Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-12-11

dition, but of late had been in financial
straits. That he was IN constant lear OF
he told. on various occasions. of having
been held up, and particularly that he
was held up one evening near the starch
factory in this city. On another occasion
ne was followed by a colored man who
dodSed from tree to tree on Sixth avenue In
this. this city and Mr.. Collins, seeing MIN,
Grew a revolver, marched him into the
ilsnt ana found that he had large knife
IN his hands, and ordered him on. That
SONS. ana told of a colored man of whom
he was IN constant dread. That, although
a strong man physically and possessed of
vigorous manhood, he never appeared
on the street or outside his house or office
without having in his hand q loaded cane.
1 mat ne took unusual precautions IN lock-
ing his house at night; that not only did
ne lock the outside doors of his house, but
that lie slept with his bedroom doors locked
ana with TWO loaded revoivers under his
pillow. That when he was on the street
evenings he avoided all the dark alleys and
dark places, and usually took the outside
OF the walk or the middle of the street IN
oruef 10 avoid being attacked suddenly.
With regard 10 the defendant in this
case, We shall show that he was born and
raised in the city of Topeka; that he has
always borne an excellent reputation; that
MS associates have been among the very
pest people in Topeka, and he has never
been known TO associate with disreputabe
characters. That his standing in Law
renee was high, and his associates there
were among the best class of people In that
city: We shall show that he was popular
and had wide circle of acquaintance
among whom he was liked for his many
good qualities. - ".--.-@..r
"A young man who could deliberately kill
a kind and affectonate father must have
been Unfortunately selfish. We will show
you that when he was about years of
age his mother died. and that some time
atterward his father married Mrs. Meade,
the Mrs Collins who has appeared on the
stand in this case" -.-.-,
Mr.. Goddard spoke of the love Mrs. Col
hat. oil IoIy md
particularly the regard mutually, felt be-
tween father and son, and continued:
When John went to Lawrence to attend
scnool lie was given an allowance of SO
per month and this was continued as long
as he stayed there. He had never been
much accustomed to the handling of money
himself heavily in debt. This money was
not spent in drunkenness and iicentious-
confectionery, flowers, livery. extra wear
ing apparel for himself. and the like. He
suddenly recalled the financial straits of
his kind father and then came to him
probably the FIRST real temptation of his
life. and we must admit that he has COM
mittsd great, moral wrong which he
When he was in financial straits, Joe Smoth-
ers suggested to him that he had some
friends who We're successful in gambling
would get his money back with share of
the profits. The result was that he was
introduced to Jess Harper and the latter
and they together. by wiles and aytitices
which will be explained to you, snccs seded
in getting from the defendant s75 10 be
ing, that 1t should be returned to him
within a few days with one-half the prof.
After this, by the schemes used by con-
taence. men and TO which an older per-
son might have succumbeG, he was in
duced to, give up his watch, He soon
the victim of the confidence game and that
nothing was to be returned to him. Things
became worse and worse for him and fin
ally he returned home i'll on the 18th day
of May.
with regard to the homicide we will
show you that John was awakened by the
sound of the fatal shots. That he jumped
out of bed in a daZed condition and all
most Immediately ran into the hail. where
he came face to face with his sister. COM
started downstairs. and they heard their
mother calling to them and saying that
you that the sister was also awakened by
the shots. that she heard John jump out
Uf bed, and at the same time she heard a
person coming westward in the upstairs
hall of that house. That she came out of
her room i'll time to see John emerge from
his. room. and l want to say to you. gem
the testimony of that girl on the witness
stand as, you must believe it, that story
the morning of the homicide and on numer-
Gus occasions since then. you will know
that John Collins could not have fired the
shot that killed his father.
I'VE will prove to you that, after hear
ing his mother call. John ran back 20 his
room, slipped into his trousers, grabbed his
coat and went down stairs and into the
room where his father lay dying. That he
there saw the CHASTITY wounds and flow of
blood, and ran across the street and tele-
phoned for the nearest doctor. and to the
police That ne then Immediately returned
to his fathers bedside. We will prove TO
you that John Collins there and at that
time showed all the emotions sympathy
and sorrow that could or would be ex-
pected of a kind and affectionate son who
terrible circumstances. That friends of
the family said to him that he must brace
up and refrain from giving away to grief
and it is perhaps that advice given under
those circumstances which induced him to
refrain from giving away.
I'VE will introduce evidence to prove that
early in the week of the homicide and
probably on Monday a colored man was
seen climbing off the coal house of the
Collins residence at a very early hour and
Just about daylight. and he ran away from
there. We will prove that on the morning
of the homicide mysterious persons were
heard in the alley back of the Collins resi-
dence. We Will prove to you that on the
morning of the homicide man was seen
on the roof Of the coal house adjoining the
kitchen. apparently leaving the house. and
carrying something in his hands which
looked like pair of shoes. We shall show
other circumstances surrounding the homi-
eide to prove that it was done by someone
We will show that John had no motive
for killing his father. but. on the contrary,
his father was about to receive consid-
erabie sum of money, probably 5000 or
s1aeo0.
I'VE do not attempt to show who fred
ha at cbntS hon hold tt,a