The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-03-24
Counsel Warned by Judge Helm that
No Further Continuance Will he
Allowed by the Court.
OBJECTIONS ALL OvERRULED
SHERIFF PLUMMER CONFIDENT
BOTH MEN WILL BE CONVICTED.
Scenes About the Courthouse when
the Prisoners Were Taken from
Jail-Both Evidently Frightened.


Special to the Indianapolis Journal
NEWPORT. KY. March 2.-Scott Jack
and Alonzo WaIling. charged with the
murder of Pearl Bryan. had their prelim-
mary hearing fhss morning. When they
were arraigned in court both pleaded not
guilty. Demurrers to the indictment were
overruled. Judge Helm granted their mo-
tons for separate trials. Jackson Will be
tried first, on April Z. and his attorneys
were notified that no further continuance
would be allowed.
AS early as 8 O'Clock ticket holders were
about the courthouse corridors clanorine
for admission and a half hour later the
small delegation was augmented to crowd
OF several hundred people. Police were sta
toned at all the entrances OF the courthouse
and big officer stood guard at the stair
ways leading to the Circuit Court room.
No attempt was made to keep the curious
out OF the corridors, and by o'clock they
were packed and jammed with jolly. good
natured crowd expecting to see Jackson and
Walling taken from the jail to the court
room, but they were disappointed, for calf
an hour before Sheriff Plummer quietly
walked over to the Jail and, after short
conference with Jailer Bitter. informed the
prisoners TO make ready TO go to court
instantly. In thirty seconds Walling. Sc
curely handcuffed TO Jailer Bitter and Jack
son similarly secured to Sheriff Plummer.
the party started for the courthouse. II
was only a few steps 20 the side entrance
of the courthouse and walking quickly.
Sheriff Plummer and the prisoners mounted
the steps and were soon safely In the cor
ridors before it was known that the pris-
oners had left the jail.
PALED AND TREMBL.ED.
On reaching the corridors. however, the
Sheriff was confronted with a new diff
Guilty. for there. lounging about awaiting
their arrival a crowd of three score
or more men. Jackson. when he saw them,
turned pale. and even Walling, who has
all along kept up brave spirit, trenbled
at the sight There was nothing to DO but
to through the crowd. there could be no
turning back. Silently the sheriff and his
party made their way toward the crowd.
The quick echo of their footsteps upon tho
corridor floor was the only sound that re-
sounded through the big courthouse. With
a determined look on his face Sheriff Plum
mer led the way with Jackson. Not
word was uttered when the party reached
the crowd about the stone steps. There
was no hesitation the part Of the OFF,
cias. Instantly on their arrival the crowd
stepped back and made opening for the
sheriff and the prisoners, and still silent
the procession continued its way upstairs
and the prisoners were taken to the jury
rooms leading Off the courtroom TO the
west Jackson was placed in the north
room and waliing in the south.
When Ii became known that the priso--
ers were in the courthouse the crowd In
the corridors became much greater, but
the presence OF the police had a quieting
effect and there was no trouble reported.
Sheriff Plummer's system OF giving out
tickets proved to be a wise innovation. for
the. big crowd that filled the seats in the
courtroom was as orderly and well-dressed
and intelligent as could be seen al any place
Of amusement. for they were undoubtedly
there for amusement
At $780, the time set FOR the hearing.
the seats about the reserved space were
all taken. Several ladies were among the
audience and their presence caused wide
P.ad aa en,sr ysSss tSs wa As
Plummer after me had left the prisoners
in the care Of Jailer Bitter and Deputy
attorneys. doctors merchants. city ana
county officials and host OF newspaper men
filed the courtroom TO overfowing-
PROCEEDINGS OF THE COURT.
At 10 o'clock Col: George Washington.
waning's attorney, entered the courtroom.
| followed by Col L. ]. Crawford. Jacksons
attorney. Both attorneys took seats direct
| ly in front OF the bench with the other
counsel. At the right OF Co.onei Crawford
sat Commemorative Prosecutor NJ. r.
Lockhart. County Attorney Ramsey WASH
| ington took his chair In front OF all the at
torneys. directly facing the judges bench.
| At 10:15 Sheriff Plummer took his place
on the bench directly at the left or the
| judges seat and a few minutes later Judge
Helm entered through door In the rear Of
the courtroom and immediately took his
seat Sheriff Plummer, standing, formally
| opened court. the entire audience OF oyer
| 900 people standing Clerk A. L. Rcuscher,
who Sc sst & a. nn rsdt ca s@d9e tse ,nss .ns
the last sitting OF the court Col. r. W.
| Nelson, who is assisting i'm the prosecution
nein ine the resdn9 foiowea if Ve ,eae
later by attorneys Shepherd and Andrews.
OF Hamilton.
After rhe reading of the minutes Judge
Helm formally called the cases OF Jackson
and Walling amid intense but. OF course,
su1odued excitement, which could hardly
TO bring the prisoners into court. sheriff
Plunrmer went quickly 10 the room where
Jackson was confined and conducted him
eyes, Jackson hooked picture OF abject
misery and fear. although later ne made .
sion. Hatf hesifafsnsly ne took the seat in
the jury box reserved for him. He did not
look out at the sea of faces that stared at
MIN, out eiIntf kept nis Eyes on fnt uorT OF
on Judge Helm. He had no more than
gotten comfortably seated than walling
was ushered in by the sheriff. As usual
he was not in the least affected. but half
smiling took the seat pointed out 10 him.
His very first act was TO closely scrutinizo
the crowd, completely taking In the sur
rcundings. He then leaned hack In his
chair as though about to enjoy a comic
opera, while Jackson nervousiy sat upriKtk
In his chair and listened attentively TO the
proceedings
Judge Helm then proceeded TO formally
arraign the prisoners on the charge OF MUIR
der but Colonel Washington made ob5ec-
tion 20 the arraignment until after he had
filed a demurrer 10 the Indictment. but the
court overruled the Coloners objection ana
jackson and Waklfng were commanded TO
stand and plead B0 Cpecoel Washington