Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-11
LOVED HIS HALF SISTER.
Henry Collins Attempts Suicide When
Told of the Relationship.

The attempted suicide of Henry Collins, a
nineteen-year-old lad, who lives in Irvington,
a pretty suburb of Newark, NJ, early last Sat-
urday evening, created a profound sensation,
and has developed remarkably romantic story
OF real life. The Collins homestead, which is
one of the oldest and most familiar land marks
in the village, stands within stones throw OF
Railway river on West Clinton avenue. The
estate is a valuable one and embraces several
hundred acres of land. Fifteen wears ago
Thomas,A. Collins, the father of Henry, died,
leaving his family fortune of $50 600. Three
years before his death he had married a Sec
ond wife. She was Mrs. Emily Goodwin, a
young and attractive Brookly n widow, who had
sustained herself and infant niece after her
husbands death by reading proof in the Office
of the Brooklyn Eagle, upon which her hus-
band had been q reporter.
The couple went to live at the Irvington
homestead. The next year son was born to
them. They had no other children. and as his
frs. wife had left him chiidless, Mr. Collins
whole heart was in this son, who afterward
grew to be q bright and promising boy. Mrs.
Collins niece, who was known as Nellie Rich
ardson and was Harry's senior by two years,
years went by their childish affection ripened
into love.
In July, 1888, Henry, then youth of sev1l-
teen, acknowledged to his mother that he fad
won the consent of his cousin Nellie to ,tEme
his wife. The lad could not understand his
mothers CONSERVATION at his avowal, and when
she advised him in tremulous tones to wait a
little while Henry readily consented aud agreed
to proposition to 20 abroad for a year or two
and see the world. The parting between Nellie
and her sweetheart was a trying one, but with
the assurance that he would return and claim
her he started.
Saturday, stalwart and Drowned, Henry
landed in New York, and made his way home as
rapidly as steam could carry him. At O'Clock
mother and son were locked in each others
arms. while Miss Richardson stood by ard sur
veyed the pair with streaming eyes Half an
hour later, while the young people were seated
in front Of the house, a servant brought word
that Mrs. Collins desired to see her son. He
went to her room and was astounded to find
her PROSTATE in tears upon the bed. The
mothers apparent grief for a time was unoon-
troliable, but finally, and while Henry sat upon
the bedside with his arm about her waist she
told story that filed him with horror and de-
spair.
In substance the stricken woman confessed
that she was not . widow when she married
Henry's father; that she had imposed upon the
lattsr's credulity and love, aud that the Cir
whom he had promised to marry was her owr
daughter aud the offspring Of man who had
betrayed her. When the truth Of what be had
heard dawned upon him young Collins rushed
madly from the room and out into the fields .,
report Of pistol wss heard by Miss Richard
son a. she sat upon the veranda, and With ,
startled cry she hurried through the hallway Z
the rear door just a. Mira Collins Jew past and
dArtsd down the lane leading 70 the open Geld
beyond.
The agony Of the hearthroken mother and O
the girl who followed can scarceiy be con
ceived, when, upon reaching the old elm in th,
center OF the field adjoining the house, youns
Henry was found PROSTATE upon the erouns
with tho blood oozing from an ugly vouus
above the left temple. Collins was carried int
| the house and an examination showed that thl
bullet had not gone into the brain, but hsl
passed ont Of the head just sbovs the point o
entrance, end that the wound would not prov,
fatal Later he was reported e resting con
| fogtably and out Of danger.