The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-02-24
DEATH SENTENCE PASSED.
PATRICK ]. COLLINS, THE WIFE,
MURDERER, MUST HANG
ON MAY 3 NEXT.
HE SET HIS HEART ON April
13, BUT THE Law WOULD
NOT HAVE IT.

Once more Patrick J. Collins has been
sentenced to the extreme penalty of the
law, and unless the United States courts or
the hand of Providence intervenes between
now and May 3 next he will be hanged on
that date at San Quentin prison.
The courtroom was crowded when
Judge Belcher took his seat upon the bench
yesterday morning and called the case
against Collins. The prisoner had been
sitting chatting with his attorney, G. E.
Colwell; but when his case was finally
called before the court the air of uncon-
seriousness, evidently forced one, left him,
and an anxious, nervous look overspread
his face.
He was asked whether he had anything
to say why the sentence of the law should
not be imposed, and at the question Col
well rose and asked that the date for the
execution of the sentence be put al as dis
tant point as possible, as he intended to
take the case before the United States Su-
preme Court. That was his only request,
and then Judge Belcher reviewed the facts
OF the tragedy which preceded Collins ar
rest and conviction and which were to Gull
inmate on the scaffold. Collins had MUIR
dered his wife on October 8, 1898, without
provocatiOn, except that she would not
give him any of her hard-earned money.
the jury found him guilty of murder in the
first degree and left him to the sentence of
the court. Ali these facts were reviewed
in detail by the court, and then in con-
Guiding, he sentenced the prisoner to be
hanged between sunrise and sunset on May
3, 1895.
Collins, as soon as the court had finished
passing sentence, requested that instead of
May 3, April ID be substituted, as he had
| desire to be hanged on that date, if
hanged he were to be. The law sets the
minimum time between sentence and ex-
ecution at sixty days, however so his
peculiar request was not granted.
The court soon had become so filled with
people before Collins was called for SEN
| tence that Judge Belcher had had the
doors closed and locked, and upon this
point Colwell based an exception. The
sentence was part of the trial and his
client had the right of publicity granted to
him by the constitution Locking the
doors, he thought, was an infringement of
this constitutional right. Judge Belcher
explained his reasons for ordering the door
locked, and they were made part of the
record, along with the exception.
Collins has grown quite religious during
| the months of incarceration in the County
Jail. His application to have the date Of
his execution fixed for April II instead of
May was based on a religious sentiment
IF it is Gods will that l shall de-
said Collins at the County Jail last night,
it makes no difference whether it takes
place in April or May. | am ready at any
time. My conscience is clear. hope that
the men who swore against me, making
my children orphans and allowing my
wife's murderer to escape, will have as
clear conscience when they come to die
as | have tonight. God is good and mer-
ciful. 1 put my trust in him.
Collins is earnest and sincere in his re-
hgious feelings, and his application was
the result of his desire to die ON Good
Friday, which falls on April II.