davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-23
JEWELS OF
THOUGHT
And Gems of OratOry Being
Fired at the Jury
By Bright Young Lawyers in
the Collins Trial.
YOUNG MIR. NICHOLS
Discounts Any Sentiment the
Jury May Have
For Mrs. Collins Feelings, by
Talking Tenderly.
CASE Is REVIEWED.
Discounts Any Sentiment the
Jury May Have
CASE is REVIEWED.
In Detail by Harry Stafford For
the Prosecution.
Arguments Will Continue Until
Saturday Night.

The opening arguments In the Col
Tins case yesterday afternoon, made by
Deputy County Attorney Galen Nichols
for the state, and Clarence I Spellman,
the young Kansas City attorney who
has been assisting in the case, for the
defense, were brief, compared to the
arguments planned by the four prin-
cipal attorneys. Court adjourned short
ly after o'clock.
In making the opening argument Mr.
Nichols stated that he had great sym
pathy for the defendant and it was by
no means an ambition of his to see him
convicted. He started by referring to
John Collins life at Lawrence, and said
that undoubtedly his allowance of $27
per month from his father had proved
sufficient for his wants the first year at
the university, and possibly the second
But the third year, he said the defend
ant having become we'll acquainted with
the young people of Lawrence and his
associates at school, social obligations
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-23

sprung up and he was no longer able to
keep his expenses within the narrow
confines of S27 per month. He then
touched on his attempts at borrowing
money, some of which proved success
fui and others which were failures
Following this Mr.. Nichols spoke OF
the circumstances of John Collins con-
nection with the cOlOred witnesses in
the case, and went over detail by detail,
the incidents stated on the witness
stand. He referred to the fact that
John Collins had himself cOrroborated
these incidents, and said:
The stories of Johnson Jordan and
the other cOlOred witnesses might have
been taken as fairy tales if it were not
for John Collins going on the stand He
admitted practically all Of Jordan s
statements, agreeing with the cOnversa-
tiOns and circumstances, stopping only
at motives and results. The things that
sound the most eXtravagant in the
states evidence are just the things that
John Collins admitted on the stand"
Taking up the famous johnson Jor-
dan" letter. Mr.. Nichols went over
every paragraph, laying stress on the
damaging statements rs is plausible,
gentlemen" said he. that these state
ments would be made in reference to a
gambling deal?"
Referring directly to the murder Of
j s Collins. he said;
Gentlemen of the jury, I for one, pity
Mrs Helen Collins. l think she knows
more than she has testified to on the
to shield her son. to keep the disgrace
from her family of having one member
an the penitentiary- And gentlemen. I
don't criticise her; I pity her I believe
90 mothers out of 100 would do the same
thing. am sure my own mother would
do it.
j. s. Collins himself must have seen
who committed the murder He mn
doubtedly saw the man when he fired
the second shot, because the wound was
of such a nature to show that he
lodged down in his bed. If he did see
the murderer and could talk as Mrs
Collins said he did, Is it plausible that
he would tell her to go for camphOr and
nothing elSe2 Gentlemen, I believe J.
S. Collins told his wife who fired the
shots and asked her not to tell the
world that his own son was his muir
derer- And in accordance with her
husbands dying request, she is shield
ang that son; and gentlemen, / can't
crlucise her. It may not be according
70 law, but it is human nature.
Much has been said about the intro
ducuon of manufactured evidence. Let
me ask you, gentlemen, who has had
the best opportunity of manufacturing
evidence. The two cOlOred men arrest
ed on the charge and who a few hours
the facts they have stated on the stand,
or John Collins, who has spent the last
six months in Jail and has never made
a statement to any one?
Gentlemen, If John Collins is innO-
cent / want to see him acquitted; if he
Is guilty he should expiate his crime
At the commencement of the opening
argument for the defense Mr.. Spellman
like Mr. Nichols, spoke Of John Collins
life at Lawrence. He said that it was
the most natural thing in the world
that a young man. well bred and reared
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-23
Representative SeatOn is Per-
sistent in Pushing Protest
That There Ougbtn't to Be
Amy Special Session.
PROTEST is REFERRED
To the Judiciary Committee
Amid a General Laugh.
Speaker Street Makes an Unex-
pected Decision.

