od's name has been
very prominently connected with the case on account of his knowledge of
Pearl Bryan's condition and the part he played in sending the girl to
Cincinnati. In answer to questions he stated that he introduced Scott
Jackson to Pearl Bryan in August, 1895, and that some time afterward
Jackson boasted that he had become intimate with the girl. According to
Wood, Jackson left Greencastle in October to take a course of dentistry
in Cincinnati and that soon afterward Jackson wrote and inquired if
Pearl Bryan was sick. Wood investigated and replied that she was sick.
Then Jackson sent a prescription for medicine and said:

"Tell her to take two or three good doses before she goes to bed at
night."

The medicine had no effect. Additional prescriptions were then sent.
They were unsuccessful. Pearl continued "sick."

Wood then stated that Jackson went to Greencastle again during the
holidays. The condition of Pearl was becoming more threatening and it
was plain that something had to be done. Then it was that Jackson
suggested an operation. The witness testified on this point.

"He said that it was very frequently done, done every day and if he had
the instruments he could do it himself. Such operations, he said, were
every day occurrences and if we got it done she would be all right in
three or four days."

Before Jackson left Greencastle he tried to make Wood agree to send her
to Cincinnati where the matter could be attended to, but Wood claimed
that he refused, not wishing to have anything to do with it.

On January 4th, Jackson left Greencastle and returned to Cincinnati and
on January 25th, Wood received a letter from him in which he said that
he had secured a room for Pearl. Wood claims that he gave this letter to
Pearl. She read it and expressed her intention of going on the next
Monday. Accordingly on January 27th, she left Greencastle on the 1:35
train, going east.

On February 6th, 1896, Wood received another letter. He was then on the
train in charge of the officers, as an accomplice of Scott Jackson who
had been arrested. The letter was destroyed by Wood but he remembered
the contents. The letter read.

"Hello Bill--I have made a big mistake and we will probably get into
trouble. I want you to stand by me."

On the day before this Wood received the following strange letter which
was produced in court and which we already published on page 77.

The witness stated that the above letter never r