BRYAN, Pearl - Putnam

At ten minutes past Sheriff Plummer served them with a hearty breakfast, consisting of steak, ham and eggs, potatoes, biscuits and coffee. Both men ate heartily, though Jackson appeared nervous. While this was going on experts were giving the scaffold a final test. About the same time the two hundred deputy sheriffs sworn in by Sheriff Plummer arrived. They wore white satin badges inscribed with the words "deputy sheriff."

At 6:25 o'clock Jackson made his appearance, after breakfast, at his cell window and looked down upon the crowd. Ho was arrayed in a black suit of clothes and complacently placed his foot on the window-sill and vigorously applied a brush to his garments. Between his teeth was clinched a cigar and he puffed away as if a hanging was an everyday occurrence. Then Walling appeared at the barred window. The outside enclosure was surrounded by militia and newspaper men and to several of the latter Walling smiled and addressed laughing remarks on the weather. He smiled all the time and was calmly smoking.

About 8 o'clock Walling came to his window and had a talk with the reporter, who stood in the yard. "Guess you're sorry for me, ain't you?" asked Walling. "Well, yes: I feel sorry that you are in such deep trouble." "Well, why didn't you think that way before?" said Walling, laughingly. "Well, is it too late, Lon?" "Yes, guess It Is."

Some one remarked: "You're game, Lon." "Well, why shouldn't be?" was Walllng's answer, as he withdrew from the window.

Neither Jackson nor Walling appeared at the window again and the crowd grew impatient. At 8:22 Expert Hangman Fouth ascended the scaffold and greased the ropes with sweet oil to enable the knot to slip easily. The crowd of perhaps 2,000 people from the surrounding housetops, looked on in horror while this work was being done. This over. Sheriff Plummer made a final examination of the scaffold, standing on the trapdoors himself to be sure they would bear the weight. Then both traps were sprung and they worked to perfection. Again the traps were set. while Sheriff Plummer went back to the jail to prepare the prisoners for execution.

Shortly before the march to the gallows was commenced Deputy Maurer entered the Jail with a letter to Walling from his sweetheart. Miss Roberts. In it she sent her love and told him to "die game." Walling, after reading the note shook hands with Maurer and then Jackson stepped forward and shook Maurer warmly by tho hand. As he did he burst into tears. When Maurer left Jackson was still weeping.

Just as Sheriff Plummer started for the jail Colonel Washington, Walling's lawyer, entered the court yard. He proceeded to Walling's cell and talked to him about the alleged confessions made by Walling and Jackson Thursday. Walling acknowledged that both confessions were all a fake but said that Jackson could yet save him if he would. There was a long delay and the crowd was becoming impatient, when the startling rumor was spread that Jackson had confessed, exonerating Walling. It developed that this was true. Sheriff Plummer had called the men to get ready to march to the scaffold, when Jackson began to cry. He called Rev. Lee and Walling to face him and then said, addressing Sheriff Plummer: "I want to say before you all that I do not believe Lon Walling is guilty of premeditated murder."

There was a rush and then Rev. Lee said: "What do you mean, Scott?" "I mean just what I say, I do not believe Lon Walling is guilty of premeditated murder."

At this point Jackson broke down and could proceed no further. Sheriff Plummer was hastily summoned and was given the facts as above. He at once dispatched a messenger for Colonel Washington, and the attorney soon reached the jail. He was told of the state of affairs and advised Sheriff Plummer to at once wire Governor Bradley.

Sheriff Plummer said: "A telegram of that nature will not be considered at all by tho Governor. Jackson merely says that he does not believe Wallllng guilty of premeditated murder."

Rev. Lee, who was present, said something about the awful responsibility the sheriff was assuming In hanging Walling. Plummer said he knew his duty, and again called attention to the word "believe" in Jackson's statement.

