Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-06-29

left and Jess came up to where was
working and showed me stud or
pin or something like that. He said
TO me: See this?' / said yes. WELL
he said, that's diamond. That white
guy just give it to me- / didn't be-
lieve it was diamond and didn't pay
much attention to it."
This was The first testimony during
the hearing that tended to connect
Collins with the negroes, Jordan and
Harper, the principal witnesses of the
prosecution.
The cross examination of Carter by
the attorneys for Collins was con-
Quoted rather savagely, but the negro
stuck to the story and was not en-
barrasse6. Carter is a very respec-
table looking negro. He has a good
reputation in Lawrence.
The fourth witness was Kitty
Smothers, a bright negro girl of
Lawrence. She makes an ideal wit
ness, and her testimony could not be
shaken by the defense, even though
the effort made to do so was strong
one.
She had just arrived from Law
reEce, and when she reached the door
of the court room County Attorney
Jetmo-e met her and said: Look in
there and see whe t'her YOU can point
out John Collins" Iier black eyes
surveyed the audience ,and she said:
"Yes, see him. There he is" point
fng to the young man.
She was put on the stand immedi-
nj
pointed out and identified John Col
Inns.
She was uncertain as to dates, but
was positive in everything else.
Have you seen that young man
before?" asked Mr.. Jetn,ore.
Yes"
Where did you see him?"
at my home in Lawrence"
How many times did you see him
at your home in Lawrence?"
Three times"
She then told how John Collins
called at her house one evening sew
eral weeks ago and held a conversa-
ton with her brother, Joe. a few
nights afterward Collins came again,
and, finding Joe absent, left note
with her for him. The following
morning she went into Joe's pocket
and found the note. To her best
recollection, the note read: Joe.
Keep mum for some time; it may be
worth your while"
The next night Joe told her that
the young mans name was John Col
Inns, and added: Il don't know what
that young fellow wants me to keep
mum about, because l don't know
anything"
Later, when Joe was going to st.
Joseph to work, she heard him say:
Il will keep that letter"
County Attorney Jetmore showed
her letter and she said: 81 think
the paper was better than that, but
the style and contents are the same y
The defense insisted that the letter
should be marked for Identification
County Attorney Jetmore objected
and withdrew the question by which
the letter was introduced.
Charles Hayden, for the defense
made speech, saying that the life
of his client was in jeopardy and that
| the great state of Kansas should not
|
| the facts from being brought out.
County Attorney Jetmore had good
reasons for not permitting the letter
to go before the eyes of other law
yers. but he finally consented.
Mr.. Hayden then cross-examined
| Miss Smothers severely, but he could
| not break down the substance of her
| testimony. She refused to say thai
what she stated about the contents
of the letter was absolutely correct
but was correct in substance. She
was satisfied that the expression 'i
may be worth your while" was in the
| letter. in substance.
| The letter then was given to {
| Times reporter, and its exact con
/ tents are as follows:
Joe, keep mum if anything comes
up; will make it worth your while.-
| Turner Hail."
This letter was not written. 1t wa
| printed with pencil in nice, clean
well-shaped letters.
The fact of the ma tier is that thi
note is in the same style Of printed
letter, made by the same person, a
the letter now in the hands of w.
.Tamison. attorney for johnson Jor
dan. which. it is said, Collins sent t,
Jordan, claiming that he had pai'
him to kill his father and that tn
work was not done.
.Miss Smothers said that she did no
know that she would be a witnes
until last night. when she was sub
poenaed by Detective Hartburg, AM
had not stated TO anybody what tn
nature of her testimony would be.
Joe Smothers. light-colored ne
gro, who has lived for years in Law
renee, was the next witness.
+ He corroborated the story a'bou
the letter written by Turner Hall,
to which his sister testified in tn
forenoon, and identified the letter, I
was signed Turner Hail." eyidenti
from the fact that the guilty con
spiracy to which it referred was as
sociated with place known in Law
renee as Turner hall. He testifie
that he left Lawrence May %, an.
that his conversations with Collin
4 concerning Jesse Harper, were a
held about three weeks before tha
time.
He spoke about Collins calling o
him at his house, and told the stor
of their conversation as follows:
i Collins" he said, after identifyin
John Collins in the court reom, ahe
gan talking about going TO Miss Bal
cocks TO sing. Then he asked me
| I cotl36 keen n secret I told him