The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-10-28
A SAD COURT SCENE.
Two Little BOys Accuscrs of Their Fnther--A
Thrilling Temperance Lecture.
(Frnn, Z bo Dbil,dolnbio ToIayropb
(Er"m the Philadelphia I
"Patrick Collins"

Thrilling Temperance Lecture.
(From the Philadelphia Telegraph.)
'Patrick Collins"
A manly little fellow Of twelve years
with round bright face and dark eyes
and dressed in neat Knickerbocler suit
walked erect and rapidly toward the
clcrk IN the court Of oyer and terminel
III jersey City yesterday. He had his
hand on the Bible, and promised to tell
the truth, the whole truth, and NOTHING
but the truth.
A man of forty years, plainly but neat
~ attlred, intently watched the child.
lie had shuddercd when the namo was
called by Prosecutor Winfield, and nor-
vously squeezed his black felt hat as the
child was sworn. An expression in which
admiration and fear were blended came
over his face rs his eyes noted the bright,
ready demCnnor of the boy.
The spectators looked on the scene
with wrapt attention, for they knew that
the boy was to tell how his mother was
murdered, and that. the murderer, the
man, was his father.
James Collins and his wife led cat
and-dog life for many years. On May
II last-n Sunday-thcy Quarreled. The
next morning the wife was found in bed
dead, her nursing baby at her side.
Forty wounds were counted by County
physician Converse on her body. The
occurrences Of that Sunday were known
in part to the two boys; fully, only to
tho prisoner.
The prisoners counsel offered plea
OIL manslnughtcr, which was refused. A
consultation and another long conference
with Judge Knapp and tho prosecutor
followed. The counsel for tho defense
evidently did not desire to assume the
FISK OF Il trial. They offered to plead
guilty to murder i'll the second degree.
lhc plea was reluctantly accepted by the
court, and The accused family but gladly
whispered eyes" when asked if lie re-
tracted his plea Of not guilty. Then
! Collins son gave testimony to determine
II there were mitigating circumstances.
Several witnesses had testified that both
husband and wife were quarrclsome.
Patrick did not realize that he was
homeless and almost frendless, but frc-
qucntly looked ailcctionatcly at his faith
cr, and once smiled in return as a faint
smile OF pride ut the intelligence Of his
boy stole for moment on the face Of
the father. Patrick did not see the fatal
assault. He left his wrctchcd home at
~ oclock on Sunday morning because
ms lnthrr and his mother had been
drinking and he feared trouble. lie re-
manned away until s o'clock that night.
Tears mOistCncd his checks and he
SobbGd as he described how on his re-
turn he went to his mammals bed. He
thought she was asleep. He was hun-
| CRY, and shook her to arouse her as he
asked for a slice Of bread He could not
wake her, and went into his fathers
room. Ills pal'N was awake and told him
mamma Was dead" The child again
WGpt when he related how, the night be-
lore, his mother had tried to push his
latllCr down stairs because he would not
give her his wages; but the tears were
chased away by smiles when he enumcr-
ntcd the articles his father bought that
Saturday night for him and his brothers.
Martin, his brother, who is Il year
younger, was also called. Like his broth
cr, Martin has an attractive face. He is
OF 1ar complexion, and has blue eyes
lie showed not the least nervousness or
lear. lie seemed to admire his father
ana was GlSpoScd to cast the blame on
his dead mother. I'm his testimony he
told how that Sunday morning his moth
cr iell, and Ill her rage broke the stove
with hammer. ShU seat him for
whisky. lie broke down us he said 81
dldn want to co. III Il moment he re-
covered and resumed: "Shc said she
would Kill me stone dead if | didn't 90. "
lie brought her bottle Of whisky, and
she drank 1t. lie left her asleep in the
rochn8-clair at halr-pa ) in the after
noon. His father WIS sleeping in the
Dcd at the time. When he returned
home three hours later his mother was
dead, lie voluntarily told Of several
lights IN winch his mother was the ag~
gr"aso", and reluctantly described those
III winch his father was at fault. AS he
left the stand and passed his fnthcr, the
int'cr muttcrcd: "G0d bless YOU, nv
on--G0d bless YOU"
County Physician Converse selected
PAtrck $ baseball bat us the weapon with
which the death blow was probably in
llictcd.
The defendant submitted II written
statement. He was rcmnnded for SEN
tcncc. The extreme penalty is twenty
years ut hard labor in State prison.
What disposition 60 make of the two
boys puZZlc8 Prosecutor Winfield, who
Is 6rc"tly attached TO them, and is loath
TO have them sent to any institution.
lhey VIII be detained for few DAYS in
the nope that suitable homes mny be
found.
\ British SIcamrr'y Peril.