The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1880-07-15
rhe osrs.erisJ.ry say that ne dId &c
Either Accidentally or auri.E an
Aberralisa OF the MI.a-

profound sensation or more talk, dur
ing the last ten years In Omaha, than
the terrible suicide Of Gilbert II. Col
Inns, who put q bullet through his brain
Saturday night. IN account Of which
appeared in Sunday mornings RepuLli-
cdI.
The testimony adducsd At the coron-
er's inquest Sunday afternoon, did not
differ in any material respect from the
Republicans report OF the affair, nor
did 1t throw any additional light on the
dark mystery which surrounds the
death Of .'Gf." Collins. The motive
which 50 suddenly prompted him To
take his W life was not ascertained,
and probably never will be. Various
theories have been advanced, and a
great deal Of talking has been done, but
rs yet 10 satisfactory conclusion has
been reached as TO the motive. The
evidence. however, showed pretty con-
clusively that 1t RI n suicide. The
blood on the bureau shows that be stood
before the mirror and took deliberate
aim and fired. and that the blood spurt-
ed upon the bureau just before he fell
headlong. The powder marks around
the wound show that he put the wea-
pom close 10 his head, and the pool Of
blood on the carpet nj the foot Of the
bed, where his head struck, shows that
he fell dead In his tracks, rs his feet
remained close TO the bureau where he
was standing. The fact that he had
laid out a clean shirt and put his studs
In 1t for Sunday, would lead one TO
conclude that even up 10 that time the
idea Of suicide had not entered his
head. We are, therefore, led TO reiter-
ate our conclusion Of Sunday morning.
that the impulse came upon him sud-
denly rs he caught sight Of the revolt
yer, which was In the upper drawer.
Perhaps at the fatal moment some
thought came over him to grab the pis-
tol and end his life, but what II was
no n will sven know. The revolver
was n four barrelled weapon, forty-one
calibre. A close examination OF 1t
yesterday showed that II had been
a Tor o long time. IL was rusty
n hard 70 operate. One cartridge
had been fred some time ago, judging
from the old and rusty appearance OF
% shell, which emained In the cylin-
IA
DER, DO that when MI. Collins picked IL
up saturday night IL a three good
cartridges In IL. One OF these cart
ridges mad been Tented py hammer,
o the next one, winch q q much
deeper dent on II, was the one that ex-
ploded and Tic inc fatai work. These
facts tend 70 q thai be made at
tempts the hrst one being unsuccessful.
This Is evidence OF the deed being done
with some eiioeration n determine
ton He had not been IL bed, u n
taken ON oil MS clothes except ms un-
dershirt and drawers, and b gas was
burning brightly In the room.
The coroner's jury consisted OF c. IL.
Guion, Ezra Willard, IL. W. Yates. DR..
Miller, y. u. Jones and 5. +. Wood
bridge. Inc examination OF witnesses
ives conducted ut b residence.
Mrs. Collins was the first witness ex-
ahmed. She was confined to her bed
her room up stairs, and thither the
Jury proceeded to hear her statement.
She was overwhelmed with grief and
wept bitterly, and 1t was with difficulty
that she gave her testimony. Her
statement was rather rambling and
disconnected, rs she was not In a frame
OF mind to give 1t in any other way.
Her husband occupied the front room
on the same floor. She said that she
did not hear the report OF pistol, but
somehow she awoke and heard afaii,
n thought she heard her name called.
She ran to the front room and found
her husband lying on the noor, q pool OF
blood 9 his head, whic lay towards
the wall as II he had fallen backward
while standing before The mirror. The
smoking pistol told the story and half
crazed withterror and excitement she
ran TO alarm the household n
mechanically telephoned Tor Dr. fea
Dody ana summoned MI. ii. W. Yates,
q near neignoor. Inc latter with MT.
suion and sam Jones, also neighbors,
were the hrst 70 arrive, n supposing