THE EXAMINATION.
"Is this Mayor Caldwell?" asked Jackson.
"It is," responded His Honor.
"The officers say you want to see me."
"Yes, I want to talk with you."
"What is your name?"
"Scott Jackson."
"You are also known as Dusty?"
"Yes, sometimes."
"Where is your home?"
"My home is in Greencastle, Ind."
"Do you know Pearl Bryan?"
"I do."
"Where did you last see her?"
"It was during the hollidays. I think on January 2."
"Have you seen her since?"
"I have not."
"Do you know William Wood?"
"I do."
"What is his business?"
"I don't know. He used to be connected with the school at Greencastle. Saw him last about January 6."
Chief Deitsch here read the dispatch under which the arrest was made.
"What have you to say to that?"
"The charge is entirely false. I don't know anything about that."
"That's what everybody says who is arrested," said Chief Deitsch, "but the identification of the clothes and other facts point to you as the man who took Pearl Bryan or her body to Ft. Thomas. Where were you last Friday evening?"
"I must have been in my room."
"What time did you go to your room?"
"I think I had supper about 7 o'clock and went home about 7:30."
"What did you do?"
"I studied in my room."
"Was your roommate there?"
"I think he was."
"Where were you Thursday night?"
"I was home, I think. My roommate was out that evening. When he came in I had retired."
"How about Saturday evening?"
"I went out with a friend and went to the theater."
"Who took supper with you Friday evening?"
"I think I was alone."
"Where did you eat?"
"At Heider's."
"Ever stay there over night?"
"I did not."
"Did your roommate?"
"Yes, I think he did last Wednesday night."
"You have not been home to-day?"
"Yes, I left there about 10 o'clock this morning."
"Where did you go?"
"I went to see a young lady, and took her to dinner, I was with her all afternoon."
"Where were you?"
"At the Emery Hotel."
"Where did you go in the evening?"
"The young lady went to her place of business, and later I put her on the car. Then I went to Heiders for supper."
"Oh, I was just walking around the streets."
"Who was with you?"
"I stopped in a barber shop about 9 o'clock and walked a piece with one of the barbers."
"Did you meet any one else you knew?"
"I did not."
"Where were you going when you were arrested?"
"I was going to the college to see if the boys were dissecting."
"Why did you pass the house and look up at it?"
"Well, I don't know. I am turned around now."
"What have you to say to the telegram?"
"I don't know what to say. I can't imagine why they mention me in it."
"Did you read of the murder?"
"Part of it. It made me sick to my stomach."
"Were you in Newport lately?"
"No sir; I was not."
"Didn't you take an interest in the murder when you read of Greencastle being the probable home of the murdered girl?"
"I spoke to several people in the house about it."
"You left the lady this evening and went to supper, and then walked around town?"
"I did."
"Did you meet any one else you knew?"
"I met Walling, I think, after supper."
"Where did you see him?"
"Now, I think of it. It was in the barber shop, where I was waiting."
"See any one else?"
"No, sir."
"How long have you been at the dental college?"
"Since October 14., last."
"Did you come from Greencastle?"
"I did."
"Where else have you roomed?"
"When was Miss Bryan up to Cincinnati?"
"Don't know. Didn't know she was here."
"Where did you last see her?"
"On January 2., at her home while I was at Greencastle spending the holidays."
"Were you friends?"
"Only friendly."
"Does she live at home?"
"She does."
"What do her parents do?"
"Her father is a farmer and keeps a dairy."
"What kind of a looking girl is Pearl?"
"Rather slender. I am a poor judge of height. She was not as tall as I am—almost, though. She was light complexioned."
"What will she weigh?"
"Suppose about 105 or 110 pounds."
"Did she ever live out?"
"I don't know, but I don't think so."
"You were in the habit of paying your respects to her?"
"I called on her a few times."
"Did you ever go out with her?"
"Once, I guess."
"She was not a farmhand?"
"No, she worked around the house."
"Was she of a quiet disposition?"
"As far as I know she was."
"Do you know of any other men she kept company with?"
"Yes, but she never kept company with me."
"Who then?"
"Well, she gave a party some time ago. I saw a number of gentlemen here."
"Well, Jackson, this is a serious charge. I will have to hold on to you."
"I don't see why they accuse me of this."
"What is your roommate's name?"
"Did you ever correspond with Pearl Bryan?"
"Once or twice."
"Ever since January 22?"
"I think not."
"Have you talked about the murder?"
"Yes; at the house. I don't know how the subject was brought up. I was very much interested in the case."
"Did you read of the girl probably being from Greencastle?"
"Yes."
Colonel Deitsch at this point reviewed the evidence against the prisoner and the Greencastle part of it, and said: "And you didn't inquire about it?"
"I read that the Sheriff of Newport was in Greencastle, and that the shoes found on the dead woman had been purchased from Louis & Hayes—that they had accounted for nearly all the shoes they sold."
"Didn't you think the girl would be heard from?"
"There were so many theories that I didn't know what to think."
"Do you remember leaving a valise in Legner's saloon last Saturday night?"
"I do."
"Didn't you take it away Monday morning and leave another?"
"No, sir."
"Why did you leave the valise at the saloon?"
"I was just going as far as the corner and I didn't want to carry it."
"Did you take it away the same day?"
"Yes, I think I did."
"What was in it?"
"Nothing."
"How far was it from your room?"
"Just across the street."
"You say there was nothing in the valise?"
"I don't think there was."
"I bought it in Indianapolis."
"How did you happen to take it out Saturday night?"
"I don't recollect just now."
"Where is it now?"
"I loaned it to a student of the name of Hackelman."
"What did he want with it?"
"I didn't ask him. I took it to him to the college."
"What kind of valise was it?"
"Tan colored."
"Strap or handbag?"
"Handbag."
"Has it been returned?"
"No, sir."
"What is Hackelman's first name?"
"I don't know."
"Have you seen him since?"
"I have not."
"Where does he live?"
"I don't know."
"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 Saturday, 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.