The Mysterious Murder of Pearl Bryan Part 7

"How did you come to take that valise to the saloon?"

"I just left it there."

"Did you have it with you in the evening?"

"Yes, but I don't see why I took it down town."

"Was it heavy?"

"No, only bothersome."

"You had two valises, didn't you?"

"No, only one."

"Didn't you leave one over at Legner's saloon Sat.u.r.day, and a different one Monday?"

"No, I did not."

"Why don't you tell the truth about this?"

"I did tell the truth, all but about the valise. I got that back."

The prisoner persisted in his story that he knows nothing about the murder, and after a little further examination he was taken down stairs and locked up on the charge of murder.

LOCKED UP AT THE STATION.

Jackson was taken from the Mayor's office through the long corridor on the Eighth-Street side of the City Hall by Detective Bill Bulmer, who walked on the right side of him and held his arm. Employes of the waterworks, janitors and other attaches of the big building followed in the wake of the couple until Central Police Station was reached. At the station house the receiving room was thronged with curious ones who had heard of the arrest of the dental student. Lieutenant Sam Corbin and Sergeant Billy Borck were behind the desk. Bulmer took his prisoner up to the desk, and immediately a big crowd swarmed in to see how Jackson would act while being registered. Lieutenant Corbin registered the prisoner. The questions and answers were as follows:

"What is your name?"

"Scott Jackson."

"Where do you live?"

"I live here now."

"Whereabouts?"

"No. 222 West Ninth Street."

"Old or new number?"

"I don't know; it's next door to Robinson's Opera House."

"What is your occupation?"

"Dental student."

"How old are you?"

"Twenty-six."

"Married or single?"

"Single."

"Where were you born?"

"In Maine."

"What's the charge against this man?"

"Murder," replied Bulmer.

"Is that right?" asked Corbin, looking the prisoner in the eye.

"I believe that's what they say," replied Jackson.

Ill.u.s.tration: Between sobs and cries of "My Pearl, my Pearl," Mrs.

Bryan identified the clothing.

Among other things found in Jackson's pockets were two carriage tickets on the Central Newport Bridge. The tickets may prove to be of a great importance in the case, as it shows that the prisoner was in the habit of crossing the bridge.

After Jackson had been searched he was led back to his cellroom by Detective Bulmer and Officer Jake Bernhart.

Jackson had been locked in his cell but a few moments when Detectives Bulmer and Witte walked into the station and suggested to Lieutenant Corbin that the prisoner be taken into the room behind the receiving desk and thoroughly searched. The suggestion was acted upon at once, and what may prove to be most startling evidence was discovered.

The clothing of the prisoner was all removed and two scratches were found on his right arm. One scratch begins just below the elbow and extends almost to the wrist. It is almost three inches long. The other scratch is much shorter and is on the wrist.

Spots of blood were also noticed on the right sleeve of the prisoner's unders.h.i.+rt. From the appearance of the sleeve attempts had been made to remove the blood from the s.h.i.+rt.

"Where did that blood come from?" asked Lieutenant Corbin.

"I was bothered with bugs the other night and I scratched myself,"

answered the prisoner.

Jackson then said he had been troubled with some sort of a skin eruption for some time past, and he pointed to some abrasions on his breast to confirm his story.

Nothing was discovered in neither garments of the man that would show that he had attempted to conceal any papers or other evidence after his arrest.

WALLING ARRESTED

Alonzo Walling, Jackson's roommate, was arrested, at 3:30 Thursday morning, by Lieutenant Corbin, and locked up at Central Station. It was thought when Jackson was arrested that night that Walling had no connection with the matter, but later developments went to show that he knew far more than either had admitted.

It was ascertained that the two men had been very intimate, and that they were together on the night of the murder. It was also discovered that Walling had been intimate with a girl in Louisville with whom Jackson was on more than friendly terms, and that both men had corresponded with her.