The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-09
The Sheriff Cross Examined.


The sheriff stated on cross s-examina..
ton that although he made a search of
the closets in the Collins house on the
morning following the murder, he could
not swear positively that the revolver
which was afterwards found there was
not in the closet at the time He stated
that he had numerous conversations
with John, but did not recall anything
which was said prior to the inquest.
Odd you swear to a complaint
against John, on May Is?
A.-Yes, before the funeral
Q--Who went with you to the GEM
etery?
A-Chief Steele.
Odd you have a warrant for John .?
Al did not.
Odd you have a conversation with
Ayes, John came to me and asked
me if was going to arrest him there
1 told him no, but to get into his buggy
and go home. asked him if I could
find him at home if 1 wanted him. He
said yes.
Odd you talk to John when you
returned to town?
A--Yes, a friendly talk which can
not recall
Odd Harbaugh accuse John of be-
ing the murderer of his father?
A.-Xes, he did.
Q.-HOW long did you and Harbaugh
have John in sweat box?
A-SOme time.
Odd Harbaugh tell you and John
blOOd-curdling story about following
a murderer and landing him on the gal
lows?
A.-Yes.
Q-Did Harbaugh tell John that J.
$ Collins was a Mason; that he was Il
Mason and John the son of a Mason
and if he would make a confession, he
Harbaugh would see that he was pro-
tected?
A--Yes.
Odd Harbaugh tell Collins to con-
fess and plead insanity?
A.-Yes.
Odd Harbaugh say he would go
sane?
Al don't remember. He told John
he thought him guilty.
Odd Harbaugh say anything
about insanity?
A.-Yes, he said the boy who did it
was insane.
The court at 1926 took a recess IN
til IL O'Clock.
That the defense will show that Jess
Harper got John Collins diamond from
shirt John gave him is apparent from
a question propOunded to Mr.. Cook by
Mr. Hayden who satd:A
Odd John say to you or Harbaugh
that he had given Jess Harper a shirt,
and the lost diamond might have been
in that?
Al do not remember.
Odd he say he gave colored man
some neckties?
Ayes, and that he had, about the
clothes to the laundry.
Odd John say to you that his
mother expected to find the gun case2
A-Yes. some day, he said, when the
excitement was over. she thought.
Odd what he said indicate any re
luctance on the part of his mother to
produce the gun case?
A--NO, sir, not in the least.
Miss BabcOck's Presents.
The sheriff stated that Harbaugh had
returned to Collins a chaffng dish and
a sword which he had given Miss Bah
cock at Christmas, He also said that
the young woman had told Harbaugh
that she had given John up
Q.-HOw long did John say he had
his fathers pistol?
About a week.
Odd John Collins ever say to you
an intimation that he had killed his
father?
A.-No. sir. not in the least.
Q.-YOu told John that his watch and
diamond might be found in the possess
sion OF negroes and that it would be
better for him to make a written state
ment?
A.-Yes
This ended the cross-examination and
Mr.. Stafford offered the above written
statement in evidence.
Mr. Hayden objected and stated that
the statement written, and those made
to Mr.. Cook and Mr.. Harbaugh under
assurances of protection We're not vol
un5ary under the meaning of the law
and were incompetent.
The court Overruled the objection and
MI sanford read the statement which
appears in the foregoing.
Mr.. Stafford: Did John Collins ever
ask you to make an effort, or aid you
in any way to discover the murderer of
his father?
A-No.