The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-12-27
SAD CHRISTMAS DAY
To the Collins Family, to
Whom Johns Conviction
WAS A TERRIBLE SURPRISE
Proceedings for a Re-Hearing
Last Scene in Court
WAS A TERRIBLE SURPRISE

Inns family IN Topeka a Io" N-4O4iNS
called to offer their sympathy TO the
women whose tsepson and brother 1ao
been declared a convicted murderer and 1t
was sad story they heard in the Van
Buren, street home. Within eight months
the head of the family had been murdered
and now 2 life sentence in the peniten-
tiary was tn lot which the son, the only
other man in the house. mad to face. The
last blow was far more crushing than the
FIRST.
Mrs Collins and Grace apparently have
the utmost confidence in Johns innocence.
TO them he has always been kind, gen
tie. afectionate boy, on whom, wsIen the
husband and father died, they expected TO
Jean for comfort and support Now they
believe they are the victims of an infa-
fous conspiracy. The testimony which
convicted John they consider a mass Of
cofored falsehoods, conceived in the brain
OF detectives. They cannot understand
how jury could bring in a verdict Of
guilty, or why a Shawnee county court
would permit such an array of false testi-
mony TO be advanced against him. 1t is
beyond their comprehension why such an
infamous outrage will be allowed in
land of civilization.
John Collins is bearing UP under the ter
rfble conviction much better than his step
mother and sister. just as the charge has
always been treated by him in q much
l6hter spirit. He. does not shed tears, for
that is not John Collins style. But the
prisoner grieves for his unprotected and
sorrowfng loved ones, and 1t is when
thinking of them that the seriousness Of
the verdict impresses itself upon him. So
far as he is personally concerned, life
at hard labor in the penitentiary appar-
emily possesses no Eerrors. John Collins
laughed when ne was being tried for
Staying his father and he calmly pulled
a cigar when the jury announced that it
believed him 70 be murderer.
General opinion in Topeka regarding the
verdict is divided on the line Of sex There
are few women who have not from the
start believed Collins Innocent and who do
not now think he Is being terribly
wronged. Before County Attorney eJt-
more made mis- closing argument Satur-
DAY, ne was waited upon by a committee
of women who tmplored him not TO be
too hard" on John.
The men Of Topeka by a large majority
consider the verdict thoroughly just and
are satisfied that the murderer of J. S.
Collins is his own son. A prominent Ma
son says that the members of that order,
% which the murdered man belonged, are
generally highly Gratified." sympathy
for the stricken family is, however, uni
versal and sincere. For this reason, very
many citizens who were friends of ]. S.
Collins express their belief in Johns guilt,
but ask that their names be withheld.
The Testimony of Mrs. Burnett, and of
Cipdegraft il is generally thought, did the
defense more harm than good It devel-
oped today that the attorneys for the
defense, themselves. do not WSlSlly under
stand these witnesses. Mr.. GODDARD said:
II sincerely believe that Mrs. Burnett
did see a man on the roof of the Collins
mouse on the morning of the murder.
What she was doing at that hour 1 do
not know. but believe she told the truth
as regards the man on the roof. I also
believed Updegreft, although de puzzled
us when he was cross-examined. I have
received letters from County Attorney
Ralston, of Coffey county, and merchant
of Burlington, saying that Updegraft IS
thoroughly reliable man, and from par
earned that no men in that community
stand higher than Ralston and the mer-
chant who vouched for the witness char
acter. Updegraft was badly tied up under
cross fire, but 1 attribute that more TO
Safford's boistrous manner than TO any
Thing else
County Attorney Jetmore announced
that he would within the next few days,
-
nett, charging her with perjury. 1t Will
be remembered that Ella Buchanan, coll
ored, testified that she was with Mrs. Bur-
nett on the morning of the murder, and
aiso saw the man on the roof. The next
day she took the stand again. and ac-
knowledged that she had sworn falsely.
md declared under oath that Mrs. Bur-
nett mad promised to pay her for doing
So. Mr.. gilmore will also investigate the
.ase of Updegraft, the man who claimed
to have been under a box car at Burling-
ton a few weeks before the murder. and
TO have there overheard a conversation
between two negroes. who were plotting
the murder Fl. S. Collins. As yet Mr..
JetmOre has not enough evidence 20 war
rant his arrest.
Many profess 20 believe that the gauzy
testimony Ct these witnesses may have
Influenced the jury against Collins. Johns
ackno~zedSment that he had been with
the negroes. Harper. Jordan and Snotsl-
ers. undoubtedly hurt him IN the public
mind Again the prisoners apuarent in
difference during the trial lost him friends
and very probably il also Influenced the
jury against sim. One Of the jurors in
minated as much tonight
Johns light heartedness has led many 70
believe that ne is not in his right mind
1t seems Incredible that a young man
who was brought up in good home and
under the very best influence could have
acted as he did when on trial for The
murder of his father" said business
r1an.
y prominent Mason said.
Il thoroughly believe that John Collins
= guilty. There was a long time before
the members Of our order could believe il
and 1t was as much to remove all sus-
plclon from The family as to perform 8
duty toward our unfortunate brother that
We hired detective. The Masons put up
the money 10 ascertain The murderer. and
they have landed him
The attorneys for Collins are orenarinr
their petition for a rehearing. When the
application VII be beard is n6T Known
i is not generally considered ,rahahla
GEO. r BARSE. III WAITE