Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-07-17
NEGRO COLLINS ON TRIAL
May Be Difficult to Convict Him
 of Murdering Student Ohl.
PRINCETON STUDENTS TESTIMONY.
Collins Could Remember but Little of What Occurred = The Students Were Armed With Fence Tickets and Say They Were Lured Into a Hallway.

WhRC occurred - The Students Were
 Armed With Fence Tickets and Say
 They Were Lured Into a Hallway.
 TRENTON, July 1.-The trial of John Collins for the murder of Frederick Ohl at Princeton was continued, and Cochran and Scott, his companions at the time of the shooting, were the principal witnesses
 Their evidence produced the impression that it will be impossible to convict either Collins or his partner, Downes, because neither of the students could give direct evidence that the defendants made any insulting remarks or that he did use the expressions credited to him by the prosecu- tor.
 It was shown by these two witnesses that there had been considerable drinking at Anderson,s restaurant The witnesses had lager beer. Ohl had none.
 Garrett Cochran, the Williamsport stu dent, who was shot in the face, gave tes- timony first. Much that was needed could not be told because of his defective mem ory, caused by the excitement through which he has passed. In the direct testi- mony he gave the details of the three stu dents meeting Collins and his friend Downes.
 Student Cochran Cross Examined.
 Senator Daly, continuing the examina- tiOn of Student Cochran, asked about the details of the first meeting of the students and the negroes. Cochran said that at the time there were some bitter words on both sides, but he could not remember what was said, except that Ohl said, We don't want to fight with you fellows.'' When the altercation was over, the students went to fence and got pickets. These were not strong enough, and they went across the fn of hut ,1; Jo I1 cause there was a woman on the porch where they intended to pull the second pickets. They got the pickets to defend themselves. Senator Daly asked if the col ored men were in sight then. No, sir, |" said Cochran. 'Then why did not you fellows go home?'
 II can't say,'' replied Cochran, "except the same reason why one does not go home any other night.''
 'When you students got the pickets and did not go home, were you looking for an opportunity to defend yourselves?''
 No, sir, but we were afraid we might be attacked
 This concluded the testimony of Coch- ran, and then John M Scott of Frank fort, Ky, the student who was with Ohl and Cochran when Collins and Downes were met the first time, was called. He testified that when he and Ohl and Coch- ran were passing the colored men some thing was said by the latter, and that the students stopped to ascertain what it was and whether it was intended as an insult There was general talk, in which he took part but he could not recall any words except that Ohl tried to act the peacemak- CT. At the second meeting in front of An dcrson's something was said but he could not recall what it was. The negroes went into the hallway, and Ohl and Cochran followed Witness was too excited to re member what followed, except that he heard the shots.
 Thompson Heard the Shots.
 William Thompson, a brother of John Thompson, the boarding house keeper. who testified in the morning. was the next witness. He heard the shooting and going to the scene aided his brother in taking Collins in charge until the prisoner was turned over to an officer. An adjourn meut was then had
 Senator Daly cross examined the stu dent, and began by drawing out of him the facts that he was a trained athlete weighing from 156 to 16O pounds, and had played ln the big football games, and was close to feet high. He then made him stand beside Collins who looked like a midget in comparison. Prosecutor Stock ton was somewhat nettled at the object lesson.
 No amount of cross examination could make it clear that Collins had used threat ening words before the trouble. John NJ. Scott of Frankfort, Ky, the third student, had also defective memory. He was the first to notice Collins mutterings, and turned to him to try and find out what he was talking about. Scott denied that they were drunk. He had been drinking beer, he said He denied that he "hated nig- gers' when Counsellor Beaslcy put the question, after asking him about his home in Kentucky.