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kumpfr
Joined: 18 Oct 2008
Posts: 1
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 Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2008 8:49 pm Post subject: The Legend of the Pearl Bryan Murder: DEBUNKED |
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The Legend of the Pearl Bryan Murder: DEBUNKED
Russell Kumpf
I recently graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a bachelor degree in history. I wrote my senior thesis paper on the Pearl Bryan murder legend. I spent 12 weeks intensively researching the subject. In the process I discovered that all of the modern theories about the legend have no base in historical fact or reality. Every supernatural television series and book that focuses on the haunting at Bobby Mackey’s Music World simply exploits and distorts historical fact in order to present a false authenticity. Most sources fail to accurately present even the most basic facts concerning the murder and those involved. There is nothing wrong with telling ghost stories. However, there is a difference between telling stories and presenting lies wrapped in false history to make money. The following blog contains some of the most compelling factual information necessary to debunk the Pearl Bryan legend.
Let us start with a man named Doug Hensley. His 2005 book release entitled “Hell’s Gate: Terror at Bobby Mackey’s Music World” was largely responsible for a resurgence in the popularity of the Pearl Bryan Legend. The book itself is badly written and edited. It’s a bit like reading an R.L Stine Goosebumps novel that's smeared with feces. Hensley claimed that Bobby Mackey’s was haunted and cursed by the ghosts of Pearl Bryan’s killers because they had thrown her head into the basement well as part of a secret satanic sacrifice. The ultimate source for this information in the book is a ghost who told the story to Carl Lawson. Carl allegedly told Hensley who then ‘interpreted’ the story. There is no historic documentation to suggest that a satanic cult frequented the building or the area. There is also nothing to suggest that Scott Jackson and Alonzo Walling were cult members or even interested in the occult at all. No such accusations were made by a news media that fully exploited the popularity of the story and frequently published untrue information.
The popular television show “A Haunting” claimed that Hensley’s ‘research’ indicated that bloodhounds followed a scent trail from the murder scene to the abandoned well. This is most definitely not true at all. The hounds actually followed the trail to a nearby reservoir that was later drained. No head was found there. These are the kinds of facts that are blatantly distorted and rewritten in order to fabricate stronger links between Bobby Mackey’s and the Pearl Bryan murder site. The internet in particular contains a wellspring of ignorance concerning the subject. It abounds with so many variations of the Pearl Bryan legend it is nearly impossible to find an objective historical analysis.
Let us continue by looking at the actual murder site itself shall we. Pearl Bryan’s headless body was found right outside of what was then the militarily active Fort Thomas. It was initially believed that a soldier had committed the crime because soldiers were known to associate with prostitutes in the nearby area. The Fort came under a close investigation until new evidence disproved the notion that a soldier had killed Pearl Bryan. This is why Scott Jackson chose the location. He was attempting to confuse investigators and cover his tracks. Had the serial number found on Pearl’s shoe not been traced back to her home town it is likely the crime would have remained unsolved.
Pearl Bryan’s head was removed to prevent the identification of her body. That is the only reason. Crime scene investigation during the 1890’s was very limited by today’s standards. By removing some one’s head a killer could greatly increase the chances that the body would never be properly identified. There was also footprint evidence found at the crime scene. Alonzo Walling was a lookout that night. It was proven that Scott Jackson acted alone in the field without the assistance of any one else (i.e. fellow cult members). The murder was sloppy and poorly planned. Scott was left with deep scratches that later helped prove his guilt.
Many sources claim that Pearl Bryan was killed “nearby” the building that is now Bobby Mackey’s. It was actually a distance of roughly four miles away. The killers most likely simply passed by the building on the way to and from the murder site. Their desolate and roundabout route that night was devised based upon avoidance of toll booth authorities and witnesses. The assumption that the two men placed Pearl’s head in the well at the slaughterhouse is nothing more than fiction. During police questioning, both men actually accused each other of throwing the head off of a bridge into the Ohio River. It was among the few cohesive claims they made against each other.
Many sources also suggest that historical local legend and hearsay support the claims that Pearl’s head was sacrificed to Satan. This is false. There is no known documentation to support the notion that such local folklore existed before very recent times. It needs to be understood that the association between the murder and satanic cult activity is a recent development. In fact, I’ve had difficulty finding sources that support the satanic theory which predate Doug Hensley’s book “Hell’s Gate: Terror at Bobby Mackey’s Music World.” It could very well be the original source in which the absurd satanic cult theory was pushed out and pinched off.
During my research I discovered a very interesting movie-like drama that played out between those involved in the actual events leading up to the murder. It is a great and important story because it works to further weaken the satanic cult theory. I’m not going to get into all the details of the true story of events but I will say that it involves absolutely no elements of satanic worship or the occult.
