The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-08

Miss Babcock then told how John had
said to her that his sister had his
watch in Topeka, replying to question
as to what time it was.
Q.-On May 13 did you receive a tele-
gram from John Collins?
A.-There was one teIephoned to me.
Q.-What was it?
Al understood it: Father is dead;
tell the boys.
Odd you do so?
A.-Then 1 wrote the boys at the
Chapter house notes to tell them.
Odd John telephone you?
A-Yes
Q.-From where?
A.-Topeka-
Q.-What did he say?
A.-Have you told those things told
you not to tell.
Q.-What did you say?
A-No.
Q.-Had you told any one?
A.-Mamma.
Q.-Did you say so to John?
A.-No.
Miss Babcock said the signature to
the Tell nothing telegram was written
by John Collins.
A letter and envelope on cadet blue
paper was here introduced as evidence.
Miss BabcOck said she had received it
from John Collins, she thought, the day
after J. S. Collins death. The defense
did not object.
It was as follows:
My Dear Little Girl:
received your letter In1S AFTERNOON
Leonard came up and will stay with
me. Grace and mamma are almost
Frustrated as we'll as myself, but as
long as we do not sit still and think of
the awfulneSS of the affair we can keep
up. I send you extracts from extra, edi-
tions of the Journal and Capital which
will tell you more than I can. AS yet
I am so dazed and stunned that I can
not bear to think of our bereavement.
The police seem as yet to have no
definite clue. There are rumors of a
man having been seen shortly after the
murder hurrying away from the neigh
borhood, but then there are lots of
rumors. 1t was a providential accident
that I happened to be home. Had I
found the doctor in time, I would have
come back to Lawrence on the after
noon Union Pacific train. The last thing
my father said to me was for me not to
go back until this afternoon. even If I
missed school. I think The funeral will
be on Monday. The Knights Templar
will guard the body throughout Sun
day when it may be seen by friends.
The man who did the deed did another
ranged everything so as to throw sus-
picion on the only other man in the
house-myself. Even if nothing serious
comes OF it, there will be suspicion
in the minds of some people and it
will always be a blight on my reputa-
tion in their minds. We can hardly
realize that we have lost a kind noble
father who was the center of our home
life I think as we realize this more
and more the sense of desoIation will
be something awful. think our keen
est sorrow is yet to come. Remember
what told you and be careful until I
can see you. Do not let anyone catch
you off your guard and believe no one
unless I tell you in person.
God bless you, my dear girl, and keep
you until 1 can see you again. I hope
your little home may never be visited
by such an awful affair. Good bye
JOHN.
The address on the envelope was:
MISS FRANCES BABCOCK,
Lawrence, Kansas.
Care of Mrs. Elmer Pierson
The postmark showed the date of
May 13.
Q.-You had written him a letter of
coincidence?
Ayes.
Odd you receive another letter
from John?
Ayes, think before his father was
buried, because he spoke of his father
still being in the house.
Q.-Did you destroy the letter?
A=Yes.
Q--Why?
Al do not know except that I al
ways destroy my letters.