Immediately after the opening Of the
house at 1910 this morning, Seaton Of
Atchison again called up the protest
which he presented to the house yester-
day. Just as he began to speak Secre-
tary Watson appeared from the senate
with the bill transferring $31, 900 from
the state university fund to the general
revenue. AS soon as that had been
presented Mr.. Seaton again began to
speak. He said:
Il do not wish to be considered an
obstructiOnist, but I wish to protest
against the call of this special session
''
Fairchild of Kingman interrupted
Captain SeatOn with the point that he
had no right to question the wisdom OF
the governor in assembling the session
Captain SeatOn persisted that ne had
the right and he continued to speak
until Representative Hackney called
him down on the point that there was
no question before the house
The protest was read by the reading
clerk and Speaker Street announced
that he would refer it to the judiciary
committee, which created a laugh from
the PopuliSt side of the house.
The Speakers Unexpected Ruling.
Representative Trueblood moved that
an emergency be declared and the SEN
ate bill be placed on the second reading
A rising vote was called for on the
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-23
WASH THEM OUT.
Wanted - Some Legislation
About the Blankets on
Pullman Cars.

If the doctors keep on talking about
the infectiousness of consumption peO-
pie will soon be as afraid of having a
sanitarium located in their midst as a
pest house. Well people are already be-
ginning to be fearsome of travelling in
the Pullman cars which carry consump-
tives to winter resorts. Just think Of
pulling blankets up over you in which
somebody has had night sweats. Ugh!
If the legislature wants to pass a law
in regard to Pullman cars, let them in
clude in it a rigid provision that the
blankets be washed every trip. Now,
all the porters do is to dust them out.
If the Pullman company managers are
going to charge 81 and So for a berth
make them earn it.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-23
Harry Safford,s Argument.

The Collins trial opened in the district
court room this morning with Harry
Stafford, eX-cOunty attorney and assist
ant counsel in the prosecution, before
the jury box in the second argument for
the state.
Mr.. Stafford is credited with being one
of the best jury lawyers in the state,
and while handicapped somewhat by a
severe cold and attendant hoarseness,
his argument was most vigorous piece
of work He started with the circum-
stances at the Collins home on the
morning of the murder, and went from
detail to detail of the case, consuming
practically the entire morning.
1t is now expected that the case will
not go to jury until sometime tomorrow
afternoon Mr.. GODDARD follows Mr. SAT-
afternoon. Mr.. Hayden will commence
his argument in the morning, if the
present expectations are carried out,
and in this event County Attorney Jet
more will not start the closing argu-
ment until the court opens tomorrow
afternoon.
The attorneys are of the opinion that
the jury will not retire for deliberatiOn
though circumstances may change so
as to throw the case to the jury earlier.
In his speech before the jury this
morning, Mr.. Stafford said:
THE man who killed J. S. Collins
had a familiarity with the Collins house
that no one could have had without
weeks and months and years of assO-
citation with its details.
1.-The man who was in that hOuSesWaS
not a burglar. We know this from the
circumstances on the morning of the
murder. Right by the folding doors of
the room in which Mr.. Collins was mur-
dured was the chair on which Mr.. Col
Inns trousers were hanging, containing
his pOcketboOk and other articles. Not
a thing was mOlested. On the dresser
was Mrs. Collins jeWelry; not an article
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-23
PROTEST UNCONSTITUTIONAL
According to the Ruling of Speaker
Street.

Speaker Street is making a practice
of going back to the constitution of the
state for authority in making his rul
ings. He intended to rule the protest
of the Republican members out of or
der if the question of placing the pro-
test on the journal had come before
him, but he got rid of it by referring to
the judiciary committee instead In
speaking of his proposed ruling to a
Journal reporter after the morning ses-
sion today he said:
"a protest of the nature Of the one
offered by the Republican members of
the house is clearly out of order and
not recognized by any parliamentary
procedure; for the reason that article
2, section IL of the constitution says:
Amy member of either house shall have
the right to protest against any act or
resolution; and such protest shall, with
out delay or alteration, be entered on
the journal This was not a protest
against any act or resolution, and was
therefore clearly out of order. If the
Republicans want to protest they might
try the supreme court, or the governor,
or secretary of state, but they can not
get a protest like that into the journal
of the house,
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-23

