The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-16
Has Disappeared, This Time
Apparently For Good.
Collins Case Likely Never to
Be Tried
IF JOHNSON JORDAN
Is Not Found in Time For the
Trial.
A Continuance Now the First
Thing Necessary.

Johnson Jordan, that slippery colored
individual whose presence is so neces-
sary in the trial of John Collins for the
murder of his father is gone and for the
first time since the preliminary hearing
the attorneys for the prosecution have
no knowledge of his whereabouts.
Unless Jordan is found before Novem-
Der %, the day set for the opening of the
trial. it will be necessary for the coun-
ty attorney to ask for continuance,
for it is around Jordan that is built the
structure of circumstantial evidence
upon which the attorneys for the prose-
cution rely for the conviction of John
Collins.
County Attorney Jetmore is not in To-
peka today, but Attorney H. C. Samord
who is associated with him in the con-
duct of the case admitted that Jordan
is not to be found. He refused to say
more on that subject, but limited that
more might be told than he was willnS
to reveal
1t is unfortunate that man of the
known character of Jordan should be
such an important witness in this case
He has been arrested repeatedly and
less than a month ago was an jan fat
Newton for gambling with threatened
penitentiary sentence hanging over him
Through the influence of County Attor-
ney JetmOre he was released ana came
to Topeka.
After Jordan was released from jail
at Newton but little attention was paid
to him, but week ago when the officers
he was not to be found. The people in
his old haunts said they did not know
where he had gone. Sheriff Cook con-
tinued the search, but up till today not
a single trace of him has been discover
ed A hint was received Tuesday that
he had been seen at Alma and the oftl-
GERS are there today prosecuting the
search
It is believed that Jordan has left the
state to avoid testifying, but up to the
time of his disappearance he had always
expressed Willingness ana even de-
termination to be in Topeka for the trl-
al Of John Collins. He has seemed anX-
ious to testify and his actions are to say
the least, mysterious.
John WilkersOn, who is interested
with the defense said that he understood
that Jordan was gone but said he knew
nothing about him.
The Consequence of the disap appearance
of Jordan may be so far reaching that
John Collins will never be tried, or IL
tried, will be acquitted If Jordan can
not be found within six months the at
torneys for Collins will demand trial
and the county attorney may either re-
fuse to try the case in the crippled con-
dition of the prosecution or may be
forced into a trial which could have
but one result-the acquittal of John
Collins.
The most damaging evidence against
John Collins is the famous Johnson Jor-
dan letter. This is the letter which John
Collins is alleged to have written to
Jordan urging him to do the work
and that letter which is corrOborative
of Johnson Jordan's story goes farther
to prove that John Collins wanted his
father put out of the way than anything
else in the case The story of dis
reputable character like Johnson Jor-
| dan would amount to but little unsup-
| ported by cOIrOborative testimony but
| with the letter and the testimony of
| several other negroes it becomes 50
/ dangerous that practically the whole
| case rests upon the shoulders of John
! son Jordan.
! The johnson Jordan letter can not be
| introduced in evidence unless Johnson
! Jordan is present at the trial There is
/ no one to furnish the necessary ground
| work for the Introduction of the letter
/ and the court would not admit it. With
| out johnson Jordan the testimony of
! Jesse Harper and Joe SmOthers is fiat
| and of little value. With Jordan out
! of the way John Collins can see the
light of his liberty only a short distance
| away.
It is most important to John Collins
/ that Johnson Jordan should not be
found. It is most important to County
| Attorney Jetmore that Johnson Jordan
| should be found.