Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-03-22
ON THE GALLONS.
Murderers Of Pearl Bryan Pay
the Penalty Of Their Crime.
Scott Jackson and AIonzo WaIIine
Meet Death Without FIinching.
Both Say They Are innocent Sloy Of The Nor
rifle Murder.

Newport. KY. March q The weathel
Saturday was pleasant. and peopl,
poured into the city to witness the exc
| cution OF Scott Jackson and Alonzt
Waliing for the murder of Pearl Bryan
The condemned men spent a restless
night. and were up at $3.50, ate heart.
breakfasts, INDUCED in cigars and hat
good time. at o'clock the jailyart
of the enclosure. but Jackson and Wall
ing were unmoved and Indifferent. Boil
told friends there was nothing true II
their last confessions to Governor Brad.
ley. and that they played it as their last
resort. They did some writing during
their relatives.
The lever was arranged so that with
one pull both of the condemned men
would drop together from the double
trap. The scaffold was painted white.
1t stood in the jailyard, and in the bright
sunlight presented a CHASTITY appear
anoe. The camera men were on hand,
and the kinetoscope people attempted
To take the execution.
Shortly before the march to the gal
lows was commenced. Deputy Maurer
entered the jail with letter to Walline
from his sweetheart. Miss Roberts. In
1t she sent her love. and told him to die
game. Wallins. 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. At the time
the courthouse bell was tolling.
jackson broke completely down Just
as the march to the gallows was or
dered to start. and wept like child. as
he cried cut that Mailing was not guilty.
The crown outside the jail was kept
fully advised. and became very impu-
dent. as the confession was generally
considered another dodge to gain more
time for Jackson. as well as a respite
for Walling. Walling dropped a note
from the jail window to the newspaper
men. saying: Jackson has freed me-,
In Jackson's confession. he said that
Walling was not guilty of murder. Jack
son had Pastor Lee. the death watch.
Wailing and all stand up as he repeated
that Walling was not guilty This pro-
ceeding stopped the march to the gall
lows, as Sheriff Plummer called in Wall
ing's attorneys. and they wired Gov
error Bradley.
Sheriff Plummer. at 1880, received a
message from Governor Bradley. say
Ing that he had received telegram. pur-
porting to come from him (Plummer)
= a TuN l~<.,l L
ing was not guilty. The message con-
tinued: Proceed with the execution,
and If jackson makes a statement on
the gallows to that effect, you may sus-
pend Walling's execution until further
directions from me-
Sheriff Plummer, on receipt of this
message. ordered the men to prepare for
the scaffold.
After coming from the consultation
with the prisoners, Judge Helm told
Jackson that he must hang, and il he
allowed Walling to hang with him, he
would have to answer to his maker for
double crime. He also impressed Jack
son with the fact that IL he went before
his maker with lie upon his lips, he
would also be doing a double wrong. He
then gave jackson five minutes in which
TO make up his mind, leaving him unatl
tended by the death watch. At the ex-
piration of the time, jackson said that
he could not say that Walling was inno-
cent. This settled the fate of both
prisoners. and the time for the execution
was fixed at 1880 O'Clock. At IL 20 they
started to the scaffold
Just before leaving the cell, Walling
said: Il will tell you now at the last mo-
ment of my life that 1 was not there.
and l am innocent of the whole
rhine. Jackson has said as much, but
It seems it will not save me. 1 cannot
say any more. viii say no more on the
scaffold."
Reaching the scaffold, both men were
hanged together from the double trap
1t HAY.
After the death warrant was read, at |
1:32, both declared their Innocence.
The prisoners stood with bowed heads, |
aging the prayer. Walling's eyes were
,losed. Jackson's open. When Chaplain |
ZEE finished the prayer. jackson bid |
arewell. Walling also bid farewell.
Walling whispered Go. go, CO." Both
led In great agony. They were evident
, o>Ae~uSA SN, 90 Tic uSCAS were not
'roken. The struggling was more than
Usual. Both were nervy up to the drop.
Jackson was dead in six minutes.
'valling died first.
The crowds cheered loudly when the
ignal Of the black flag went UP.
In the early morning of Feb l., 1896, |
10Y going to work discovered q dead |
ody of girl in an obscure part of John
locks farm, adjoining Fort Thomas,
". The murderers had cut Off the girls
cad. to prevent Identification. and re-
moved 1t to some place that has never
ct been discCAered. The only garments
n the body were union undersuit and
cheap, checked wrapper.
A pair of shoes lay near. also a kid Il
love, two hairpins, and few strands
blonde hair. The shoes were wom-
MS No. 3. and on them was an opera
De rubber. well worn. Inside the shoes
Fhich were of the needle toe description.
'as the stamp Of Lqwis & Hayes. OF
with a Portsmouth (O)
rm as the makers. Nearby was white
orset, spotiess, except from bloody
niger prints. N
A. the top of the bank. where the feet
Continued on page a. L