The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-05-19
MUST GO ON.
The Murderer of j. 8. Collins
Must Be Caught
And His AtrOciOuS Crime Pun
ished to the Full Limit
OF LAW, REGARDLESS
OF the Worthless Verdict of
the COrOner's Jury.
The Man Who Did the Bloody
Should Be Pursued No Matter
What 1t Costs.
The Man Who Did the Bloody
Deed
Should Be Pursued No Matter
What 1t Costs.
NO MANS LIFE SAFE
If Such Dastardly Murders Are
Superficially Investigated.

The coroner's jury in the Collins mur-
der investigation decided, after a brief
elaboration, that ]. S. Collins came to
his death by an unknown hand.
County Attorney Jetmore at once or
dered Sheriff Cook to withhold the war
rant for John Collins arrest, which was
issued last week, and the guard was
also withdrawn. John Collins is no
longer under the espionage of the Off
GERS.
The essential points developed in the
inquest may be Summarized as fol-
lows:
There was no trace that anyone left
the house after committing the muir
der. Testified to by A w. Knowles and
several policemen.
The murder was committed with Mr.
Collins own gun and the weapon was
found in the hall Testified to by all
witnesses and gun identified by J. H.
Leonard and Mrs. Collins.
The gun was kept in a case in the
closet and the gun case has not been
found Testified to by the Collins fam
lily.
Two revolvers, kept under the pillow
of Mr.. and Mrs. Collins bed, were miss
ing the morning of the murder, and one
of them was found hidden in a hall
closet up stairs. Testified to by Mrs.
Collins and other members of the fam
lily.
Mrs. Collins neither saw nor heard
anyone in the room after the shooting
Testified to by herself.
Mr.. Collins did not keep his gun
loaded, and the shells used were taken
from cupboard in the closet which was
officers.
Mr.. Collins carried a large amount of
life insurance, which was known to
John Collins and Mrs. Collins. Testified
to by Mrs. Collins and John.
]. 8. Collins had no enemies. Testified
to by Mrs. Collins.
No vaIuables in the house were mo-
Tested. Testified to by Mrs. Collins and
several others.
The folding doors between the parIor
and bed room were found open in the
morning, but the windows and other
door to the bed room were fastened.
Testified to by Mrs. Collins.
None of the lower outside doors of the
house were unlocked, but one window
down stairs and one window up stairs
were found unfastened and the front
balcony door was open. Testified to by
members of the family and officers.
Mrs. Collins said the murder had been
done for revenge. Testified to by DR..
Tefft and officers.
When asked why she said the muir
der had not been done by a burglar,
Mrs. Collins said 1t was too cold blood
ed and frightful.
Miss Grace Collins was awakened by
a groan and heard some one rush down
the upper hall past her room. She also
heard John Collins jump out of bed and
exclaim: what was that?' Testified
Grace Collins ran against John Col
Inns in the hall when she left her room
to go down stairs after the alarm. Tes-
titled to by Grace Collins.
John Collins told several people in
Lawrence that he was afraid his faith
er would be killed by man who was
following him. Testified to by Miss
Frances Babcock.
John Collins came home the day be-
fore the murder and got prescription
from DR.. Grubbs for indigestion. Tes-
titled to by himself and others.
John Collins was in debt and spent
more than his allowance of $25 a month.
Testified to by himself.
John Collins sent a telegram to Miss
murder which said, Father is dead
Tell nothing" He refused to tell what
Tell nothing" meant.
John Collins had never had any trou-
and Mrs. Collins.
That is practically the chain of evil
dence as adduced In the inquest and the
jury did not think that it was strong
enough to warrant them in holding
John Collins for the murder of his
father.
The officers will continue to work on
the case and it is possible that the myS-
terry may yet be solved
1t is high time some better detective
work on this most atrociouS and dam
nabIe crime should be done. This COM
munity can not afford to dismiss this
affair after a superficial and incomplete
1t can not permit a cit
izen to be murdered in his bed in this
cowardly manner without finding and
furnishing the murderer. Who will be
safe If such things are to be permitted
to go on? Too much money can not be
spent on unraveling this crime. The
aggregation of talent" composed of
Chief Steele and Sheriff Cook seem un-
equal to the task of making any valu-
able discoveries concerning the crime
This may not be their fault, but if these
officials have no natural aptitude for
Continued on Third PaRe.l