The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-06-05
To-Day They Will Be Taken to Michigan
City and Delivered to the Warden
of the Northern Prison.
FRANCIS A. GIVEN TEN YEARS
While Percival B. Will Expiate
His Crime i'm Half that Time.
Reed Released on Suspended Sentence
and Bond-Scenes in the Court
Room and County Jail.

1t was just $50 O'Clock yesterday after
noon when prison doors closed for
the first time upon Francis A. and Percival
q. Coffin. This was the hour at which
they arrived at the county jail. accom-
panied by their wives and Miss Maria Bax-
ter They were brought TO the jail by
Marshal Hawkins and Chief Deputy John
Foley. A few minutes before that hour
the Marshal had telephoned turnkey Col
Inns to be ready TO receive the prisoners.
They walked to the Jail and arrived there
at the hour named. Marshal Hawkins en-
tered the jail Office first. and Immediately
behind him was +. A Coffin with his wife.
Both were introduced to Mr. Collins Then
came Deputy Foley. p. B. Coffin and wife
and Miss Baxter. An were introduced TO
the jailer as they entered, and anyone not
knowing the persons entering would think
they constituted a party visiting the jail
for sightseeing. There was about their
manner nothing to indicate that anything
out of the ordinary was connected with
their visit. Even the ladies We're at
that time calm. Mrs f. A Coffin
was dressed in black and wore a veil
while both the other ladies were attired in
blue. They all took seats upon the couch
In the office. and Marshal Hawkins called
turnkey Collins to one side and conversed
with him for few minutes in a low tone.
Then the marshal and his deputy bade their
prisoners adieu and departed. The two men
were then left to talk with their wives for
short time and the whole party engaged
In conversation In low tones. IL was evil
dent from their manner that the subject
was one OF great moment TO them. While
f. A. Coffin stood by the door talking with
his wife the other three sat upon the couch
and serious though the situation was the
ever-present smile was noticed playing
about Percy's mouth. All OF the women
showed that they had been weeping during
the afternoon, though they were calm at
the time. An observer could imagine that
the three sitting upon the couch We're not
thinking Of disagreeable subjects alone. for
frequently they were seen to smile at some
remark OF p. b. Collins.
short time after the arrival of the
party a messenger brought a message to
F. A. Coffin TO the Jail. He was out in
the corridors OF the jail at the time. and
bis wife broke the seal and read the
telegram. She then took IL TO her husband,
who read ii with the deepest interest The
contents OF the telegram are unknown.
but IL evidently contained important news
to the Collins, for all of them read IL and
1T seemed to be the sole suDJece OF conver-
sation from the time Of its receipt. few
minutes afterwards John. Roberts came in
and IL was shown to him. He ventured
some suggestion to which Mrs. +. A. Cof-
fin answered mo" very emphatically.
Within few minutes after John Roberts
came to the Jail his son. John NJ. Roberts
appeared. He spoke TO all the persons pres
ent, whispered TO p. Il. Coffin, and then
bade them all goodbye. In the meantime
II ID -..fEo ~f-4~ a.. In...
were endeayoring to decide upon what they
wished to order for supper. The bill OF
fare was finally arranged. 1t was as fol-
lows: Beefsteak, potatoes stewed in cream,
bread and butter, strawberries and tea and
coffee for five. and was ordered from q
restaurant in the vicinity. After the bill
of fare had been arranged p. b. Ceffin
came over to where a trio of reporters
were standing and spoke to them In his
usual pleasant manner
A few minutes before o'clock the men
were conducted to their cells They oc-
cupy cells Nos 2 and in the east section
Of the south cell house. These cells are
on what is known as murderers' row, and
cell No. 2, which is occupied by +. A
Coffin, is the one that Ed McAfee was
locked in while he was held here waiting
his second trial for the murder Of druggist
EySter. The LADIES accompanied the pr1S-
oners to their cells. and all were permit
ted to remain in the corridors till the men
were locked up. Between and O'Clock
the supper ordered was brought in and
served to them in the corridors OF the jail
After Ii was over the Collins remained with
their wives till about 8 o'clock, when they
were locked up for the night the same
other prisoners. John Roberts and several
relatives called at the jail after supper
and remained till the locking-up process
was over. The parting was not in any way
affecting No tears were shed. and IL was
in no wise such a parting as Is usually
witnessed between a and his wife
while the latter is in Jail.
There will be quite large party accom-
pany the two prisoners to Michigan City
to-day. A number OF relatives and friends
have signifed their intention of going. and
their wives will remain with them until they
begin upon their long sentences United
States Marshal Hawkins and Deputy Mar
shall John Foley viii be in charge Of the
prisoners, and will leave either at 12:01
via the Monon, or 1:20 on the Lake Erie
& Western.