Alonzo Walling, Jackson's roommate, was arrested, at 3:30 Thursday
morning, by Lieutenant Corbin, and locked up at Central Station. It was
thought when Jackson was arrested that night that Walling had no
connection with the matter, but later developments went to show that he
knew far more than either had admitted.
It was ascertained that the two men had been very intimate, and that
they were together on the night of the murder. It was also discovered
that Walling had been intimate with a girl in Louisville with whom
Jackson was on more than friendly terms, and that both men had
corresponded with her.
The cause for Wallings arrest was a chance remark made by Jackson about
two o'clock in the morning. Shortly after being locked up Jackson called
Turnkey Curren to him and said:
"I want you to get a chair and sit in front of my cell all night," said
Jackson, who then exhibited the first sign of appreciating his position.
"Are you afraid of getting lynched?" asked the turnkey.
"Well, never mind that, I prefer to be well guarded whether I'm in
danger or not."
After ordering his cell watched, Jackson lay down on the bunk in his
cell and tried to go to sleep, but he was exceedingly restless and
rolled around on his couch for a long time without getting any rest.
About two o'clock Jackson entered into a conversation with the turnkey
in which almost his first question was:
"Hasn't Walling been arrested yet?"
"Why should he be arrested?" was asked.
Jackson refused to answer this question, and his actions showed that he
did not care to talk further about his roommate. When Lieutenant Corbin
heard of Jackson's actions he at once went to 222 West Ninth Street and
arrested Walling, when he was subjected to a rigid examination by the
officer.
"Were you in Wallingford's saloon with Jackson and a girl last Friday
night?" was asked.
"Yes, I was," replied Walling.
"Who was the girl whom you were with?" was asked.
"I don't know who she was," he replied.
"Well you had better tell all you know about this matter," said the
officer. "Now tell me who all were in the party at Wallingford's last
Friday night."
"I don't know anything more about it," said Walling.
"Well, you may consider yourself under arrest, then," said Lieutenant
Corbin.
Walling was taken to police headquarters and locked up, but Jackson was
not informed of his arrest until the next day.
At 6.30 the same morning a telegram was received from the Cincinnati
Detectives who had gone to South-Bend, Ind., bringing the startling
information that Will Wood was arrested there, and confessed to the
responsibility for the death of Pearl Bryan, whose headless body was
found in the Kentucky Highlands. He said that he had arranged for Pearl
Bryan to come to Cincinnati for the purpose of having a criminal
operation performed, and that such an operation was performed, resulting
in the death of the girl. Scott Jackson and Alonzo Walling were both
concerned in it. The body of the woman was taken to the spot where it
was found and the head removed to prevent identification.
Investigations were still being made at Greencastle Ind., and the wires
between Cincinnati and that staid old Methodist town, were kept hot.
Excitement was at a fever heat at both points.
Evidence was accumulating at each end and it seemed the nooses were
rapidly tightening around the necks of Jackson, Walling and Wood.
The investigation showed that Scott Jackson had met Pearl Bryan at her
home in the early spring of 1895. He left shortly afterward to attend
the dental college at Indianapolis and his visits to Greencastle, while
not frequent, were always to see Miss Bryan. In September he returned to
Greencastle and entered the office of a local dentist. It was then the
criminal intimacy between the two began.
He became attentive, and with a veneering of the usages of polite
society managed to fascinate the farmer's daughter. His power over her
seemed almost hypnotic. So great was his control over her that she is
said to have kept appointments with him in the dental office where he
was serving his apprenticeship.
He sought to get rid of her and left the town. Jackson left Greencastle
on October 3, and returned to spend the holidays. He seems to have
allowed his love to grow cold, for he paid no attention to the girl whom
he had robbed of all that a woman holds dear.
In vain did Pearl send for him to come to see her. He answered none of
her entreaties, and left the town without seeing her except when by
chance he met her on the street.
When it became apparent that she could not much longer conceal her
shame, she told her parents she was going to Indianapolis to visit a
friend.