The Indianapolis journal., 1897-03-21

might be alive and free to-day. However.
he did not seem TO hold his fate against
Mr.. Anthony
TALKING THROUGH THE BARS.
About O'Clock Walling came TO his win
dow and had a talk with the reporter. who
stood in the yard.
Guess you're sorry for me. amt you?"
asked Walling
''well, yes: / feel sorry that you are in
such deep trouble"
Wei. why didn't you think that way be-
fore?' said Walling. laughingly.
We'll, is it too late. Lon?'
Yes, | guess 1t is
Some one remarked: You're game. Lon"
We'll. why shouldn't / be?' was Wal
lng's answer. as he withdrew from the
window.
Neither Jackson nor Walling appeared at
the window again and the crowd grew inn
patient. AT SD Expert Hangman Fouth
| ascended the scaffold and creased the ropes
with sweet oil to enable the knot to slip
easily. The crowd of perhaps 2,OOo people
from the surrounding housetops. looked on
in horror while this work was being done.
This over, Sheriff Plummer made a final
examination of the scaffold standing on the
trapdoors himself to be sure that they
would bear the weight. Then both traps
were sprung and they worked to perfection.
Again the traps were set. while Sheriff
Plummer went back to the jail to prepare
! the prisoners for execution.
The lever that sprung the trap on the
scaffold was arranged so that with one
pull both of the condemned men dropped
together from the double trap. The scat
fold was painted white. 1t stood in the Jail
yard, and in the bright sunlight presented
a ghosty appearance. The camera men
were on hand and the kinetoscope people
attempted to take the execution.
Shortly before the march to the gallows
| was commenced Deputy Maurer entered the
| Jail with a letter to Wallng from his sweet
| heart, Miss Roberts. In ii she sent her love
| and told him to die game" Walling after
reading the note. shook hands with Maurer
and then Jackson stepped forward and
shook Maurer warmly by the hand. AS he
did he burst into tears. When Maurer left
Jackson was still weeping.
| Just Sheriff Plummer started for the
Jail Colonel Washington, Walling's lawyer,
entered the court yard. He proceeded to
| Wallings cell and talked to him about the
alleged confessions made by him and Jack
| son Thursday. Walling acknowledged that
| both confessions were all fake, but said
| that jackson could yet save him if he
would. There was long delay and the
| crowd was becoming impatient, when the
| startling rumor was spread that jackson
had confessed, generating Walling. 1t de-
veloped that this true. Sheriff Plum
mer had called the men TO get ready to
march to the scaffold, when Jackson began
to cry. He called Rev. Lee and Walling
to face him and then sad addressing
| Sheriff Plummer:
II want to say before you all that I do
not believe Lon Walling is guilty of pre-
| meditated murder.
There was rush and then Rev. Lee said:
What do you mean, Scott?'
IL mean just what say do not believe
Lon Walling is guilty of premeditated muir
| der"
AT this point Jackson broke down and
| could proceed no further. Sheriff Plummer
-"as hastily summoned and was given the
facts as above. He at once dispatched a
messenger for Colonel Washington, and
the attorney soon reached the Jail. He was
told of the state of affairs and advised
Sheriff Plummer TO at once wire Governor
| Bradley. <,..,
Sheriff Plummer said: "A telegram of
that nature will not be considered at all
by the Governor. Jackson merely says that
he does not believe Walling guilty of pre-
meditated murder
Rev. Lee, who was present, said some-
thing about the awful responsibility the
sheriff was assuming in hanging Walling.
Plummer said he knew his duty, and again
called attention to the word believe" in
Jackson's statement.
Colonel Washington and Rev. Lee both
asked jackson to tell the truth as to how
he could exculpate Walling. Washington
then asked TO confer with Rev. Lee. Plum
mer refused at first, but finally consented.
They retired to another room, and when
they returned Plummer asked Jackson If
he had anything else to say. He replied:
Mr. Sheriff and gentlemen, l know that
Walling is not guilty of murder
Plummer again told him that such a
statement would be of no avail, as he gave
none of the details of the crime.
Il have nothing further to say said
Jackson in reply to that remark.
In response to Walling's urgent request
Plummer sent the following telegram to
Governor Bradley:
Hon. w. o. Bradley, Frankfort, KY.
Execution was 10 have taken place al
| o'clock. At three minutes of Jackson
sent for me and said that Walling was
| not guilty of the premeditated murder OF
Pearl Bryan. JULIE PLUMMER."
short time after Plummer received
| this response:
Frankfort Ky.
"Jule Plummer-Have received a message
| purporting to be from you, saying thai
, | Jackson said Walling was not guilty o
murder If ii came from you you can pro
ceed to execute Jackson if he gives the de-
tails of the crime, and hold Walling's exc
cution until you hear from me.
wv. o. BRADLEY"
Judge Helm then called up the Governor
and explained to him the situation. Gov
ernor Bradley told him If Jackson on the
gallows would make a statement of detail:
and circumstances that would clear Wall
ing the execution of Jackson should pro
ceed and that Of Walling be suspended. Ii,
would wire Plummer further. he said.
PIummer then told the Governor over the
phone of the crowd, and that he considered
IT not a safe thing to take Jackson to tn,
, scaffold with the chances of sensational de
, yelopments The Governor agreed to hav,
. Jackson's confession made in the Jail.
Judge Helm and Plummer went down anC
, found Colonel Washington and the pris
oners Judge Helm urged Jackson to tel
the truth.
jackson was then left alone to mediate
1t was then six minutes Of II o'clock. Plum
mer told him that at IL o'clock he would
| ask for an answer. and at the expiration
| OF the time he said: Il have nothing fur
: ther to tell; have nothing 10 say"