Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-02-02
Collins Hanged for Murder.

D A. L
lins alias Patterson, was hanged here this
afternoon for the murder o' William +. Cum
minss in September 1879, TIE execution
took place during rain-sCorm, snS was Wit
messed by q large number of people, 1.-THE Jail
ward being crowded. As the time for his ex-
ecutiou drew near Collins showed ro signs Of
nervousness, maintaining his usual compo-
sure, and continuing to assert his entire inuc-
ceucs of the crime. Last night, how
ever, he made sn attempt to take his own
life. In some way unknown to the Jail officers
who have been very dlIigent In watching him.
he managed to secrete the blade Of 8 pocket
knife in his cell. About midnight be took
the blade and inflicted a wound in the left
from which blood flowed profusely. The cut
wss not deep enough to produce the desired
shect, and sitter q while the blood ceased
flowing. The attempt At suicide was not dis
covered till o'clock this morning, the blood
from the weuad being hidden by the he'd
clothes Iu az adjoining csN. from which
CoIlius was removed a short time ago, IVES
found steel boO. shank, one end of which
had been shsrpened to the keeuness OF a
razor. Had he obtained this he would have
made shor. work of himself. 1t was through
his direction that the piece Of steel was
found. 1t was hidden behind ore of the
the bars being Just wide enough TO admi: the
thin shank. For several days the Sisters OF
Mercy and Rev. Father Msagher hsvs yisited
Collins daily, ard called on him this morning
to give him spiritual consolation.
LATER Collins was brought to the scat
fold at a quarter past l, being attended by
Sheriff Garter, his deputies and tive priests.
Sheritf5 Huntley, Of Placer, Mead Of Sierra,
and Davis of COluss, occupied places on the
scaffold. THE doomed man made 8 few brief
remarks, during the course Of which lie So
varely scored detective l. w. Lees aud the
Masonic Fraternity, saying the latter was
responsible for the death of an innocent mar,
and claiming that hlood.money was The only
object Lees h4d in securing bis Convic-
ton. He spoke about fifteen minutes with.
out a remble, stoutly maintsinius his limo.
cenceS and displaying wonderful nerve
throughout. lie expressed his belief IN the
Supreme Being, and after a brief prayer by
Rev Father Dalton. kissed the crucihx and
announced himself ready. The straps were
quickly adjusted, the moose put about his
neck, and the black cap drawn over his head.
At half-past ! the drop fell, ard in eleven
minutes Collins was dead, pulsatioD having
ceased His neck was broken by the fall,
and not a movement OF the BODY was made,
the rope not even twisting from the strain it
body was cut Down, placed in q coffin. and
given in charge Of the Coroner fer burial,
Everything connected with the execution
passed off without accident or delay. 1.-THE
expectation that many had that Collins
would maze a full! confession was not real
lied, the victim asserting thst he was luul-
cent Of ali connection with the crime.l About
200 people witnessed the hanging,
The Oakland strike.
OAKLAND. February 1st.-Geo. T. Walker,
Superintendent Of the Pacific Nail Works,
says there is no truth in the report that the
works will reopen next week. The company
have determined to maintain their ground,
and not to reopen the works until the men
accept their prices, even if the works have to
remain closed for five years
Death En- Route.
SMARTsvILLE, February Ist.-James Pow
ell, stage passenger, en- route to North San
Juan, died suddenly here to-day.
Death of a Prominent citizen.
YREKA. February 1st.-R. 0. Dewitt died
at $50 this morning He belonged TO the
AIasons, Red Men and Workmen, was ex-
Chief Engineer Of the Fire Department snd
also ex-County Treasurer.
The Weather.
SAN Francisco, February 1st-Dispstches
received from many points IN the State last
night report that rain fell again in consider
able quantity, with every indication of a coz
tinuance.
Another Row Imminent al sfO0ncysVIIIe.
SAN Francisco, February 1-t.-Another
row is imminent at Mooneysvi le No sooner
had the men sent out TO tear down the shan
ties left the beach yesterday, t1au two squat
ters, Jack McAuhf and Colonel Monaghan,
commenced work ON another structure, loca-
ted on d street, Just inside the great
highway, and outside of the Park Commits.
si1ners' jurisdiction, The settlers propose 70
hold ont this time. /. Ia believed the police
will tear down the house tomorrow.
Republican County Committee of san
Francisco.
SAN Francisco, February 1st.-The Re
publican County Committee met this evening
at the Palace Hotel, and adopted plan by
which the registers will be opened on the
~ h in the various District Clubs for the en-
rolIment of members, and continue open IN
til the 26th inst nj, inclusive. 1t was also
suggested that the Clubs elect temporary Off
GERS on March Let, but on account of the diff
ficulty of making cut correct registers Of
those enrolled no action was taken.