By Paul A. Tenkotte
Special to NKyTribune
Unwanted: A Murder Mystery of the Gilded Age, by Andrew Young, is the riveting history of one of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region’s most celebrated murders. It is destined to become THE definitive history of the 1896 murder of Pearl Bryan.
Pearl Bryan was a beautiful 22-year-old lady from Greencastle, Indiana. She fell in love with a Cincinnati dental student named Scott Jackson. Bryan discovered that she was pregnant, and Jackson asked her to come to Cincinnati. He hoped to perform on her what was then illegal — an abortion — to end the pregnancy.
Sadly, Pearl Bryan’s body was discovered by a 14-year-old boy in a Fort Thomas field on February 1, 1896. The bloodied body had been decapitated. Only through the efforts of a determined Newport shoe store owner, Louis Poock, was the young lady’s body identified—through her shoes.
The sensational trial of Scott Jackson and of his accomplice, Alonzo Walling, resulted in guilty verdicts and the executions of both men.
Proclaiming their innocence, neither claimed to know where Pearl Bryan’s head could be found. It has never been found.
Andrew Young is a talented historian and author, capable of taking all of the evidence tucked away in primary documents, and weaving them into a riveting account.
There are few authors who so engage my attention that I read their books in a single day, but Andrew Young is one of those. This is a book that you will find hard to put down, even for breaks.
What makes this account so intriguing is Young’s writing style. He has a wonderful ability to bring history alive, much like Doris Kearns Goodwin. Further, he places the Pearl Bryan murder within the context of late-19th-century America. He explains the economic, political, social, and cultural milieu informing the times. And he carefully explores the backgrounds of all of those involved.
Unwanted: A Murder Mystery of the Gilded Age contains plenty of photographs and illustrations throughout its 268 pages. It is a tremendous bargain — available in hardback for $18.71 on amazon.com and only $10.99 on Kindle. If you’re looking for an engaging autumn read, this is the book for you.
We want to learn more about the history of your business, church, school, or organization in our region (Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky). If you would like to share your rich history with others, please contact the editor of “Our Rich History,” Paul A. Tenkotte, at tenkottep@nku.edu. Paul A. Tenkotte is Professor of History and Director of the Center for Public History at NKU.