The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-19

dence. believed at the time. that DR.. Wag-
ner was absent during the week of the
Pearl Bryan murder. He was then quickly
sent TO the insane asylum, but many always
thought this was only ruse to get the
doctor away and from embarrassing dis
closures. Since that time he has been an
inmate of the lunatic asylum at Lexington.
KY. but is now said TO be perfectly sane
and will be discharged soon after the exc
cution.
Mrs. Wagner still persists that her hus-
band was absent during that week, and.
furthermore. that she never saw Jackson
Walling or Pearl Bryan. In this her
daughters join her.
In addition to the fact that many have
always Supposed that DIR. Wagners insan-
ity or alleged insanity was somehow con-
nected with the case. il will be recalled
that there was also many statements fly
ing around at the time of the trial that
one of his daughters was undoubtedly ac-
quainted with the dental students. There
was rumor about their connection that
resulted in most angry denials on the part
of the family. These only excited more
suspicion the more often they were re-
peated- 1t was at one time claimed that
the Wagner girl had messages for the dem
tai students which Druggist Foertmeyer
sent, but this story was also quickly choked
off. After reviewing the confession and re-
calling these old stories one is almost in
clined to believe that the Governor might
have just reason for granting the desired
stay of execution until an effort can be
made to investigate.
If the confession is all a fake as of
course most people believe. the prisoners
have certainly hit on a most effective way
to throw doubt on their guilt The Wag-
ner mystery has always been admitted in
connection with the case. There were those
who declared that DR.. Wagner was never
insane, and if he was mentally deranged it
came very suddenly just about the time of
Pearl Bryan's murder and his family never
attempted to account for It,
The confession also furnishes another ex-
PLANTATION which the police were never able
to give. The whereabouts of Pearl Bryan
on Thursday and Friday previous to her
murder, which was on Friday night, have
always been a mystery. Both the GRIM
nals always got over that by claiming
that the other one had her in his charge.
Now they say she was at DR.. Wagners.
The Cincinnati detectives were able TO get
up evidence about the murder. the cab
mans story and all that, but they were
never able TO say where the girl was after
she met Alonzo walling Thursday noon
when jackson left her TO return TO the den-
tai college
Ths confession that the preparations for
the murder were made in Bellevue depends
for corroboration on the testimony of John
Foster, Druggist Foertmeyer and a woman
who saw the parties from distance. all of
which was fiercely resisted by the defense
on the trial. Should this attempt to impli-
cate DR.. Wagner succeed in moving the
Governor an indictment by a grand jury
would be expected to follow and trial Of
DR.. Wagner, in which Jackson and Walling
would be the only witnesses. BY many
this is regarded as the motive of the whole
thing.
1t took Scott Jackson the whole of one
afternoon and night to write his story.
To anyone who has read carefully Cover
nor Bradley's statement of his reasons for
refusing respite or communication of sentence
it will be at once apparent that one purpose
of this confession is to give him a possible
ground for favorable action THAI was lack
ing in former applications.
ANOTHER APPEAL FOR WALLING.
Colonel washiagton4 Tonight flied touch
/
| Alonzo Walling. His petition concludes as
! follows: Without necessarily extending
| this communication l appeal to your Ex-
| ceilency along the lines suggested TO bear
| in mind in connection with this application
| the following facts:
"First-That Alonzo Walling was totally
! without motive.
| ''Second-That he never saw Pearl Bryan
1 do haf ba,
"Third-That his previous character was
| good.
"Fourth-That he was young and rela-
lively without experience.
| "Fifth-Thet he was, and is, mentally
| weak and without will power.
"Sixth-That it was his misfortune to be
| under the dominion of an older man, of
strong will, of vastly superior intelligence
/ and of great experience.
1.-The last three affirmations involve mat
ters Of which, 1 do not doubt, the Almighty
| Ruler will, in his infinite mercy, surely
| take eognizance. And If He will do so. then
| they cannot be inappropriate to an applica-
tion of the nature of this one.
| Finally even If your Excellency should
| by an possibility err, you will always have
| the proud satisfaction of knowing that 1t
| was on the side of mercy, and as 1 may
| safely add in conformity with a desire
| upon the part of the public, which is as
| earnest and as universal among all classes
| and conditions as anything that has ever
| fallen under my observation.
"Aud now trusting that your Excellency
/ may overlook anything contained in this
application which may seem to you as not
| altogether proper and attribute it to the
haste with. which 1 have been forced to
prepare it, beg leave to subscribe myself
with great respect,
GEORGE WASHINGTON
DR. WAGNER'S DENIAL.
The Physician Is Sane, and Says He
Never Saw Jacks son or Pearl Bryan.
i iai Iis