The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-07-16
FOR NUMBERING OIL
Negro Collins on Trial for
the Death of the Young
Princeton Student
HIS THREATS IN EVIDENCE
Said He Would "Make 'em Smell
Hell"-Scenes on the Fatal
Night.
HIS THREATS In EVIDENCE

TRENTON, July 16, 1S95.-The trial of
John S. Collins, the negro who shot
and killed Frederick p Oil, a Prince
ton student, and at the same time at
tempted to kill Garret Cochran, another
student, was proceeded with in the Mer-
Ger Court this morning. Cochran ar
rived from his home in Williamsport.
Pa.
Prosecutor Stockton opened the case
for the State by sketching briefly the
fracas which resulted in the murder.
The trouble happened at 10 O'Clock ON
the night of June 8. Oil and Cochran
were accompanied at the time by John
Scott, another student They met Col
Inns and another negro, named Steve
Downs on Withergreen street. They had
words there and little later again ON
another part of the same street, but no
blows were struck According to Prose-
cutor Stockton's recital the negroes fol-
lowed the students to Anderson's res
taurant where Collins drew his revolver
and after shooting and wounding Coch-
ran ne turned upon Oil and fatally shot
him. Obi died four or five days later.
The students had been warned by a
citizen against Collins, the first time the
party met that night. Collins had been
displaying his revolver about town ana
threatened to fix anybody who bothered
him.
Professor Frederick McMillen of
Princeton, who made a map diagram of
the premises where the shooting oc-
Cured, was the first witness called and
he explained the diagram John Thomp-
son, keeper of a students boarding
house on Witherspoon street, was next
called and testified to witnessing the
first quarrel, which occurred nearly op-
posite his house. One of the students
said: you put away that pistol and l
can lick you." 1t was dark and the wit
ness could not say which of the students
used the words or to whom they were
addressed. Collins, in reply, said he
could lick either one of them" One
Of the students, offered to fight, but a
companion exclaimed, "What do YOU
want to light a niger with a pistol for?
You have nothing to defend yourself
wi With" This ended the words between
street, where the quarrel was resumed.
The witness advised the negroes to go
about their business and Collins said
"If the bother me- I'll make 'em
smell hell
The students went to Anderson's hotel
then, the negroes arriving there at the
L
Tearby. and suddenly he heard shooting.
First one report and almost ;mmedia-
tely two more in quick successioni Just
before the shooting he heard Collins
shout, s"Come in here you - and I'll
fix YOU
he The witness and his brother. struggled
with Collins, who had done the shoot
ing, and caused his arrest.
The Witness was cross-examined by
Counsellor Beasley; He denied that he
was professional gambler, but ad-
Thompson. The second time he saw the
students that ght they were breaking
sticks. The sticks were three foot pail
and carried them swinging in their
hands, A blacksmith named Gerger was
to see the trouble out because he was was
interested in the colored man Downs.
whom he was going to employ. He did
Thompson could not say when the Stu l.
dents entered Anderson's hotel, or
whether. they still carried the palings
entered the place hastily, Collins hav-
ing invited them in with an oath and a
threat.
William A. Margerum. a quarryman,
who was on the scene of The killing
shortly after. It occurred, testified that he
shai Iantz had hold of him on one side
and the witness on the other. Collins
made an effort to escape from them but
said nothing. Ine witness saw pdHHSS
afterward as they were delivered to the
Marshal, but he saw nothing of the pal
ingls at Anderson's.
Seminary, saw the students and the
negroes enter Anderson's and heard the
pistol reports, but his testimony was un-
William F. Burns, of Evanston, H., q
member of THE graduating class at
Princeton this year, was the next wit
ness. He was attracted to Anderson $
restaurant by the shooting. He ran to
the place and heard Oil exclaim: My
God, Tn shot" He heard Cochran too
his revolver from him. The Thompsons
then overpowered Collins and procured