Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 May 1896 — TRIAL OF JACKSON. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TRIAL OF JACKSON.

Alleged Murderer of Pearl Bryan Fighting for Hie Life. The end is drawing near in the Pearl Bryan murder case —that case so full, of guilty romance, of mystery and of, pathos.

Seldom has a tragedy so engrossed the mind's of the public as this horrible drama of the bleak hills of the Kentucky Highlands, where in the murky gloom of a cold January night the unfortunate victim of her own love iaud a.man’s fiendish ‘scheming was be'headed. No adornment is needed for the story of the crime; if grands

forth as strange, as weird and as intricate as any yet are all the features in the case made clear; but the trial of Scott Jackson, Which is now progressing in the Campbell County court at, Newport, Ky., will lift fully the verl of inystery. - At)d foH6wing : his-~trlat for the butchery of Pearl Bryan will come that of Ms accomplice, Alonzo Walling. Interest in the trial of Jackson is very deep hnc! very general and the court room, in which Judge Helm, presides, is every

day crowded with people, anxious to see the prisdnor and take in every detail of the proceedings. • Judge .Helm and 1 Sheriff Plummer decided to admit only 200 spectators tf> the courfroom at one time. Tickets are given out fur each half day, and no one Will be given tickets twice during the trial. In this way the sheriff hopes to discourage traffic in tickets, which, if placed on sale, would undoubtedly demand a high price. A theory which finds many supporters is that Jackson, will take the, stand and admit he was instrumental in bringing about Miss Bryan's death; that he was a mutual friend of the victim—and Will Wood, and that at their request he agreed to perform the operation and requested Walling to assist him. This they attempted: to do nnd_made a mistake which resulted in death, but the crime was committed in Cincinnati, and with a view to

concealing the victim’s identity the body was taken to Fort Thomas and the head severed. Should the truth of this story be established a. conviction in Kentucky could'not stand. Thus there is a possibility—of the -defendant-oseapiog--punish-ment on technicalities,. even though he be guilty. Witnesses were examined Saturday to establish the identity of the headless body found near Fort Thomas as that of Pearl Bryan's and to prove that she was murdered at the very spot where she was found. In the afternoon the defense began to cross-examine witnesses. The method pursued indicated the lines of defense; one that the body was killed by some.drug several hours before it was beheaded where it was found; also that all confessions of Jackson were made under durance, were not voluntary and will be incompetent as evidence.

JUDGE HELM.

CAMPBELL COUNTY COURT HOUSE. Where the Trial Is Being Held.

JACKSON AND HIS AŢORNEYS.