in a proper home, entering the state un-
iversity should be accorded social at
tentions by the people of Lawrence.
He said that naturally a young mans
expenses under such circumstances
would increase, but said that John Col
Inns Indebtedness had not reached an
amount sufficient to push him to any
extreme and that none of his creditors
were pressing him.
Touching on the circumstances of the
murder he said:
Il want to make a suggestion for the
sake of argument, and 1 want to ask
apology beforehand for making it. Why
should it not be said that Grace Collins
committed the crime instead of John :?
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-23

You would throw up your hands in holy
horror at the suggestion. Had not Mrs.
Helen Collins had nine woulds in her
back, the state of Kansas would have
put up the strongest plea of circum-
stantial evidence in criminal history
Grant Meade, a step-son of Mr.. Col
Inns, was said to have had a dispute
with the deceased a short time before
the murder, and want to say that had
he been within ten miles of this city on
the morning of the murder, he would
have been taken out and hanged by a
mob to say nothing of a case of circum-
stantial evidence.
suspicion is not proof. There might
be 900 suspicious which might not re-
suit in one conviction. Suspicion may
have fallen on John Henry Collins, but
it can have nothing to do with his con-
XvictiOr
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-23
GREENWALD TO MOVE.
He Has Rented the Curry Building
and Win Move February I.

D. J. Greenwald has rented the Curry
building at 527-527 Kansas avenue and will
occupy the large store room with an up
to-date clothing store He expects to
move to his new location about Febru-
ary /
Mr.. Greenwald has been in the clothing
business at 507 Kansas avenue for more
than 20 years. Some time ago he decided
that he required a location farther south,
but his efforts to find a suitable room
failed. He then decided to quit the cloth
ing business and advertised a CLOSING out
sale" Before that sale had progressed
very far his negotiations for the lease of
the Curry building were reOpened and ter
minated in an agreement by which Mr..
Greenwald made a contract for the room
for term of years
This is one Of the largest store rooms in
the city and Mr.. GreenWald says he in
tends to fill it with brand new stock of
spring goods. He says that he will use
none of his old stock in his new location.
In speaking of the lease of the building
Mr.. Greenwald said: Il had fully deter
mined to go out of business when the ne
gotions for this room were reopened. I
am glad to stay in Topeka and intend to
open as fine a store as can be found any
where in the west"
Mr.. Greenwald is one of the prominent
members of the Commercial club and has
established a reputation a pubIic-spirit-
ed citizen. The people of Topeka win be
glad to see him start in his splendid new
location.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-23

motion and the vote stood "A for and Is
against. Speaker Street ruled that the
motion was lost, which brought fortn
applause from the Republican side OF
the house
do I understand that the chair rules
the motion lost?" demanded Represen-
tative Hackney, from the rear Of the
house.
'I do. said Speaker Street.
In the confusion which followed soma
member on the Republican side said:
1.-THE speaker must be lost"
This aroused Speaker Streets spirit
and he said:
IF the house will come to order viii
explain my ruling, and wish It under
stood that I want no reflections on the
rulings of the chair from any one Ny
authority for making this ruling is this-
Article 2, section Is, of the constitution
says: Every bill shall be read on three
separate days in each house unless in
case of emergency. TwO-thirds Of the
house when such bill is presented may.
if it deem eXpedient, suspend the rules,
but the reading of the bill by section.
on its final passage shall in no case be
dispensed with There was not a two
thirds vote for the motion and It is
LOST
The decision was entirely unexpected
and the aStOniShment was so great that
ment for a short time. Then a POpulist
broke out with, IF that's the cOnstitu-
ton I suppose we shall have to sub
nit"
AS soon as the house realized what
had happened to it an adjournment was
taken till 10 o'clock tomorrow
Speaker Streets ruling is said to be
entirely without precedent.
THE question has never been brought
up before" he said to a Journal re-
porter, so far as know, but am sure
am correct"
The decision effectuaIIy shuts on
"railroading'' bills through the house
unless there is a full twO-thirds major
ity in favor of it. To do this requires
2
Additional House Employees.
Harry Miller, who was elected as one
of the assistant dOorkeepers of the
house. had not qualified this morning
and Fred Petty was elected to take his
place. The house also elected the fol-
lowing additional employees: Assistant
janitor, Patrick McAndreWs- night
watch. c. J. McCombs; assistant door
keepers, r. w. Holmes, F. O. Johnson,
Roy TruebIood and J. B. Banter
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-23
WHAT IS THE RAILROAD BILL
The Railroad Bill Committee Doubt
full of the Judicial Feature.

