The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-18
THE CASE of JACK COLLINS.
Mysterious Young Man with Wealth
and Two Shooting Experiences.


and Two Shooting Experiences.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.
JEFFERSONVILLE Ind, Sept. H.
When court convenes Monday morning the
docket will contain some interesting cases.
The case of the State against John Collins,
charged with shooting Joseph Craycroft,
colored will come before the grand jury
for action. Collins was held over to the
Circuit Court by Magistrate Keigwin, after
claiming he had mistaken Craycroft for
burglar. He is the local swell young
man, concerning whose actions there is
much mystery. The son of an honest and
respected mechanic, he developed, a few
years ago, into a Beau Brummell, whose
equal had never before stirred the quiet
reign of Jeffersonville society. Mrs. Eliza
beth Whiting, a childless widow, with moth
ing to worry her but her money, moved to
Jeffersonville from New Orleans. She pur-
chased house and lot across the street
from the humble Collins residence, and
soon made the young mans acquaintance.
Collins at once became her general fact0-
tum, her secretary and advisor. A life of
elegant leisure opened up to him, and dur
ing her life his lot was a pleasant one.
Travelling from one end of the country to
the other with her on pleasure trips, he
learned the ways of the world, and when
he again appeared here he was able to give
all the ''chappies" pointers. He changed
costumes three times a day, had a valet
traps and carriages, rOadSterS and saddle
norses, ana retained regular apartments at
the Calf, Louisville.
Two years ago Mrs. Whiting died and Col
Inns was cut off with a paltry $500. Rela-
tives from Kentucky came in, and he was
forced to see them assume control where
before he had been the guiding genius. This
tn6 nTafn lNnfxr l.
new relatives. He retired in good order,
and 1t seemed that, in spite of the tempo
rary fall, his lucky star was still with him.
An old uncle. worth $4,000, died at the Gait
House, Louisville, and Collins was his prin-
clpal heir. Soon after another relative, an
aunt, passed away, and rumor had it that
ne secured a neat sum from her estate.
Be that as it may, he able to make
numerous trips to the mountains and pleas
uTe res resorts res,, during the past year, and
Newport and Long Branch. few months
ago he returned home, and since that time
has kept himself secluded from the gaze
of the public, except on two occasions.
Both of these were enbellished by shooting
scrapes.
The first was when he shot. and, it was
thought fatally wounded, Joe Craycroft.
Collins claimed that the negro was trying
to break into his house.. but his victim says
that Collins sent for him to carry some
packages over the river. At least. Justice
Kelgwin took the Negroes word and held
Collins over to the higher court On
more recent occasion the police were called
to Collins's residence and found him suffer-
ing from serious wound in the wrist He
claimed that burglar entered his house
and he was awakened by the noise Hastily
donning his pyjamas, hs entered the room
and boldly attacked the visitor, receiving
the wound. The opinions of the officers and
detectives do not exactly agree as to de-
tails. The burglar has never been appre-
hended. So far as learned, nothing was
on the street, though seen occasionally on
his front gallery" as he styles the little
porch attached to his fathers residence
The outcome Of the trial is awaited with
interest.