The herald., 1897-03-20
PEARL BRYAN'S MURDERERS
Have Passed Beyond the Last Posi-.
bility Of Reprleve
Confirms the 0oyernor's Conviction
That They Should Hang Today
Amounted Press Special wIr.

there is much excitement here tonight
over the coming event. Ever since the
arrival of the prisoners this afternoon
from the Jail at Alexandria. the jail has
been surrounded by large crowds. Many
are coming into the city tonight and
enormous crowds are expected in the
morning. Jackson and Walling con-
cede that they appealed to the court of
last resort in vain, and their doom is
sealed
But they are as defiant and Indifferent
as ever. Both of the men retired after
darkness set in, and were reported to be
spending the night with their death
watch and the guards in their usual
manner. They were not at all con-
cerned about the large crowds that sur
rounded the Jail. The militia arrived
tonight and are on duty. Sheriff Plum
mer will not announce the hour of exc
cution, but 1t is thought that the men
will be hanged tomorrow morning early.
Tonight 10 one is permitted to visit
the prisoners, Jackson and Walling.
Both are sleeping quietly at midnight.
Jackson's father and mother and Mrs.
Edwin Priest his half-sister, are with
friends in Cincinnati
Walling's mother has gone home. None
of the family of Pearl Bryan will be
here.
Walter Hendren of Nocholasville, KY.
the brother-in-law of DIR. Wagner. ar
rived tonight and Is stopping in Belle
vue with Mrs. DR.. Wagner. his sister.
He brought with him abundant records
and other documents, proving that he
took Dr. Wagner to Nicholasville on
To h haf. as,f
William Hendrens house until February
Of the same year. proving a perfect
alibi for DR.. Wagner who is accused in
the last confession of the murderers
If they are excusable for false swear
ing then, how much. more are they ex-
cueable and how much more likely it is
that they would speak falsely now.
The whole confession bears a striking
similarity to the testimony of George
Jackson, for 1t Is now admitted that the
body was removed by both Jackson and
Wallng and both were present when the
girl was decapitated, thus destroying
the defensive theory on the trial that the
tracks were made by others than Jack
son and Walling. The note, or letter.
said by Walling. to have been received
from DIR. Wagner. asking that the cloth
ing OF Pearl Bryan be sent to him and
stating that she was under his care, is
not produced nor is its absence in any
way accounted for.
Not only is the confession a contra
diction of the evidence of both defend
ants, but fiat contradiction of the let
ter of Walling, sent me only few days
since and claimed to have been written
by him under a sense of rapidly ap-
preaching and impending death.
These men have not only trifed with
human life, but have triffed with the
courts, trified with the executive and
set at defiance the laws of God and man.
II 1t be established that one criminal,
after such conduct as this can by mere
pretended confession obtain a respite
then every other one is entitled to like
treatment and this would result in frus-
trating justice and bringing the execu-
ton of the laws into contempt The
wounded hand of Pearl Bryan solemnly
and surely points to the fact that she
was not dead when beheaded. That
wound could have been inflicted ONLY
when during the terrible agony of her
decapitation she raised it to ward off the
cruel knife.
DR.. Wagner is in the asylum and is the
man of all others, by reason of his con-
dition, at whose door the defendants
would moet naturally lay this terrible
crime.
To grant a respite in order that the
defendants might be used as witnesses
to procure his conviction would result
In delay of at least year as expe-
rience In the trial of defendants has
demonstrated. in view of the various
conflicts In defendants statements that
either of them might make and conse-
quently Wagner would not be convicted.
Such delay would result in no good and
could only add fuel to the flames, and
furnish further incentive to mob vio-
lence in this state.
THE CONFESSIONS
CINCINNATI March 19.-Both the
Enquirer and the Commercially Tribune
Print today confessions by Scott Jackson
and Alonzo M. Walling, signed respect
lively by their authors.
Jackson lays the blame of the condi-
tion of Pearl Bryan on William e. Wood.
who he says solicited him by letter to
give her relief from disgrace for his sake
He engaged Walling to find some one
who would perform the delicate task
wednesday, January 20. Walling took
MIN and Miss Bryan to a doctor. Thurs
Cay Walling received word to go out to
Dr. Wagner's at Bellevue. KY, near
Newport. He and Walling both went
cut. They arranged to be there again
Friday night, January 81. They both
went. Wagner sent Jackson to Fort
Myers drug store for ergot and he OBJ
tanned 1t. When he returned all were
excited; the girl was unconscious and
II was determined to take her away
Wagner obtained a wagon. The body
was put into 1t and all three got in the
wagon, Wagner driving. At Alexandria
they stopped and carried the body where
1t was afterwards found. Wagner
thought the girl dead and told jackson
to hold her head. Then Wagner severad
the head from the body and wrapped it
mp In the girls cloak Walling carried
the cloak to the wagon. Wagner let
them out at Newport bridge. He and
Walling went to Cincinnati and parted
Walling going to the Hender hotel and
jackson to his room, with the girls
satchel, which contained the clothing
which he threw into the river The blood
inside the valise came from the sack
worn by the girl. which was put in IL
Wagner took the head with him.
f WALLING'S STATEMENT
AlonGo Wallings statement is that
jackson solicited him to help the girl
out of the trouble into which she had
been brought by Will Woods, He agreed
TO find some one that could perform an
abortion. Jan. 9th he wrote to one Of
his friends May Smith. asking for such
information. Jan. 28th he received a
letter from her advising him to see Dr..
Wagner OF Bellevue, saying she had
written Wagner to call at the, college.
The same day Wagner called an6t In
quired for Walling. and agreed to per-
form the operation. and gave his ad-
dress. That afternoon Walling met
Pearl Bryan at the corner of Fourth
end Race streets. and directed her how