The story of what happened to Pearl Bryan is horrifying and frightening. The scandalous particulars of the events that led to her murder captivated the attention of the U.S. in the late 1800s, but Pearl gets sort of lost in the shuffle.

Research:

• “An Awful Find.” Cincinnati Enquirer. Feb. 2, 1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/30900213/?terms=%22body%20found%22&match=1
• Associated Press. “Youth’s Depravity.” The Lexington Herald. Feb. 7, 1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/680738959/?terms=%22ANOTHER%20CONFESSION%22%20&match=1
• Associated Press. “The Decapitated Woman.” Los Angeles Herald. Feb. 6, 1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/80565627/?terms=%22pearl%20bryan%22&match=1
• “Both Are Guilty!” Journal and Tribune. Feb. 8, 1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/584194865/?terms=decapitated&match=1
• “Clues Were Misleading.” Green Bay Press-Gazette. Feb. 7, 1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/186951911/?terms=%22ANOTHER%20CONFESSION%22%20&match=1
• “Does Crime Cause Physical Degenration?” San Francisco Examiner. May 11, 1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/457505640/?terms=kiffmeyer&match=1
• “Drugged With Cocaine.” Chattanooga Daily Times. Feb. 13, 1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/604389689/?terms=%22body%20found%22&match=1
• “Grades of Murder.” Indianapolis Journal. May 10, 1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/322021567/?terms=%22alonzo%20walling%22%20
• “Jackson’s Trial.” Jackson County Banner. April 30, 1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/206893196/?terms=pearl%20bryan&match=1
• “Murdered and Beheaded.” Philadelphia Times. Feb. 2, 1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/52374183/?terms=%22body%20found%22&match=1
• “The Mysterious Murder of Pearl Bryan, or The Headless Horror.” Barclay and Co. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/29569/29569-h/29569-h.htm#history
• “Newport’s Hanging.” Hamilton County Ledger. March 26, 1897. https://www.newspapers.com/image/353595219/?terms=%22alonzo%20walling%22%20&match=1
• “Pearl Bryan’s Story.” Chicago Chrinicle. May 10, 1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/668071687/?terms=pearl%20bryan
• “Pearl Bryan: Her Murderers Still Accusing Other of the Deed.” Topeka State Journal. Feb. 8, 1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/323039676/?terms=%22JACKSON%27S%20COAT%20FOUND%20IN%20A%20SEWER%22&match=1
• Rolandelli, Frank, Jr. “Mystery in Pearl Bryan Murder Still Unsolved.” Indianapolis Sunday Star. March 7, 1937. https://www.newspapers.com/image/105412793/?fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjEwNTQxMjc5MywiaWF0IjoxNjk4MTAzODA0LCJleHAiOjE2OTgxOTAyMDR9.2bQOm9f88dN8unJ91gfkigYR6z0Z5yAmvxOQirxa2xw
• “Scott Jackson the Murderer.” New York Times. May 15, 1896. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1896/05/15/105749337.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0
• “Searching the Sewers.” The Tennessean. Feb. 13, 1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/603549764/?terms=decapitation&match=1
• “She Has a New Story.” Indianapolis Journal. Feb. 11, 1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/321981642/?terms=pearl%20bryan&match=1
• “Under Arrest.” Chillicothe Gazette. Feb. 7, 1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/291122814/?terms=%22alonzo%20walling%22%20&match=1
• “Walling Testifies.” Jackson County Banner. June 11, 1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/206898137/?terms=%22alonzo%20walling%22%20&match=1
• Young, Andrew. “Our Rich History: Shoe dealer solves ghastly murder of Pearl Bryan, found missing her head, in 1893.” Northern Kentucky Tribune. Aug. 17, 2020. https://nkytribune.com/2020/08/our-rich-history-shoe-dealer-solves-ghastly-murder-of-pearl-bryan-found-missing-her-head-in-1893/