Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1897-03-23

Newport, KY, March 2O.-The once
promising lives of Scott Jackson and
Alopzo Walling, the young dental
students, paid the penalty to-day on
the gallows for the murder of the
sweet-faced country girl, Pearl Bry-
an, of 6 reencastle, Ind, and the ex-
tinguishing at the same time of the
tiny spark of life that had driven her
to desperation through fear of
shame. The scene was FIT. Thomas,
and the date Feb. l, 1896 The vic
tim was decapitated to prevent iden-
LITIGATION and the head has never been
located. The arrests, trials with con-
fessions," and the general progress of
the awful sequel of TO day have been
largely Of the spectacular order, espe-
cially the closing ours of the tragedy
this morning in Newport, KY
Nearly all forenoon Walling's fate
seemed swaying in the balance, and
the 5000 people, with a plentiful
sprinkling of militia acting as guards,
waited with interest at highest ten
sion for the spring of the fatal trap or
the announcement of the clemency
extended by Gov. Bradley
Walling went to sleep at l o'clock
and slumbered until 6 o'clock. Jack
son slept but little From that early
hour until the final announcement
that both must hang at ll30 the
prisoners sat at the Jail facing the
crowded courthouse yard, with every
appearance of unconcern. On the
gallows neither was deserted by the
"gameness" that has marked their
conduct ever since they first posed
before the public in the celebrated
tragedy. At l:40 the fatal trap was
sprung, and they hung in midair
twenty minutes before the horrible
work of strangulation was complete.
The hour originally set was Z o'clock,
but almost as the start was made for
the gallows jackson made another
confession" in which he said Wall
ing was not guilty of "willful MUIR
der"
Gov. Bradley was then telegraphed
to in the interest of Walling. This
effort to save Walling delayed the
execution.
''wALLING IS NOT GUILTY"
Ia Jackson's confession he said
Walling was not guilty of murder.
jackson had Pastor Lee, the death
watch, Walling and all stand up as
he repeated that Walling was not gull
ty. This proceeding stopped the march
to the gallows, as Sheriff Plummer
called in Walling's attorneys and they
wired Gov. Bradley. Jackson broke
completely down just as the march to
the gallows was ordered to start, and
wept like a child as he cried out that
Walling was not guilty.
The crowd outside the Jail was kept
fully advised, and became very impa-
tient as the confession was generally
considered another dodge to gain time
for Jackson as we'll de respite for
Walling,
Walling dropped note from the
Jail window to the newspaper men,
saying: jackson has freed me"
Scott Jackson also sent the follow
ing telegram to Gov. Bradley:
Newport, March 20, l897.-Alonzo
Wallrng is not guilty and should not
be punished. | am. He should mot
be hanged. SCOTT JACKSON
JACKSON CRUELTY RAISED wALLiN6's
HOPES.
With his feet on the brink of tie af-
terdeath condition, and within the
shadow of the gallows, Scott jackson
and cruelty gave utterance
to lie that raised high the hopes
OF the wretcn, Walling, and caused
Judge Helm to make the wires sizzle
with messages to Gov. Bradley.
As the delay heightened the crowd
on the outside grew impatient, and
over the wallsithere came solemn
al. "a .r.t.. -,