In response to Walling's urgent request Sheriff Plummer sent the following telegram to Governor Bradley: 'Hon. W. O. Bradley, Frankfort, Ky. "Execution was to have taken place at 9 o'clock. At three minutes of 9 Jackson sent for me and said that Walling was not guilty of the premeditated murder of Pearl Bryan.  JULE PLUMMER."

A short time after Sheriff Plummer received this response: "Frankfort, Ky. "Jule Plummer—Have received a message purporting to be from you, saying that Jackson said Walling was not guilty of murder. If it came from you can proceed to execute Jackson if he gives the ''details of the crime, and hold Walling's execution until you hear from me. "W. O. BRADLY."

After further conversation with Jackson by Judge Helm and Sheriff Plummer, during which they both urged him to tell the truth, Jackson said: "I have nothing further to say."

Sheriff Plummer called up the Governor, and he said: "Proceed with a double execution but if Jackson makes any statement on the gallows, execute Jackson, suspend the sentence of Walling and wire me."

Sheriff Plummer left the prisoners at 11 o'clock and went out to the gallows and announced to the spectators that the hanging would take place at 11:30. At twenty minutes after 11 Sheriff Plummer cooly ascended the scaffold steps, and going to the front with his hand resting on the railing In a voice firm, yet full of emotion, addressed the company in front of the scaffold. "Gentlemen," he began, "I want to ask you all, while this execution is taking place, to observe the utmost quiet. Any remarks or statements of any kind will be improper, and I ask you not to make any expressions of any kind, although you may not agree with the law. It is my sad duty to have to perform the extreme penalty, and I would ask that you show all reverence that ought to be shown In the presence of death."

The two hundred men before him stood motionless while he finished and settled down for the fatal hour for the appearance of the prisoners. The time seemed to be an age, yet it came. It must have passed with the speed of the whirlwind to Scott Jackson and Alonzo Walling. An awful, deathlike silence prevailed when it was whispered that the sheriff and the prisoners had left the jail. The first man to make his appearance was Expert Hangman Fough, Sheriff Plummer following closely behind. The sheriff and the minister walked together. Then followed Jackson supported by Deputy Sheriffs Moore and Trusdell. Pale as death, yet by a great effort calm and collected, he walked to his death.

Behind Jackson came Walling, with eyes cast down, slightly pale, but with step firm and strong. Deputies Hyndman and Miller walked with him, but Walling would not have their assistance, and alone he bravely walked to the scaffold. With bared heads the solemn company, headed by the hangman, ascended the scaffold steps. The crowd below was silent and almost instantly Jackson and Walling were placed within the black lines, denoting the limits of the traps on scaffold floor. For the first time the two men faced the crowd. Walling looked at his more fortunate fellowmen below with a calm, horror-stricken, blank look, that must have impressed the men who looked on the awful scene before them.

When they had taken their places on the traps Sheriff Plummer came to the front of the scaffold, and facing the condemned men, said solemnly: "Scott Jackson and Alonzo Walling, I am here for the purpose of carrying out the mandates of the Governor of this State, expressed to me in a death warrant which I have read to you heretofore. Have you, Scott Jackson, anything to say?"

Jackson answered the sheriff in a. clear voice: "Only this: I am not guilty of the crime with which I am now supposed to pay the penalty by my life."

Sheriff Plummer turned to Walling and said: "Alonzo Walling, have you anything to say?"

Walling made a heroic effort to speak, but before he had finished he could scarcely be heard. He stammered: "Nothing to say only you are about to take the life of an Innocent man. I call upon God to be my witness."

After brief religious exercises by Mr. Lee the traps were sprung at 11:41. At 11:55 Walling was pronounced dead. At 12:01 Jackson was pronounced dead. The bodies were taken in charge by an undertaker. Jackson's was taken to Clifton cemetery. Walnut Hills, Cincinnati, and cremated, the ashes being placed in an urn and given to his mother, who returned to Greencastle accompanied by her daughter, Mrs. Post, and her son-in-law, Prof. Post. Walling's body was "shipped to relatives at Hamilton, O., for interment. - transcribed by kbz