The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-19
ADMIT THEIR GUILT
JACKSON AND wALLING CONFESS,
DUPLICATING DIR. WAGNER.
He Is the Bellevue Physician Who
Went Mysteriously Insane, and
Is still in the Asylum.
HOW THE HEAD WAS CUT OFF
THAT WAGNER DID THE WORK.
Claimed the Doctor Gave Medicine
Preparatory to a Criminal Oper-
alton, and Pearl Died.
WAGNER DENIES THE CHARGE
SEEN At The ASYLUM, AND HIS TALK
Is THAT OF A SANE MAN.
| Mystery Added to Mystery i'm the Gel
| ebrated Case-COnfession Laid
Before the Governor.
Claimed the Doctor Gave Medicine
Preparatory to Criminal Oper-
alton, and Pearl Died.
WAGNER DENIES THE CHARGE
SEEN At The ASYLUM, AND HIS TALK
Is THAT OF A SANE MAN.
Mystery Added to Mystery I'm the Gel
ebrated Characterization Laid
Before the Governor.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.


Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
FRANKFORT, KY, March 1S-At last
the secret of the murder of Pearl Bryan is
out. This statement is made on the possi-
bility of the truth of the final confession
by Scott Jackson and Alonzo Walling
which reached Governor Bradley tonight
through the agency of special messengers
Wade, Ellis and Allison. Colonel Wash
ington, Walling's attorney. obtained the
written document signed by both the con-
demned men at Alexandria Jail to-day and
sent it straight to his Excellency. Both
Jackson and Walling were at work all last
night and most of to-day preparing the
confession and it is their last effort to OBJ
tain a stay of sentence. They have figured
that its disclosures are so important that
in humanitys name. if ror other rea-
son, Governor Bradley must grant a respite
until it's truth or falsty can be looked into
by the authorities.
Both men make bold play at the start
by admitting their guilt to a certain point,
but claim that they are not the only guilty
ones. They then bring in rne name of DIR.
Wagner. of Bellevue. KY, and impicate
him as strongly as themselves. This. how
ever, throws a new light on the case and
dental and that all subsequent acts which
are acknowledged by the two prisoners
were performed purely for the purpose of
concealing the identity of the body of the
poor girl and removing all evidence, if pos
sible. of the crime that was so shocking to
all concerned.
The confession has been secured by
Cincinnati paper which offered a large
money consideration, the proceeds to go to
the heart-broken mothers of the condemned
men. 1t being thus private document.
the Governor is keeping the manuscript
closely guarded While he cannot refuse
stating its contents. he does not permit its
verbatim publication.
The confession says that Dr. Wagner ad-
ministered medicine in attempting to per-
form abortion. under which Pearl Bry-
an died. Jackson says he then held her
her head off. After that he says DR.. Wag-
ner wrapped the head in a cloak and took
it home to dispose of it. Afterwards wag-
ner became insane. From that time they
say they did not know where the head was.
WAGNER IN THE ASYLUM
That DR.. Wagner. now in Lexington
lunatic asylum, would be connected with
the horrible tragedy could not be doubted
by any one who has known all the evidence,
including that which never came out in the
trial. The confession says IF DR.. Wagner
is sane he can tell something interesting
about this
DR.. Wagner's family still claim he is in
sane, but the mystery of his insanity has
not only never been cleared up, but Ken
lucky officials have never made any effort,
that is known. to have it cleared. The
Wagner family consists of himself, his
wife and two daughters, the eldest of whom
is Maud. They live on Ward avenue, in
Bellevue, near the river. The story as it
can be gathered is this:
to Bellevue to the Wagner residence on
Wednesday night. Jan. IS. 1886. The next
day she was seen in the yard by nefghbors.
She even went TO Foertmeyer's drug store.
on Washington and Fairfield avenues, to
telephone to Scott Jackson. On that same
day. some time about noon, a Mrs Moore,
Mrs. Baldwin and John Foster say they
saw jackson. walling and Pearl Bryan go-
49,
Foertmeyer. on the witness stand, swore
that Jackson and Walling bought a cigar
of him. They did not have much to say.
Pearl Bryan stood outside.
At the river Walling gave Foster cigar
and inquired about the transportation facil-
tiles to Cincinnati from that point. Foster
told them all he knew. Walling told him
they were going to live in Bellevue and had
TO go TO work early. Pearl Bryan and
Jackson stood apart. On the fatal night a
| cab was seen driving furiously through
Bellevue. 1t stopped at Ward avenue and
| then whrled back, and whittier il then
| went no one knows. Several neighbors say
| they heard the cab.
During the trial witnesses were brought
by the State from Bellevue. KY, a village
| Just above Newport. to prove that jackson
| Walling and Pearl Bryan were seen i'm that
| village about noon on the Thursday before
| the murder. The defense. however, attacked
| the veracity of John Foster. one of the
witnesses. and tried to show that Druggist
/ Foertmeyer. a second witness. had told con
| Trajectory stories about seeing the mur
derers and their victim. Now. in this con
| fession, the scene of the immediate prelim
/ inaries OF the murder is transferred Il
Bellevue. on Wednesday and THURSDAY
night, Jan % and 30, 1896. =
MAY HAVE FOUNDATION
At the time of the trial there was {
strong rumor that DIR. Wagner might hav,
/ had some completely in the affair This wa.
supposed TO be effectually silenced by eyi