The committee composed of Populist
members of the house and senate which
was asked to draw up a. railroad bill
met this morning in the rooms of the
house railroad committee on railroads
The session lasted till after 1 o'clock
when the committee adjourned, saying
that they had practically agreed upon
a bill, but refused to say what their
conclusions were.
It is rumored that the question under
discussion this morning in the commit
tee was whether judicial powers should
be conferred on the board. 1t is re-
ported that most of the members were
of the opinion that such a provision
would not stand the test Of the courts:
Such a provision will probably be omit
ted from any bill reported to the eau
Gus this afternoon.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-23

was taken. In the dining room was the
family silver, and not one piece was
missing in the morning.
"All through this case the defense has
been throwing out the insinuation that
there was some one following Mr. Col
Inns. They have done this in despera-
tion. They want this jury to say that
some unknown man was so wronged by
Mr. Collins that he decided to assassi-
nate him. We have this unknown man
here on Dewey day and we have him
down in a box car at Burlington. If an
assassin went into that house to murder
Mr.. Collins he would in the first place
have been armed to the teeth. He
would not have waited until he could
secure Mr.. Collins shot gun to shoot
him with No. bird shot In the sec
Ond place, he would have provided a
means of escape.
John Collins has two Of the best law
yers in the state of Kansas and I am
proud to say they are my friends.
Everything has been done that could be
done. They have realized the import
ance of having a man on the roof and
they have tried to put one there. They
brought to this witness stand a woman,
and while I don't want to wrong any
one, gentlemen, she is a prostitute. She
frVor4i~,,aS7 ~, E7fe1,+1o DooaN
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-23
CAN STEAL HER OWN CHILD
The Act is Not a Crime in the State
of Ohio.

the criminal court today sustained the
demurrer made in the indictment re-
turned against ex-MayOr F. z. Ma
gowan, Mrs. Mcgowan and Mrs. Wynn,
Mrs. Magowan's sister, upon the charge
of child stealing. The court ordered all
the defendants in the case discharged,
saying that it was not a crime for
mother to steal her own child in the
state of Ohio.
The Magowans were not in court
court when the decision was rendered
and are said to be still in Toronto.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-23
IN A LIVING PICTURE.
Hefebower and Grimes Unconscious
ly Pose as in the Famous Cartoon.

Just before the house convened this
morning, Uncle Dave Heflebower
came up from the state treasury to see
how things were going. AS he entered
the main entrance to Representative
hall Frank Grimes came across from
the senate chamber, and the two stood
for a moment framed by the doorway.
A cheer went up from those who hap
pened to be looking towards the door
at the time,a the scene vividly brought
back Myron Waterman'S famous car
toon of the campaign.
Uncle Dave says it was his first
appearance in a living picture.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-23
JOHN JONES OPPOSED
AS Messenger, and Beaten for the
Place for Political Reasons.

John Jones, the coIored politician in
this city, will not serve the state in the
capacity of Lieutenant Governor Har-
vey's messenger, neither will Jones be d
doorkeeper in the senate. His aspira-
tiOns have been made hopeless as a re-
suit of work against him on the part of
Topeka Populists. The chief argument
used in opposing Jones was the claim
that he has been on all sides of all po-
litica1 questions during the past four
years.
The knockers got in their work on
Mr.. Jones.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-23

We ask as a special consideration and
for your own benefit, that all who ex-
store will please leave their orders at
their earliest possible convenience as we
are greatly rushed already and first
come first served. All Topeka people
know the quality of our confections.
The lie Candi," 821 Kansas avenue, w.
H. Batman, proprietor.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-23
AdditiOnaI House EmpIoves.
Archie Barnes Hurt.

