The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-12-20
STANDS Up FOR JOHN
Bishop Mihspaugh'.s Opinion
Has Not Changed.
RELATIVES OF: COLLINS
Unwavering in Their Support
Some Family History.


City Star says:
The Right Reverend Frank r. Mills
paugh, bishop of the diocese Of Kansas
was a witness for John ollins this morn
ing, and made the rather startling dec
laration that no matter if John did gam
be and drink and associate with low ne
groes, it did not lower the standard o.
Johns character in his eyes. The question
asked the bishop by Johns lawyer was:
You have heard of the admission made
here by John of his disgraceful conduc'
in Lawrence, of mis- gambling with negroes
and that he told falsshoods 10 conceal
those facts. That he told falsehoods to
Sheriff Cook and others. Has this charged
your estimate of Johns character, which
you have stated here was kind, gentle and
Christianlike?"
mo. sir; it has not
knowing John Collins as you have, TAX
ing in consideration his character as you
now know it, that he told falsehoods, do
you think it probable or possible that he
murdered his father?"
This question angered the Judge. He
raped his desk severely and reprimanded
the lawyer for asking such a highly in
competent question and ordered it stricken
from the records.
The cross-examinati ton of Bishop Mills
paugh then began.
Did you see. much Of John in the years
he was at the university in Lawrence'?''
81 saw him once in that time. But had
constant reports from the rector at Law
renee, Mr.. Ayres. and those reports were
satisfactory
Mr.. Hayden asked you whether the lies
John told had changed your estimate of
Johns character. Now 1 ask you: Sup
pose John was directly charged with Civ
ing his watch and chain to negroes TO hire
them to murder his father, and he was told
that fact by his friend and the friend of
his father, Sheriff Cook. and he was also
told at that time that if he had pawned
his watch or given it to negroes to gamble
with and he would tell the truth abou it.
the sheriff would redeem the watch and re-
turn it TO him and nothing would be said
about it to anyone, unless ii connected him
with the murder of his father; suppose
that then he had taken a whole night to
think the proposition over and had wit
ten out deliberate lie about what had
become of the watch. would that change
your estimate of his character"
The bishop. a kindly-faced man, seemed
puzzled. He said:
81 cannot quite get your question into
my mind. Will you please repeat ft?'
IT was repeated TO him and he answered:
at does not change my estimate of his
general character
IF the story of John Collins is true
that he gave his watch to negroes to gam
BILE for him and he knew that he was
accused of giving the watch for the pur-
pose of hiring the negroes to kill his faith
er, if he knew that If the gambling trans
action was true he would be protected. If
with all these facts before him he de-
liberately penned what he now swears is a
lie, would that change your estimate of
his character"
II VIII simply answer that by saying that
not havink known this part Of the case
before these things come TO me now as a
surprise. I canont change my estimate of
his character at this time. I am afraid to
answer yes or no to such a question"
Suppose that when John was under |
oath he declared that he carried his faith |
negroes and after his father took the pis- |
tol from him John bought another pistol |
to use as a threat, would that change your |
estimate of his character"
MY estimate of Johns character is not |
changed"
wasn't John a lay reader in your do
cese, commissioned by you, and is it not |
for that reason that ne stands high in your |
estimation"
He was an excellent lay reader till
the time he ceased to be one"
When did he cease?'
He sent in his resignation the latter
part of 1897 saying that the opportunity
to lay read al Haskell institute had gone"
Didn't you issue a commission as a Law
reader in February, 1882
This was ruled out by the judge as in
competent.
Isn't it true that your estimate of his
character IS based on your relations with
him as lay reader?"
Party SO. perhaps"
'If Il is true, as John has sworn here
that he voluntarily went TO notorious
negro resort and drank so much whisky
there with negroes that It made him so
sick that when he came out he went be-
hind bill board and vomited would that
change your estimate of his character?"
Not Of his general character"
If John admitted here under oath TIA.
at some previous time in this case ne had
sworn 10 lie. would that change your
estimate Of his character"
Not of his general character. 81. Peter
at one time in his life swore to a lie"
But if st. Peter had kept up swearing
to a lie time after time. as John Collins
has admitted that ne has done would thar
change your estimate of the character OF
ST Peter?''
Yes, if he kept it up"
If John Collins persistently told les and
swore 70 lies when there was no necessity
for il. from April y. lSsS until after ~