It was 9 o'clock Thursday night when Sheriff Plummer and Detectives Crim
and McDermott arrived in Cincinnati with William Wood, the third man in
the terrible tragedy. Nothing else had been talked of during the day.
Both in Newport and Cincinnati the excitement was intense. When early in
the morning it was learned that the two men who were undoubtedly
implicated in the horrible murder had been arrested in Cincinnati and an
accessory to the crime arrested in Indiana and on his way to Cincinnati
under guard, expressions of satisfaction at the arrests were heard on
all sides. The subject of lynching the fiends,--Walling and Jackson--was
freely discussed. That ominious appearance of suppressed excitement,
which shows the keen determination of a mob and which they seek to hide
as much as possible, was seen everywhere in the crowds gathered in knots
all over the two cities. All that was needed in Cincinnati was a few
good, trusty, fearless leaders. In Newport it was different.
Determination and decision were seen on the blanched faces of men
everywhere. Even Chief of Police Stricker and Lieutenant Smith, said it
would be a very risky matter to bring the prisoners to Newport. There is
no telling what would be done. Excitement has reached a very high pitch.
"We will be well prepared for any outbreak of mob violence," said they,
"and upon the slightest indication of any will arrest everybody
concerned in the least with it."
WOOD EXAMINED. SAYS JACKSON BETRAYED THE GIRL. HE IS RELEASED WITHOUT
BOND.
It was just 11:30 o'clock when Wood was subjected to an examination in
the Mayor's private office. The father and uncle of the young man were
present. The examination was as follows:
"What is your name?"
"William Wood."
"How old are you?"
"Twenty years old."
"Where do you live?"
"Greencastle Ind."
"You knew Pearl Bryan?"
"Yes sir."
"Very well?"
"Yes. She was a second cousin of mine."
"Does your family visit the Bryans?"
"Yes sir."
"Where you intimate with the girl?"
"No, sir."
"Did you know that she had been betrayed?"
"Yes sir."
"How did you find that out?"
"Jackson told me."
"What did he say?"
"He told me that he betrayed her in September."
"Did he tell any one else that?"
"Yes sir, he did. A young man in Greencastle."
"He will substantiate your statement then?"
"Yes sir."
"Did you receive any letters from Jackson about the condition of Miss
Bryan?"
"Yes sir."
"When?"
"About the 10th of January, I think."
"What did he say?"
"He said that he was going to have an operation performed on her if he
could get hold of enough money."
"Did the girl know of that at that time?"
"Yes sir."
"How did she find that out?"
"I told her myself."
"Why did you do that?"
"Because I wanted to shield her."
"Was the letter you received from Jackson the only way that you knew
that the girl had been betrayed?"
"No, she told me herself when I was out at the house several weeks ago."
"What did you say to that?"
"I told her to wait until I heard from Jackson."
"You took a great deal of interest in the case, did you not?"
"Yes, I would have done the same if she had been my own sister."
"What arrangement did Jackson say he had made when he wrote to you?"
"He said he had procured a room in Cincinnati, and that she would be
taken care of by an old woman."
"What else did he say?"
"He said that the operation would be performed by a doctor and chemist
who was an old hand at that kind of business."
"Did he mention the name of the doctor?"
"No, he said the party was a friend of Walling."
"Did the plan suit you?"
"Yes, I thought it was just the thing."
"What did you tell her?"
"I told her that I thought it would be best for her to go."
"At that time you thought you would accompany her?"
"Yes, sir."
"Why did you change your mind?"
"Because my father requested my staying at home."
"But you met the girl at the depot when she came to Cincinnati?"
"Yes, sir."
"What day was that?"
"Monday, January 27."
"Did you have a long talk with the girl?"
"Well, I talked with her."
"About the operation?"
"Yes, sir."
"Did she seem pleased?"
"I never saw her so happy in my life."
"Did you have any other business at the train?"
"Yes, sir, I came to meet my father."
"Where had your father been?"
"To a quarterly meeting at Terra Haute."
"Then Miss Bryan left on the same train that your father came home on?"
"Yes, sir."
"Were you over in Cincinnati before?"
"No, sir."
"When did you see Jackson last?"
"When he was at home. It was on a Sunday. I think about the 5th or 6th
of January."
"Where you with him very long?"
"Yes, nearly all day."
"Where did Jackson go when he left Greencastle?"
"He came to Cincinnati on an evening train."
"Do you know Walling?"
"No, sir."
"Never saw him?"
"Never in my life."
"Ever see a picture of him?"
"Yes, I saw a tin-type of him when Jackson was at home."
"Would you recognize that picture if you were to see it?"
"I think I would."
At this juncture of the examination Chief Deitsch went to get a picture
of Walling but failed to find it.
Wood was taken down to Central Station and registered.
He gave his name as William Wood, aged 20, residence South Bend, Ind.
After registering he went to the Grand Hotel with his father.
Excitement was running high by this time. The crowds in and around the
City Hall, where the prisoners were, steadily increased, and the gravest
fears were entertained by the officers. Cordon's of police lined the
passage-ways from the Mayor's and Superintendent's offices to the
cell-rooms below where the prisoners were confined, and every movement
was guarded with the most jealous care.
A BLOODY VALISE. IT HAD CONTAINED THE GIRL'S HEAD, AND WAS LEFT IN A
SALOON.
There were all kinds of rumors floating about the City Hall when John
Kugel, the saloon-keeper at Ninth Street and Central avenue, walked into
Clerk Vickers office and told him that he thought he had a valise
belonging to Jackson.