Archie Barnes, who is well known in
Topeka, was seriously injured We'd
nesday at Minden, Neb. He is now ex-
press messenger on the St. Joseph &
Grand Island railroad and fell from a
car and his left leg was broken in two
places. He has been taken to his home
in Leavenworth. Mr.. Barnes was en-
pIoyed in the Wells Fargo Office in To-
peka for several years.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-23

Mrs Elizabeth Miller, aged "A, died
last night at the home of the family.
322 Locust street of heart trouble. Mrs.
Miller is the mother of / A. and Sam
uel Miller. The funeral will take place
Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the
Third Christian church.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-23
Additional Senate Clerks

The following appointments were
made today: Adrian F. Sherman of To-
peka, clerk for Senator T. J. Anderson.
w. W. Wells Of Belleville, clerk for
Senator r. B. Ward. .
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-23
Sampson Arrives at New York.

New York Dec. 23.-The United States
cruiser New York, from Havana. has ar
rived here. Admiral Sampson is on board.
with Mrs. Sampson.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-23

Flor De Langsdorf 10c cigars, Amer
ica's finest production; a full line OF
them at Geo. Stansfeld's. 622 Kansas
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-23

For your Christmas candies and nuts,
see w. II. Batman, proprietor of the
lie Candi'' confectionery store, S21
Kansas avenue. He carries a fine as
sortment of the best and his prices are
right.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-23

tions were adopted by a unanimous
standing vote.
The senate then adjourned until Sat
urday morning at 8 o'clock.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-23

CONTINUED on Eighth Page-)
The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-07-29
PuEBLA AND PERU.

The medical officers and members
of the hospital corps on the Peru and
CITY of Puebla are as follows:
On Steamer City of Puebla-First
Lieutenant Franklin NJ. Kemp, acting
assistant surgeon United States army;
Acting Assistant Surgeon p. S. Kel-
logg, United States army; Acting Hos
pital Stewards Adolf G. Kniess and j.
b. Barnes; Privates Henry w. Fiege,
William S. Layman, Nicholas Harpel,
Roy d. Smith, William d. Boyden, AL
fred Green, Louis r. Boudereaux
Louis Laplace, Emil Rolf, Charles V
Harris.
On Steamer Peru-Acting Assistant
Surgeons George II. Richardson, Chas
A. McQueston and Clarence Quinan
United States army; Hospital Steward
Hans Hoch; Acting Hospital Stew
ards Wallace S. McFarlane and Clay
II. Powell; Privates George I. Vau
CHAN, Edward Cunningham, John T
McDermott, Joseph p. Mcnamara. Ru
dolph De Castella, Macon NJ. Bella
William ]. Waters. William c. Farrell
Michael ]. Ruane and Edwin r
Watson,
The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-07-29
THE BOARD Of EDUCATION
NUMBER OF SCHOOL TEACHERS
WHO WILL SWAP POSITIONS.
Changes in the Kalihi-waena and the
Chinese Boys Schools-A Long Ses-
sion and Little Business oDne.

The Commissioners of Education
have made the following transfers
and assignments for the coming
school year.
Miss Lulu Cameron is transferred
from the Chinese Boys school to the
one at Pohukaina; Miss Helen Rob-
ertson from the Kalihi-waena school
to the Chinese Boys and Miss Lizzie
Grace from the Maemae school to the
Kahili-waena. These changes leave
a vacancy at Maemae school to the fill
ed, but they were made to suit the
conveniences of the teachers by bring
ing their schools nearer their hsmes.
Miss Blanche Horner was selected
out of several applicants for the Wal
kiH school vacancy made by the res
ignation of Miss Kate Rowland.
Positions in the, Kalihi-uka school
were offered to Robert Law, now in
North Kona, and Stephen Lukua. The
present incumbents, Mrs. and Miss
Weir will be otherwise provided for.
Miss Maggie McCorriston was
transferred from Hanalei, Kauai, to
the Chinese Boys school, and Miss
Wilhelmina Joehnke will be given the
Hanalei school vacated by Miss Nc
Corriston.
A large number of similar changes
yet remain to be acted on and the
Board will hold another meeting for
the purpose on Monday next.