The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-06-10
UNDER ARREST
John Collins is Again Taken
Into Custody
For the Murder of His Father
May 18th.
A CURIOUS STORY
That May Have Been Hatched
by Smoky Row Negroes,
Partially Responsible For the
Latest Arrest.
THE TALES UNLIKELY
To Be Given Credence Unless
Backed by Other Evidence.
Some Mysterious Matters That
Need Clearing Up, However.

N0ou CI0dfIHS Up, hOWeNeE'
John H. Collins. son of the late ]. S.
| Collins, was arrested last evening at
| $50 o'clock by Sheriff Porter S. Cook
| on warrant charging him with the
murder of his father on the morning
| of Friday, May 13, at his home, 615
Van Buren street.
| The arrest was made on a complaint
| signed by Sheriff Cook. Justice w. s.
! McClintock issued the warrant. County
Attorney A. P. JetmOre issued the COM
plant.
The news of the arrest of the young
| man causes much speculation by those
| who know somewhat of the case and
| by friends of the family. The friends
are still 10th to believe him guilty of
| the terrible crime. The officers have
| been secretly at work on the case since
! the apparent dropping of it, and as
| result of their efforts there has been
drawn about John Collins web of cir
| cumstantial evidence which seems very
! strong. In addition to this there is
| likelihood that evidence of a direct ma
| ture to show the motive and intention
! of the crime is now in the possession of
| the authorities.
| Johnson Jordan, a notorious coIOred
| tough who used to inhabit Smoky Row,
and Jesse Harper, cOlOred tough of
| Lawrence who spent several months in
Smoky Row, have been arrested, charg-
| ed with completely in the crime. Jor-
dan was arrested yesterday at Newton
where he had fed and was living with a
| colored woman, said to be his wife.
The arrest was made by Detective
| Dell Harbough, of the Furlong detec-
! tive agency at st. Louis. When he
| searched the house occupied by Jordan
at Newton the watch was found, which
| has been identified as belonging to John
| Collins. This bears out the theory of
| the officers in regard to John Collins
| having made an agreement with Jor-
| dan to have the deed committed and to
! have the watch in payment.
| Jesse Harper was arrested at Law
! renee and brought to Topeka. He and
! Jordan We're locked in cells in the lower
| floor of the county Jail. John H. Col
| Inns was found at the office of d. w.
| Nellis and taken by Sheriff Cook to the
| county Jail where he was locked in a
cell on the third story.
| Today when seen by State Journal
| reporter he refused to have anything
| whatever to say of the case against
| him When asked questions he would
| reply: 'In not say anything now"
| He did admit, however, that he had
| purchased a revolver at shop near
| the Throop hotel but said he did not
| know now where it was. Further than
| this he refused to answer questions,
| giving as his reason: MY attorney or
| dered me not to say anything, and un-
| til he gives me permission L shall not
J discuss this affair"
| In the cell where Collins is confined
| his folks had sent bed clothing, rugs, a
! Navajo blanket, lamp, and other things.
| It was noticeable today that he has
| not the composure which he had dur
| ing the ordeal of the inquest and sub
| sequent to it. He appeared nervous
| and agitated today, and this was no
| ticed by those who called upon him.
| From statements claimed to have
| been made by Johnson, Jordan and
| Jesse Harper and corroborated by
| Crook Wright of this city, Detective
Harbough and Chief Detective Kinney,
| of the Santa Fe, claim4 to have con-
| elusive evidence against Collins which
| will prove that he planned the murder
| of his father, and that he gave Jordan
| his solid gold watch and Harper his
| diamond stud to do the work. IN addl-
| ton to paying them money.
| The statements alleged to have been
| sworn to are to the effect that the col
| ored toughs f1inched from doing the
| bloody work and delayed until John
! Collins, so it is claimed, told them that
| if the work wasn't done on the night of
May II he would do it himself.
| 1t is known that John Collins went to
! Kansas City on the day before Dewey
! Day. in Topeka, and was in Topeka on
| Dewey Day. then went to Kansas
| City the day following. What he did
| found out as yet Who he saw while
| there is not known. 1t is known that
| he teIephoned to his sweetheart, Miss
| Frances Babcock from Kansas City on
| May 9. He is said to have told her
that he could not take her to Topeka
| on Dewey Day" as he had business of
Importance to transact in Kansas City.
| He is also reported to have told her
| that he was going to employ detectives
| to watch his house and protect his faith
| er This is one of the things he fatty
| refuses to discuss
Crook Wright, the proprietor of the
| toughest dive in Smoky Row, claims to
| have been a witness to the transaction
| at which Collins gave the watch to
! Jordan It is known that Collins was
| at Crook Wright's place more than
| once.
| II is stated by officers who have worked
| on the case that Collins lost his watch
and probably his diamond stud al Matt
| Ellison's place on lower Monroe street. a
| notorious disorderly house, and that the
| story of agreement to murder ]. s. Col
Inns is now made by the toughs to shield
| them from danger of being sent to the
| penitentiary for robbery. 1t is said that
| Collins told Jordan and Harper that in
| case anything should come out about the
| watch or stud. that they could say he lost
| them in a crap game
| John NJ. Wilkerson said today: THE
| clues in this case are strong against young
Collins. 1 don't think much reliance can
| be placed in the story of these colored
| toughs. 4 know that John Collins went
| to Kansas City the day before and the
| day after Dewey day but we have been
| unable to find out why he went or what
he did [ think he is weakening. Whether
it is from the horrible suspicion cast on
| him. don't know
| Chief Steele said: when they blamed
me for this failure to ferret out the crime
| colored mans story is true at all 1
! have contended all along that John Col