The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-12-17
COLLINS Own STORY
From Extravaganza to Debt,
and Debt to Gambling.
BUNcoED BY NEGROES
His Demeanor on the Stand
That of One innocent.

murder of his father, was the first witness
put up by the defense in his own behalf
this morning. His vote trembled as he
talked. He was very nervous. He told
about the allowance his father gave him
while at school He said SIS month was
the regular sum, but it was not his limit
ana ne spent more.
81 worked during the summer OF 1884,
said John. ''The agreement was that l
was to get 81 a week from my father for
working in his Office. L frequently came
home during my school days The only
protest my father made was that L did
not come oftener. In my first year he
wanted me to come home every night.
My father favored that plan, but my
mother thought 1 had better stay at the
college.
what was your fathers treatment of
vou?'
Johns voice trembled and shook so that
it seemed that he would break down COM
pletely.
MY father from my earliest childhood
'-My father. from the earliest time till
his death was very solicitous of my well
fare. He was liberal in the way of money.
He made no objection to my smoking or
drinking moderately. or playing cards.
Ibid you ever have trouble with your
fsther?''
mot what I would call trouble. Some
times we had slightmisunderstandin
Were you a great deal in his society?'
'T was a very great deal in his society"
''Were you and he fond of each others
society?"
81 always thought he was fond of being
with me. I know that was fond of be-
ing with him and always was with him
when / could be-" John told, in answer
to questions. all about his money dealings
with his father
Explain TO the jury why your expenses
for the third year of your college increas-
ed"
"weH. didn't know the value of money
my fathers circumstances became
Strengthened I did not consider it as
ought to have done I should have been
more economical"
did you go into society in Lawrence?"
"Not to any great extent. 1 went around
and visited my friends
did you play cards or gambler"
ct did play little, but only with my
schoolmates. The most I ever ga;nbled
was one night when was waiting for a
poker and I was very lucky and won 81
what would your whole winnings ag-
gregate?"
WELL altogether in my life don't think
won or lost much. think it was about
even. The most 1 ever won was these 1
just mentioned. used to bet fifty cents
on the college ball games. Once L bet s.
on Mckinley and s. on Morrill,. lost on
Morrill, and won on Mckinley, so that was
about even
when did you become acquainted with
Miss Babcock?"
81 forget the exact date. have known
Were you close personal friends?"
yes. sir
You accompanied her to balls and part
les and called on her frequently?''
ayes. SIR
do you know Joe Smothers?"
Eyes. sir 1 have known him quite while.
| He used to come to the Beta house with
negro quartette to sing. He was con-
tortoinist and boxer and used to give us
exhibitions"
''Were you at Smother's house about the
last week in April?"
Il was there about that time. I went
TO get Joe to take the quartette to the
4 home of Miss Babcock to sing. I suppose
It was the sister of Smothers' who met me
at the door. 1t was some woman She
| showed me in and 1 met Smothers and
engaged him to go and sing He spoke
| to me then about my owing him a little
eli 7 told ], T
but would pay him when l got it.
This seemed 10 give Smothers an idea
He said he knew how I could make a lot
o. money. I asked him how He asked
me why I didn't get some OF the Niger
! crap shooters TO gamble for me. said
I supposed he was thinking about himself
He said no he was thinking about Jess
| Harper was the best crap shooter in Law
! renee. I was not acquainted with Jess
J had never seen him. l tod Smothers I
| did not care TO go into the scheme
ashamed Of. He said Jess had gamhled
| for lots of the young fellows at the school
| He said he was going down town that
night and would go 10 Harvey's restaur-
| ant and see If he could find Jess. and
would have him meet me-. l told him I
/ did not care 10 meet Jess but he said
/ II could do no harm. and al last we agreed
to meet al Turner Hall Harper was to
give the Beta whistle when he met me at
! Turner Hail.
Il went TO Turner Hall that night and
Smothers met me and said he had been to
! Harvey's and jess was not there He pro-
posed that l go to Harper's house the next
morning and see Jess. He said Jess would
be home at O'Clock in the morning. I
did not go 20 Harper's house the next
morning. The next evening 1 met Joe
Smothers in front Of his house as ! was
passing and he said he had been taking TO
Jess about me. and jess was anxious to
80 in the scheme with me. He said Jess
was the fairest and squarest niger in
Lawrence. and there was no chance OF los