Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-11-28
The Collins Murder Case.
THE EVIDENCE In FULL
FOR THE STATE.
What Little Eyidcr~, There
is Purely Circumstantial.
EDW. COLLINS AND PERRY
E. KEE DISCHARGED
LAST SATURDAY.
The Defense Commenced to In
trOduce Its Testimony Oh
Monday Morning.

= Thursday at p. IN. the prelim-
mary examination in the Collins
murder case began before 'Squires
Winscott and Harris in the circuit
court room, F. r. Jesse for the
State and Geo. Robertson for the
defense. The prelin mary exam
ination is merely to determine as
to whether there is sufficient evil
dence to hold the prisoners tor the
grand jury or not. The Coroner's
jury completed its labors Wednes-
day, but there were no new
developments.
The prisoners, Mrs. E. A Col
Inns, Mrs. Scanland, Perry Kee,
Edwin Collins, Chas. Collins and
Arthur Collins, sat just inside the
bar.
The first witness called was DR..
Crawford, of Rush Hill. He testi-
fed: 4 knew E. A. Collins. /
know only Arthur and his father !;
was called to his house Sunday.
Arthur came for nae at 3:15 a. m.
He told me his fathers house was
robbed and his father killed I
told him to telegraph for the Cor
oner and Sheriff. He did SO Ar
thur said a watch, $40 in paper
money and some silver money
were stolen, l went to the house !;
arrived at about 4 a. m. The family
was there, also a German. Those
present were Mrs Collins, Charlie
Collins, Ed. Collins and Mrs.
Scaniand; were in the southwest
room of the house asked Mrs.
Collins what she knew of the MUIR
der. Said she retired as usual and
about IL O'Clock saw a light in
room west of her and heard foot
steps ; supposed it was one of the
boys or her daughter, SO went to
sleep again. She next heard the
report of the pistol over her head.
She said it was strange anyone
could enter without Mr.. Collins
knowledge as he was light sleep
er. She also said she heard
the screen door leading into
the kitchen shut. Heard hurried
steps in the kitchen. She said she
awoke Mrs. Scanland and told her
to wake the boys. as their father
was killed. Told me she was
sleeping with her husband. After
shot was fred sne examined Mr.
Collins pantaloons. Found money
missing. l entered bedroom. Saw
the dead man lying on south side
of bed. The bed was in the south
east corner of the room, head to the
east. Bed is five feet wide. Was
tive feet from front of bed to his
body by measurement. Lying fiat Oh
his back. Was facing slightly to
south, but Arthur turned his head
a little to the north. On north side
of bed, cover was turned back as il
before retiring. Appeared perfect.
ly smooth. Was told the bed had
not been touched. Wound was IN
right temple. Face was badly
powder burnt Arthur and Charlie
seemed grieved but the Others
(Mrs. Collins and Mrs. Scanland,
made no such signs. There was q
pillow and shawl on the lounge in
parlor. Pillow showed imprint o.
d head on it,
CROSS ss-ExAMINATIoN BY ATTORNEY
| ROBERTSON.
deceased lay in the middle
room of these shed rooms on easr
side of main building. Mrs. Scan
land slept in north room, and ths
south room was a kitchen.
walked right in when I came up tt
the house"
"The screen door between room
where Collins was killed ane
kitchen has spring that causes i
to shut of itself. / did not si
down on the bed or lay my hands
on the bed. Collins was medium
sized man. I should think h,
you'd weigh 140 or 145 pounds
Arthur said he turned his face from
the south to the north to see if b,
was still living. The ball kept W
a direct course through the head
starting at a point two inches bacl
and one inch above the right eye
and breaking the skin ON the lef
side at point of entrance, only il
its being one-half inch higher up
The pistol must have been helt
very close to burn the hair so tina
it would crnmble in the hand. Th,
ball was from 81 calibre revolver
The mother and daughter showed
no grief, no excitement and talket
right along. / saw Mrs. Collin
cry Monday evening little. sh,
said she didn't see why her hus
band would borrow s4OO whel
they were SO poorly able to pay it.
Court convened at $50 o'clocI
this morning with no spectators
1t was not long, however, before til,
idle curious or interested specta