The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-19
WOOD AND WAGNER
Are Blam ed for the Murder of Pearl
Bryan by the Confessions.

Cincinnati March 19.-In the cOnfeS
siOns by Scott Jackson and AlonZo M
Wauling, signed respectfully by their
authors, as printed here, Jackson lays
the blame of the condition of Pearl
Bryan on William F. Wood, who, he
says, solicited him by letter to give her
relief from disgrace for his sake. He
alleges that ii was all Will Woods no
tion to- send her here and that out of
friendship to Wood he undertook the
task of concealing her shame. Up to
Wednesday night, January 20, the story
does not differ greatly from that al
ready related in this case. He said he
engaged Walling to find someone who
would perform the delicate task, that
on Wednesday, Walling told him that
he had sent Miss Bryan to a doctor. On
Thursday Walling received word to
come out to DR.. Wagner's at Bellevue,
Ky, near Newport He and Walling
both went out but did not go in. They
arranged, however, to be there again
ON Friday night, January 81. They both
went there Wagner sent him to a drug
store for some ergot and he went and
obtained it. When he returned all were
excited. The girl was unconscious and
it was determined to take her away
Wagner obtained the wagon and the
body of the girl was carried out the
back way and put into it and all three
got into the wagon, Wagner driving
Arriving at the place on the Alexandria
pike between Mr.. Locks and Mr.
Stones farms, they stopped and carried
the body into where it was afterwards
told Jackson to hold her head which
he did. Then Wagner severed the head
from the body and wrapped it up in the
girls cloak. Walling carried the cloak
to the wagon jackson says that when
he let go of the body the head was at
the top of the bank but fell forward
Wagner let them out at Newport bridge
He and Walling went to Cincinnati and
parted Walling going to Hender's no
tel and Jackson to his room with the
girls valise which contained the cloth
ing which he threw into the river.
The blood inside the valise came from
a sack worn by the girl which was put
in it. Wagner took the head with him.
Alonzo Walling's statement is that
Jackson solicited him to nelp a girl out
of trouble into which she had been
brought by Will Woods, of Greencastle,
Ind He first heard of this trouble of
Pearl Bryan'S some time In November,
1895. but was not asked to assist until
after Jackson returned from GreencaS-
tie early in January. He agreed to find
some one that could perform criminal
operation. Accordingly on January u
he wrote to one of his friends, May
Smith asking her for such information.
On January % he received letter from
her advising him to see Dr. W Wagner OF
Bellevue and saying that she mad writ
ten Wagner to call at the college.
The same day Wagner called at the
college and inquired for Walling, agreed
to perform the operation and gave his
address On that afternoon Walling
met Pearl Bryan on the corner of Race
and Fourth streets and directed her
how to go to Dr. Wagner's. On the
next day. January 80, Wagner asked
him by mail to bring PEARLS clothes out
to him, saying she was under his care.
He and jackson took the clothes but
did not go inside. Next evening, Fri
day. January 13, he and jackson went
out to Wagner's. Here Walling tells
the same story as Jackson about Jack
sons visit to the drug store, Pearl Bry-
ans unconsciOusneSS and the trip to the
country ending with the decapitation.
He says he was too much excited to
remember particularly but he knows
that Jackson and Wagner removed the
head. He stayed that night at Hen
der'S restaurant in Cincinnati.