The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-04-28
KILLED HIS NEPHEW.
He Returns aid is Convicted.
atlanta Constitution.

L Ouo SaLulQny d1tcluood oCfCh yCoAo
| ago, Mr.. W. Nj. Easop, prosperous
farmer of Tattnall County, went over to
Cobbtown, little country village.
The place is noted for its bad reputa-
tion and on Saturday afternoons it is full
of the country youths from the section
surrounding it, drinking and lighting.
On this afternoon there WA an upusu-
ally large crowd in the village, and an
| unusual quantity of spirits was imbibed.
| Among those present were two young
| men, Ben. and Steve Collins, the former
being the uncle of the other.
They became involved in dispute and
| the uncle cut the nephew to death.
Mr.. W. NJ. Esson Was an eyewitness
to the killing.
He MAS in Atlanta yesterday to secure
pardon for Ben. Collins from the peni-
tentisry where be had been sent for the
murder of his nephew.
he was successful in his mission.
Mr.. Eason is one of the most promi-
nent citizens of Tattnall County and is a
cousin of Solicitor Tom Eason, OF the
Brunswick circuit.
The Collinses are near neighbors of his
and the two families are fast friends.
After young Ben. Collins had killed
his nephew, a young man about his own
age-seventeen years-he escaped in the
confusion that followed. BE went to
southern Florida, and hid himself for
time. His brother, whose son he had
killed, made every effort to bring him to
justice. A large reward WAS offered and
shrewd detectives We're put on his trail.
One of the ahrew(lest Of these sleuth
hounds got on the track of Ben. Collins
aud followed him to Florida. he found
Collins at a small place in the extreme
southern portion of the State. he did
not know Collins aud only had q descrip-
| ton of him, and as he was not sure of
his man be waited to secure positive evil
dence of bis identity. He made the &C
quaintance OF Collins and associated with
him for three days, but rs the young man
was under an assumed name he did not
arrest him. Collins knew the detective
and knew bis mission and watched his
opportunity to escape. For three days
none offered itself, the eagle eye of the
detective was always on him.
On the night of the third day the de-
tective lot sight of Collins for moment.
With all haste Collins slipped out OF the
room and ran off in the dark.
The detective came back and found
his man gone. This confirmed his sus-
picions, and summoning two or three
men he gave chase By chance they
took The same road Collins had taken
and were soou close upon his heels. Col.
lins heard them coming and no other
way of escape Offering itself he climbed
tree near the road and the men passed
him. Fer three days he hid himself in
the swamp and the detective, satisfied
that Collins WAS gone, left the place.
Collins uent from there to Texas i'm
mediately after this escape and began
the life of u cowboy.
After few months active work search
for Collins was given up and he was com.
paratively secure. Every man he met
he regarded with suspicion, fearing be
nigh. be detective. For four years he
roved from one place to another in the
Lone Star State and in all that period
the fear of capture and death never left
him. The fear of it grew nearly IS ter
rible as the actual experience. With the
years this fear increased. He was hag-
gard in appearance aud miserable at
heart.
One morning four years after the muir.
der at Cobbtown young man, unkempt
and With haunted look in his eyes,
knocked at the door of the County jail of
Tnttnal!.
When the sheriff came to the door the
young man recognized him at once and
greeted him familiarly, but the sheriff
stared blankly at him. BE didn't know
the wild looking young man before him.
"I'm Ben. Collins" the young man
said, "aud I'm come back to be tried.
It's awful to be hiding out rs have been
doing. had rather rome back and be
tried for it, even if they hang me. It's
been enough to drive me msd.'
The sheriff was lhunderstruck, out
what his wrstched visitor told him was
the truth. And when the news spread
over the County, there Vas great surprise.
After four years Ben. Collins was tried
for the murder of his nephew His fam.
lily, with the exception of bis brother,
whose son he had murdered, did every.
thing in their power for the young man.
! His brother did all he could to convict
him.
His family is well.to do and stands
high in the County, and perhaps 10 their
high standing is due the light sentence
young Collins received. He vas sent up
for four years. Three of them he has
already served.
A few weeks ago Mr.. Eason came to
Atlanta to get pardon for the young
man, but some one in the County had
l heard of bis effort, and had been at work
trying to stop it. He went back home
unsuccessful.
He came back yesterday for the second
time and the pardon was signed by the
Governor.
Armed with an order for the release of
Collins, Easou left the city last night for
Goodman, where Gress's camp is located.
He will take him back to his home to.
day.
BuCklens ArniC8 Salye