The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-05-17

suspect either a white man or a negro
and he replied positively that he had
no suspicious whatever.
Miss Frances Babcock, the young
lady with whom John C. Collins has
been keeping company at Lawrence,
when asked If he had ever made any
remarks to her bearing on this subject,
would neither affirm nor deny it. It
was common rumor in Lawrence that
John 9. Collins expressed the fear to
MS IT1en0S that some harm would come
to his father from a colored man who
was tenant of his. For this reason
the people of Lawrence who had known
OF the young man were loathe to be-
lleVe the suspicion which rests on the
SON. His life at Lawrence has not been
what would be termed in Lawrence a.
wild one. The impression seems to be
prevalent that he rather tried to give
the impression that he was flying
high" than that he really was doing it.
on the day which John c. Collins left
Lawrence for Topeka which was
Thursday last, the Beta Theta Pi fra
ternity was making arrangements for
giving an informal "hop'' on Friday
evening at their chapter house, which
IS located on South Tennessee street.
Collins was urged to remain for the
party. But he would not stay, saying
that he feared harm would come to his
rather and that he wanted to be near
| his father. Immediately upon the news
reaching Lawrence of the murder, the
rumor spread rapidly of John G. Col
Inns statement that he feared harm
theory on which Lawrence people are,
Judging the case, although the startling
developments in the circumstantial ev-
idence has had it's effect.
G. N. Haggart, a Beta" who rooms
at the Beta chapter house and lives at
Salina, said yesterday to a State Jour
nal reporter: j ohm Collins had express
ed the fear that his father would be
harmed by colored man with whom
he had some negotiations and he said
the man had followed him once or
n I'm hnd rTNIx n
one day not long ago he and I were
practicing with it. John, seemingly in
a joking way said: If that fellow ever
gets after my father he will get some
of this, (pointing to the revolver). OF
late John had gone to Topeka several
times to spend the night
The party which the Beta fraternity
was to have given Friday night was
postponed on account of the death of
Mr.. J. S. Collins. There was much
grief among the Beta boys, for John
Collins was popular among them.
The positive evidence that Collins
had expressed the fear about his father
was obtained last night at Lawrence by
a State Journal reporter. Howard
Leonard, of Girard, who was room
mate of Collins at the Beta chapter
house, arrived from Topeka on the fast
mail train: He was asked by the re-
porter: Mr.. Leonard, did John Col
Inns tell you that his father had had
some difficulty with a colored man and
that he feared some harm would come
to him?''
yes, he did. He told me that the
colOred man had been a tenant of his
and that on one or two occasions he
had followed his father
He made this statement in all frank
ness. Then one of his fraternity broth
ers who realized the situation called
Leonard to one side and whispered
something to him. Leonard returned
and attempted to change his statement
somewhat. But he had made his first
statement unaware of its destination
before witness who was with the re-
porter. He did not deny what he had
said but attempted to change the sub
ject.
E. E. Carroll, of Lawrence, a Beta
man was asked as he returned to Law
renee: Didn't John Collins tell you
he feared harm would come to his
father?"
why, yes, mol don't believe he did.
I heard that he said SO. But that was
rumor," said Carroll.
Did you meet the Santa Fe plug
train Friday morning."
Moves, I guess 1 did,
''You were told that the murder had
occurred?''
Eyes, I heard it,
What did you tell Prof. Clarke some
time afterward?"
II don't remember
Didn't you tell him that J. S. Col
Inns had been killed and that it was as
you expected, from what John had told
your"
well. I just don't remember about
that
Then there was another hurried con-
versatiOn and Carroll returned and
said:
iii tell you, I don't know a thing
about it; John never told me a thing
about it. 1 heard it, but I didn't start
the story"
Prof. A. H. Clarke, instructor in
painting and drawing in the fine arts
department of the state university, said
yesterday to a State Journal reporter:
o6f inc on
which the murder occurred, and he said
he had met the plug train and that he
had heard of J. S. Collins death. He
told me then that John had said to him
that he feared harm would come to his
father. That afternoon at Prof. Will
litston's reception, my wife heard the
same thing"
Miss Frances Babcock the beautiful
daughter of Mrs. NJ. G. Babcock, who
lives in South Lawrence and to whom
John G. Collins has been attentive the
past winter is considered one of the
bellies of Lawrence. Her relatives are
wealthy and aristocratic. She and her
sister, Mrs. Elmer PiersOn, of Law
renee, are known in Topeka society
circles, the two having attended parties
in Topeka. Miss Babcock is a blonde,
plump, and with large brilliant blue
eyes. She is one of the popular girls
of Lawrence and her company has been
much sought after and her suitors have
been many. John G. Collins has appar-
emily been the most favored in her at
tentions and he has lavished presents
and various attentions on her. The
news of the murder was a great shock
to Miss Babcock. Yesterday at Law
renee when she was at the home of her
sister Mrs. Elmer Pierson, in West
Lawrence, a reporter called and asked:
Miss Babcock, did John Collins ever
say anything to you about fearing some
harm would be done to his father?'
Il would rather not answer that"
said the young lady.
He has seemed somewhat quiet of
late as if something was on his mind,