"Then get it quick," said Vickers.
Kugel hurried over and in a few minutes returned with a brown leather
hand-satchel about 15 inches long. It was taken to Chief Deitsch, who
made an examination. There was nothing in it, but the sides were heavily
stained with blood. Chief Deitsch closed the valise and asked Kugel who
gave it to him. Kugel said that last Monday night about 8 o'clock a
young man with a blonde mustache walked in his place and asked him to
take care of the valise, saying he would call for it the next day.
After Kugel's arrival at headquarters Jackson was ordered brought
up-stairs and a dramatic scene followed. Jackson was seated facing Chief
Deitsch with the valise at the Chief's feet. Standing around were many
persons at work on the case.
"Pick up that valise," said the Chief.
Jackson picked it up and held it in his lap.
"Open it."
He did so.
"What is in there?"
"Nothing that I can see, except that it is stained."
"What is it stained with?"
"It looks like blood?"
"Don't you know it is blood?"
Jackson's face flushed and his eyes twitched. He pulled his mustache and
ran his fingers through his hair. He was only a moment answering, but it
appeared to be an hour to those who were waiting for a reply. He finally
moistened his lips with his tongue and said:
"I think it is blood, but I have not examined it carefully."
"Well, then, examine it carefully."
Jackson picked up the valise and held it close to his face. He peered
down the blood-stained bag and his eyes rolled around his head. He put
his hand to his forehead and slowly said:
"Yes, that is blood."
"Isn't that the valise in which you carried the head?"
"I guess it is, but I did not carry it."
"Well, who did?"
"Walling."
"Well, then, where is the head?"
"I guess it is in the river."
Kugel then identified Jackson as the man who had left the valise in the
saloon.
"What did you leave it in Kugel's saloon for?" asked the Chief.
"I wasn't going to leave it there. I was going to get it and do away
with it."
"Why did you want to get rid of it?"
"Well, it was better out of the way."
"Why?"
"Well, I wanted to shield myself of all those things."
"What were you so anxious to get rid of them for?" persisted the Chief.
"I just didn't want them about," was the prisoner's non-committal
answer.
"What was in it first?"
"A lot of clothing and such things."
"Whose clothing was it?"
"Miss Bryan's, I think."
"What did it consist of?"
"Well, there was a skirt, a petticoat, some stockings and other things."
"Where are they?"
"I guess they are in the river, too."
Illustration: Jackson put his hand to his forehead and slowly said:
"Yes, that is blood."
Night Chief Renkert then produced a small alligator valise that he had
found in Lawrence's barber shop, 133 West Sixth Street, where Walling
and Jackson often went. Jackson identified it as Pearl Bryan's. He said
that the blood-stained one was also the property of the murdered girl.
AT WALLINGFORD'S. FRIDAY NIGHT, WITH PEARL BRYAN, JACKSON LEFT THERE IN
A HACK.
David Wallingford, the proprietor of the saloon at Longworth and Plum,
which Jackson and Waling frequented, and his colored porter Allen
Johnson were brought in by the officers and questioned in the presence
of Jackson and Walling by Chief Deitsch as follows:
"You knew Jackson pretty well, eh?"
"Oh, yes; he came into my saloon every night. He frequently brought his
lady friends along, too."
"Was he in your saloon on Friday night last?"
"Yes, he brought a lady in with him and went back into the sitting-room."
"Do you know who the lady was?"
"Well, I didn't then. Of course I do now."
"Who was she?"
"Why, she was Miss Pearl Bryan. I saw Pearl Bryan's picture since, and
haven't the slightest doubt it was her. They were back in the
sitting-room."
"Did Jackson act queer that night?"
"No; I can't say that he did. But one thing that looked rather queer was
that he came in a carriage and brought a new satchel in the saloon with
him."
"Did Jackson order any drinks?"
"Not after he had ordered whiskey for himself and sarsaparilla for the
girl, they then went away in the carriage."
"What time was that?"
"Oh, about 7 o'clock, I think."
"Did you see him any more that night?"
"No; he came in the next night (Saturday night), though."
"Did he bring a satchel with him on Saturday night?"
"Yes, he brought in the same satchel and put it on the table. I noticed
that he sat it down rather heavily and I asked him what was in it. He
said: 'Oh, some underclothes,' and we both laughed."
"Was Jackson as merry as usual?"
"No, he was rather depressed. He said his head hurt him devilish bad and
he looked worried."
Johnson played an important part in the affair.
He persisted in the statement that Jackson, Walling and the girl, Miss
Bryan, were at Wallingford's place on Friday night, and moreover that
Albin the barber who shaved the two chums, was on the box and drove the
cab in which they departed.
"I tell you I am not mistaken," persisted Johnson. "Let Albin put a cap
on and I can recognize him; he wore a cap that night."
"Why are you so sure of the night?" was asked.
"Cause I had an engagement with my girl on that same night, and I
remember distinctly."
Johnson said that he saw Walling on the outside and saw the woman get
into the cab and drive away.
All of this Walling denied. Once Walling admitted that he was at the
place, but he changed it again and declared that he was not there until
Saturday night, when he saw Jackson borrow a dollar of the bartender.
Johnson stood in front of Walling and said:
"I don't want to get you into trouble, but you know you were there
Friday night, and there is no use of you denying it."
Walling however, still refused any admission.
Once during the talk Jackson shook his finger in the face of Walling and
said:
"Be careful; do not go too far."