The Mysterious Murder of Pearl Bryan Part 14

ALBIN, THE BARBER. SAYS HE DID NOT DRIVE THE MYSTERIOUS CAB FRIDAY NIGHT.

Detectives Witte and Jackson were at once sent for Fred Albin the barber, and were not long in bringing him in. He and Johnson, the porter, were seated on the same lounge in the Mayor's office and Albin was examined by Chief Deitsch when he told the following story:

"I have known Alonzo Walling for about two years. He lived across the street from my home in Hamilton, O. Last fall he concluded to come to this city and study dentistry. He told me this and I offered to come to this city with him. I saw him nearly every evening, and in fact, we chummed together.

"About four months ago he introduced me to Jackson. Jackson came to the shop where I was employed and got shaved about twice a week.

"He was always considered a peculiar fellow--rather eccentric. I know little concerning him.

"I do not know whether it was Friday or Sat.u.r.day morning that Jackson came into my shop and had me shave his whiskers off. On that day he had a grip when he entered, and I asked him what he had in it. He replied that he would tell me some other day."

Johnson then repeated his statement regarding Albin's connection with the crime, after which Chief Deitsch said:

"What have you got to say about the statement made by Johnson which implicates you with the murder?"

"There is no truth in that. I think I wore a cap on Friday night, but I was not in Wallingford's saloon, as Johnson says. I went home with Walling about fifteen minutes after 9. Jackson came into the barber shop several times with the grip. I naturally had some curiosity to know what it contained but he never would tell me anything definite.

"One day this week I picked up a paper while Jackson was in the shop and read an item about the shoes bought at Greencastle. I knew that Greencastle was the home of Jackson, and I asked him if he had heard about the shoes coming from his town. He said that he had, but that he did not believe it. I suggested that he and I go over and look at the body, but Jackson said that he did not want to see it, as he felt sure that he could not identify it. During this conversation I noticed that Jackson acted somewhat peculiar, but I never dreamed what caused it at the time."

Col. Deitsch and Mayor Caldwell had a long talk with Albin. He persisted in the statement that he knew nothing of the murder.

Clew after clew was run down. Everything reported to the police regarding the murder, no matter of how little importance was thoroughly investigated and the officers were kept continually on the run.

Satisfied that Jackson and Walling were the murderers, and that the identification of the victim was complete the whole energy of the entire detective and police force was turned to the finding of the head, and the ident.i.ty of the man who drove the cab and the securing of positive evidence on which the murderers could be convicted.

JACKSON'S LETTER TO WOOD.

In response to Mayor Caldwell's notice to the postmaster at South Bend, Ind., the Mayor on Sat.u.r.day, Feb. 8., received from that city a letter written by Scott Jackson to William Wood, South Bend, Ind.

As soon as he received it the Mayor sent for D. D. Woodmansee the attorney for Jackson, and with his consent opened the communication. It was dated Feb. 5., the day on which Jackson was arrested. It was marked 8:30 p. m., less than two hours before his arrest. It was written on letter-heads of the Palace Hotel, while the envelope bore the style of Al Heider's Hotel, on Fifth Street. The letter says:

"2-5-96.

"h.e.l.lo, Bill--

"Write a letter home signed by Berts name telling the folks that he is somewhere & going to Chicago or some other place--has a position etc--and that they will advise later about it--Say tired of living at home or anything you want. You know about the way he writes. Send it to some one you can trust--How will Smith at La Fayette--tell the folks that he has not been at I but at La Fayette and travelling about the country get the letter off without one seconds delay--and burn this at once. Stick by your old chum Bill--And I will help you out the same way--some times. Am glad you are having a good time-- D.

"Be careful what you write to me."

"Bert" in the letter means Pearl. In that portion of the communication which explains that "he has not been at "I." "I" evidently stands for Indianapolis.

After the letter from Jackson to Wood was opened and read, a reporter went to Jackson and asked him if he wrote the letter.

"Yes, sir, I did."

"What does that signature, the letter D., mean?"

"Why, he called me 'Dusty,' and I signed it for that."

"Who is meant by Bert?"

"That is a nickname we had for Pearl. We always called her Bert."

"Then Bert means Miss Bryan?"

"Yes, sir."

"Now, why did you write that letter?"

"Walling told me to write it. He said that something had to be done, and I did it."

"Did he dictate it?"

"Oh, no, I wrote it Wednesday evening after supper."

"Why did you tell Wood to be careful what he wrote?"

"Because he was writing vulgar letters. He wrote me two postals to the college that were awful."

"What did you do with them?"

"I tore them right away. Besides all this, I din't know at what time I might be arrested."

Walling was then visited and told of the story of Jackson.

"No, I didn't tell him to write it.

"I met him on the street Wednesday afternoon, and he told me that he was going to write."

JACKSON'S COAT FOUND IN A SEWER.

As a result of one of the lengthy cross-examinations to which Walling was subjected in which he said that the coat worn by Jackson when he committed the deed had been deposited by himself at Jackson's request in the sewer hole at the corner of Richmond and John Streets.

Detective Witte was at once sent to the scene, and, found a bundle wrapped in a newspaper in the mud. It was drawn out and found to be a black coat. On the lining of the sleeves were found blood stains, and in one of the pockets a lot of tansy flower, which, made into tea, is used to produce miscarriages. After a thorough cleaning, it was placed in a box and removed to headquarters, where an examination was made. Blood spots were found on the sleeves and front. The coat was of a blue black material, similar to the clothing worn by Jackson at the time of his arrest.

Walling was told of the finding of the coat. He displayed no surprise, but remarked:

"Well, I knew they would find it. I told them not long ago where it was; that I had put it there myself."

"Whose coat is it?"

"Jackson's."

"Why did you put it there?"