The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-26
EVERYBODY CARED
But John Collins When the
Verdict of Guilty
Was Pronounced by the Jury
Christmas Eve.
HE WAS UNCONCERNED
As Much So as When He Gazed
StOlidly
At the Clothing Stained With
His Fathers Blood.
is HE A MONSTROSITY? ?
Young Collins Seems to Be Alb
sOlutely Without Feeling.
He COOlly Lights a Half Burnt
Cigar and Smokes.
As Much So as When He Gazed
StOlidly
At the Clothing Stained With
His Fathers Blood.
is HE A MONSTROSITY? ?
Young Collins Seems to Be Alb
sOlutely Without Feeling.
He COolly Lights a Half Burnt
Cigar and Smokes.

John Henry Collins is a murderer, ac-
cording to the verdict of the y jurymen,
who for four long weeks sat in the jury
box in the Shawnee county district
court room
His victim was his father, James S.
Collins, who was shot to death in his
bed at 5 o'clock on the morning of the
18th Of last May.
A verdict of guilty of murder in the
first degree was brought in by the
jury at ten minutes past o'clock Sat
urday night. Five minutes later the
verdict was read to John Collins.
He heard it without the slightest show
Of emotion His countenance never
ouiver-ed and he looked straight at
Judge 9azen through his goId-rimmed
spectacles as he slowly pronounced the
fatal words
Attorney Charles Hayden sat directly
behind him. AS Judge Hazen concluded
he rose to his feet. Il wish to give no
tice Of a motion for a new trial. he
said.
Judge Hazen nodded his acceptance
of the notice and turned to the jury to
instruct the members concerning their
Collins let his eyes wander in the direc-
ton OF the jury box, and listened with
apparent interest to the incidental re-
marks Judge Hazen was making. His
manner was that of a casual outsider
and not of the principal in the crininal
drama just closing.
1t was not so with John Collins, his
uncle. and Grant Meade, his step
brother who had accompanied him to
the court room. The head of the uncle,
as he heard the verdict, dropped TO his
breast and he covered his face with his
hand When he removed it to leave the
court room tears dimmed his eyes and
his steps faltered. Grant Meade's gaze
fell from the face oe Judge Hazen to
the floor as he heard the verdict, and
seemed riveted there The expression
on his face was one of mental agony
As the jury filed out of the jury box
John Collins turned and cOnversed with
Mr.. Hayden for few moments. Then
both rose and walked out of the court
room. followed by the uncle and step
brother The step of John Collins as
ne walked from the court house to the
county Jail was as firm as on any day
OF the four weeks he traversed the
identical path on his journeys to ana
from the court room.
He said good night to Mr.. Hayden as
he reached the entrance of the jan
Walking up the steps beside Sheriff
Cook he remarked with a smile:
This is awful Christmas present
for me. isn't it, sheriff %
From 10 minutes past o'clock in the
afternoon up to the moment Judge
ITazen read the verdict the fate of John
Collins hung in the balance as far as he
and the public knew As the hands OF
the clock in the district court room
marked the quarter past the fourth
hour OF the afternoon the twelve jury
men filed out of their box, through the
door of the court room. across the mar
hall and into the small 1I1TW room
adjoining the chambers of Judge Hazen
Just five hours later the result of their
deliberations was announced
AS the jurors disappeared through the
court room door something that sound
ed like an exclamation of relief went
up from the hundreds of spectators
crowded together on the floor and in the
balcony 1t was succeeded a moment
later by a rush and a roar of voices as
the great crowd started to pour out
Into the halls of the court house and
make its exit from the building.
John Collins was shaking hands with
his attorneys. His mother and sister
and relatives were about him. I don't
see how they can help acquft me- he
said. hut they may disagree
For hVe or ten minutes he chatted
with his attorneys and with relatives
and friends standing with one foot on
q chair, and now and then Mrs. Collins
and Grace Collins would take part in
the conversation There was not face
among the group gathered about the
young defendant that did not wear a
smile and cheerful expression, and
Tnong them all his smile was the
oroadest and his expression the cheer
lest. If he or his mother or sister. or
any one of those around him anticipated
the verdict that was to come, it was
impossible for an observer to detect it.
Soon Mrs. Collins gathered her cape
about her and moved away from the
group Grace Collins followed her and
the chatting ceased. One by one the
friends about John Collins shook hands
with him and followed the relatives
through the narrow hall behind the
court room and out into the corridors
of the court house. John Collins. in
company with Sheriff Cook, brought up
the rear, and reaching the first floor of
the building made a short cut to the
Jail out of the east door and across Van
Buren street.
While the majority of the people
gathered in the court room when the
case was concluded and given to the
jury, left Immediately, scores of spec
tators remained in the room and about
the hall to get last look at the de-
fendant. Even after he left the court
house a number stfll remained clinging
to the idea that the jury would return
a verdict within an hour.