St. Patrick's day, March, 17., 1896, will ever live green in the memory
of Alonzo Walling and Scott Jackson. It was on this day they were taken
to Kentucky, quietly and without much ado. Sheriff Plummer appeared at
the Hamilton County, O., Jail in Cincinnati, and the prisoners were
given in his charge. Walling was at once handcuffed to Detective Crim
and Jackson to Detective McDermott. The crowds about the Jail and the
reporters had no idea what was going on until patrol wagon No. 3, backed
up to the door and Sheriff Plummer, followed by his prisoners and the
detectives went to get in. Immediately the crowd went wild and a mighty
yell went up. "They're going to Kentucky," was yelled by a thousand
voices. Cabs were telephoned for by reporters, spring wagons were
pressed into service and before the officers and prisoners could get in
the patrol wagon fully twelve or fifteen vehicles were ready to follow.
The horses were forced to a run and those following increased their
speed accordingly. The crowd increased. Fear was unmistakeably seen on
the countenances of both prisoners. Down Sycamore Street to Eighth the
horses went on a wild run. Before reaching Eighth Street, Sheriff
Plummer said that it would be impossible to thwart the fast increasing
throng and in order to throw them of their guard, ordered the driver to
turn west off Sycamore on Eighth and drive to Central Police Station. A
large crowd awaited them there and the prisoners were quickly hustled
into the cells. The crowds increased until the large iron doors had to
be closed to keep the crowds from the driveways and corridors of the big
City Building. The prisoners were kept there for two hours or more.
Every movement of the officers was watched closely, especially by the
reporters. Detectives Crim and McDermott, went quickly to the cells
where the prisoners were confined, and without any notice, the prisoners
were again handcuffed to them. Suddenly the large iron doors flew open,
and patrol No. 1, dashed into the court-yard, when the party was again
loaded in quickly. Once in the wagon, a wild drive to Newport was made.
East on Eighth Street to Broadway dashed the team of splendid
police-horses, down Broadway to Second and over the Central Bridge on a
full run thence up York Street in Newport, up to Third to the jail.
Everywhere the people stopped and stared at the strange chase, as patrol
and vehicles containing press-representatives galloped by, throwing mud
and snow in all directions, and unconsciously the correct conclusion was
arrived at in nearly every case--that Jackson and Walling were being
taken across the river.
The Newport jailer had been notified that the men were on the way over,
but he did not expect them as quickly as they made the journey. It was
but about four minutes after 4 o'clock when Patrol No. 1, dashed up to
the entrance to the Newport jail, the run from Ninth and Central Avenue
having been made in less than fifteen minutes. On the Central bridge the
horses broke into a gallop, and everybody in sight began to run. Before
the Newport end was reached a surging crowd pushed up York and down
Third Streets upon both sides, but they were not fast enough for the
horses.
When the trip to Central Station became known in Newport the news spread
like wildfire, and soon a crowd of at least one thousand people had
assembled and impatiently awaited the coming of the prisoners, the
unusual activity at the jail indicating that they were to be brought
there.
Policeman patrolled Gate Street and kept the people constantly moving,
while the door of the jail office was locked and admission refused to
everyone, even reporters being excluded.
About 4 o'clock there was a cry of "Here they come!" from the people on
York Street, and in a few seconds patrol No. 1, turned the corner and
dashed down to the jail entrance. As the patrol wagon turned the corner
the crowd closed in and hurried after it, to check it, and when the jail
was reached the entire street was blockaded.
Sheriff Plummer stepped from the wagon, and was closely followed by
Walling, handcuffed to Detective McDermott, and Jackson, handcuffed to
Detective Crim. Both prisoners were pale and trembling, evidently
believing that the crowd was there for motives other than curiosity.
There was no demonstration from the people, and the prisoners were
quickly hurried into the jail-office and the door slammed and locked in
the faces of the crowd of reporters who attempted to enter.
The Newport Jail is by no means a desireable place of confinement from a
sanitary point of view and is poorly ventilated. Both prisoners keenly
realized the great change in their accommodations. Regarding this
Jackson said:
"This is quite different from the Hamilton County Jail, where everything
was at least nice and clean. If I could only exercise a little it would
not be so bad. I am really losing the use of my legs, and I cannot see
what harm there would be in allowing me to walk in the corridor with one
of the guards. I am glad that we are to be taken into court on Monday.
That will be at least a little relief."
"What plea will you enter?"