opened by the de-
| fense.
Probably Colonel Crawford thought 1t
| was necessary to say that Colonel Nelson's
| connection with this case was uncalled for,
and he saw fit to compliment me at the
| same time attacking Colonel Nelson, but I
| want to say that 1 wanted assistance and
was glad to get II. Colonel Nelson came
| into this case on his own suggestion, and
| tell you am not SO little as not to appre-
| and / will at all times listen TO suggestions
and advice for the good OF the Common
| wealth.
Colonel Crawford has seen proper to re-
fer to witness named Pinkard in way to
slur. He intimated that this witness was
| and was too willing. l myself was favor
ably impressed with this witness"
| Colonel Lockhart then put the case before
| the jury in this way:
| First-Was there a headless body found
| at Fort Thomas on Feb. /? There was, as
the proof is not denied.
Second-Whose body was 1t? By the best
possible testimony, that of her mother
| brother and sister, 1t was proven to be that
| of Pearl Bryan.
Third-Did the girl die from natural
| causes or by violence? Professional evi-
dence fully established the fact that death
was from hemorrhage caused by the sever
ing of her head from the body
| Fourth-Was her death caused by sui
| eide. accident or murder? Colonel Lock-
hart then went on to prove that ii wasn't
| accident and that 1t wasn't suicide
Colonel Lockhart then made a telling
point by stating that Scott Jackson had
Pearl Bryan's valise. containing articles alb.
so.utely necessary to the proper taking care
of her person and toilet, for several days