Perhaps one of the most perplexing questions is that of Alonzo Walling’s involvement. At the time of the murder he was living with Scott Jackson in a small apartment. The two men were fellow dental students with loose hometown ties. It appears that Walling voluntarily decided to assist Jackson in killing Pearl Bryan and in the poorly executed cover up. The very night that Scott Jackson was arrested for murder he informed authorities that Alonzo Walling had committed the crime. Had Jackson not implicated Walling it is likely that he would not have been considered a suspect.
My research indicated that Scott Jackson had been involved in an embezzling scandal in New Jersey. Jackson turned states evidence against his employer in exchange for immunity. It’s really not a surprise that he rolled over on Walling and claimed that he had simply assisted his friend Pearl by finding someone (Walling) to perform her abortion. He also claimed the father of the child was that of Pearl’s cousin and Scott’s own college pal William Wood. Scott Jackson’s story never held up because of a damning telegram message that was intercepted by the police. Jackson and Wood had been corresponding with each other since the pregnancy was discovered. The remaining telegram message clearly implicated Scott Jackson.
These facts are really just the tip of the ice- burg. If you are interested in the subject, I suggest visiting the library at the Cincinnati Museum Center. You will find entire microfilms of the 1896 and 1897 ‘Cincinnati Enquirer’. There is an incredible amount of media coverage. Of course, the scant bibliography of “Hell’s Gate: Terror at Bobby Mackey’s Music World” includes only two articles. However, there really is a wealth of information there. I also visited the Kenton County library which holds microfilms of the 1896 and 1897 ‘Kentucky Post’. The Campbell County Historical Society also has an 1897 book entitled, “Mysterious Murder of Pearl Bryan or the Headless Horror.” Larry Rouse is a local writer who got it right in his essay. The truth is out there.
Comments, criticisms or questions?
Russellkumpf@live.com
Last edited by kumpfr on Mon Oct 20, 2008 1:26 am; edited 2 times in total |
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TheCabinet
Site Admin
Joined: 15 Aug 2006
Posts: 369
Location: Beaverton, OR
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| Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 12:53 am Post subject: |
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Hi Russell,
I take it you just watched the first episode of the new series Ghost Adventures? 
I'm with you. I researched the case of Pearl Bryan for our section Dark Destinations because of my fascination behind the popular murder ballad from the case. I did a write-up on various locations and tried to shed some light on the claims of Bryan haunting Bobby Mackey's. From what I could find, there were no references to Bryan "haunting" the locale until the book came out, but I could be wrong.
Our Dark Destinations entries for the Pearl Bryan case
There are sources out there that refute the stories, but unfortunately they are generally ignored. Surprisingly, this is really nothing new when it comes to some of the stories surrounding popular spots associated with paranormal activity. I don't know if they pop up to try to explain the activity or what, but it can be awful annoying.
-Casey |
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ltrouse
Joined: 11 Nov 2008
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 5:13 pm Post subject: Glad to see someone else is interested in the truth about th |
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I would like to share this with you all. In 1977 I was a sophomore at Newport High School and one of the classes I took was Humanities. In that class we discussed local folklore, and there is a lot of it. While we talked about the Pearl Bryan murder there was absolutely no mention of the building at 44 Licking Pike being haunted by her ghost. In fact these stories didn’t surface until after Bobby Mackey bought the place in 1979 and then the only people who claimed to see anything were Bobby Mackey’s wife and the caretaker, Lawson. In fairness to Bobby Mackey himself, he claims to have never seen or heard anything unusual in the building.
As to why Walling took part in the killing, that has always been a mystery to me as well, but I offer this theory, based on the merest shred of evidence. During Walling’s trial a witness testified that both Jackson and Walling were “involved” with the same girl from Louisville. That’s it, her name is not mentioned and neither counsel pursued the point further. In Kentucky the prosecution does not have to establish motive in a murder trial and the evidence was good enough that they didn’t need to.
Jackson was described as charming, handsome, and came from a good family, he could have any woman he wanted. Walling was considered swarthy, a follower, and was the son of a poor widow. My theory is that Jackson may have told Walling that he would make sure that he got the girl from Louisville, if Walling would help him with Pearl Bryan. Like I said though, there isn’t a lot to back this up.
There is currently a movie in production based on Hensley’s book and I think that’s sad. The real story would make a much more intriguing movie, if someone would bother to do the research. |
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Killer Klown
Joined: 11 Feb 2008
Posts: 170
Location: Salem, MA
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| Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 7:04 pm Post subject: |
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I am totally ignorant to this case, but ltrouse, you did a wonderful job on that case. I agree that it stinks when people do that to the story, sounds like it makes for a more creepy feel if they left the truth in it. It is fascinating and eerie at the same time, and i am going to look into it further. Thanks!
-Killer Klown |
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