The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-12-27


cose. nothing will come of it. am sat
isfied that the application will not be
granted"
In case the defense does not get a re-
hearing, the case will be carried to the
supreme court. In this event, Mr.. Cod
ard will be placed in a somewhat peculiar
position. Early next month he will be-
come attorney general of Knasas, and,
consequently, the state prosecutor In the
event the case goes to the higher court,
Mr.. GODDARD says he will take no part in
the trial. but will allow Mr. Jetmore and
Mr.. Stafford TO continue the prosecution"
Despite the general belief in the guilt of
John Collins and the confidence in the
justice of his conviction, the verdict came
as nard blow to hundreds of friends of
the family who have watched his growth
from infancy. AS a boy, John was always
peculiar He was never demonstrative
and his near friends say that what has
often been taken for Indifference on his
part has in reality been his natural quiet
reserve.
When in the public schools John always
stood high in his classes This fact made
him favorite with all his teachers and
none received the news of his arrest and
of the conviction which followed. with
greater horror than those who had taught
him in the Topeka schools. He never car
edto participate in boys sports, and stud
led and read while they played. In this
respect he did not change when he grew
older. Often the young men at the Beta
house would play ball in the yard and
John would always watch them from the
porch. He rarely attended the university
athletic games.
When John was a small lad his admira-
ton for his father was remarkable. Five
years ago ]. S. Collins was an independ-
ent candidate for mayor of Topeka, and
the 16-year-old son was his chief lieuten-
ant and campaign manager. He spent
the election day in peddling his father S
tickets and hauling voters to the polls IN
the family carriage. It was the greatest
surprise OF his life when ht learned that
his father had been defeated.
Until he went 10 Lawrence, John was
seldom in the society of girls. He rarely
attended parties. For two years at Law
renee he was stUdious and popular. Then
his head was turned. He attended the
light. He aspired to be the best dressed
on University hill, and succeeded in salts
flying his ambition. To do this and 10
keep up his attention on the young wo-
man he admired as he thought he should,
required more money than his father gave
him for an allowance and he commenced
to borrow right and left.
The rest of the story has been recount
ed in all of it's narrowing details from
the witness stand of the Shawnee county
district court during the last four weeks
A gentleman who stands in the relation
of close personal friend to John Collins
and who was an eye witness 10 the enCire
proceedings of the trial, was induced to
talk concerning the great trial, and said:
1.-The notice of an application for a new
trial has been given by the attorneys for
the defense and they are already at work
gathering evidence to support the plea. OF
course, the position Of the jury will be at
tackled, and the fact that it arrived at a
verdict so quickly seems to make the at
torneys hopeful that they will gain their
point.
up to the time of the jury returning
the verdict, Collins was very hopeful, but
the conclusions to be drawn from the
qnckness of it in arriving at a verdict
seem to have robbed him of some portion
of the iron nerve he has exhibited an
through the proceedings.
1.-THE greatest concern of the condemned
man is for his family, and he feels keen
ly the blot 1t will cast upon it. was with
him some time and his whole talk was
r
and his hopes of being eventually cleared,
he had little to say, in fact preferred not
to dwell upon that point at all.
1.-THE family feel the result of the trial
very keenly and under the circumstances
bear up well The action of the jury
seems to have stunned them and they
have not had time to realize the gravity
of the situation. The friends of the family
are very consderate and are doing all in
their power 20 keep their spirits in a
hopeful state.
This morning a number OF presents
were sent to the Jail, among them being
several pictures and other knick-knacks
from Collins friends. He will use them
to decorate his narrow quarters and make
them as cheerful as possible.
''If the Judge refuses to grant the plea
for new trial, it will be taken up higher
on appeal. In that case the state VIII
have to appoint a special prosecutor, as
Mr. GODDARD. Collins attorney, has just
been elected attorney general of the
state"
THE LAST SCENES IN COURT.
1--WE find the defendant. John Henry
- IN 9a first de-
gree, as charged in the information.
JOHN DICKEY, Foreman"
Twelve organized farmers of Shawnee
county, after listening for twenty-seven
DAYS 10 the law and the evidence in the
case, had decided that early on she morn
ing of May Is last, John Collins stood at
the foot of the bed where his father lay
and fired both loads from double-bar-
relied shotgun into the sleeping form, from
the effects Of which James 5. Collins, one
of the best known business men in To-
peka. died twenty minutes later.
shortly after o'clock Saturday night
the Jurors, who had been locked in a
room adjoining Judge Hazen's court since
$50 %. m, communicated 20 Balliff John
Coyne that they had agreel upon YER
diet.
BY a previous arrangement a message
was despatched for Judge Hazen. the al
torneys for the state and the defense were
notified. and Sheriff Cook was summoned
to bring the prisoner into court
The courtroom was Mghted and the flick
ering gas threw ghOSt-nke shadows over
the rows and rows Of seats usually packed
with curious spectators. and when the
twelve jurors filed into their accustomed
seats only John Henry Collins. Judge Ha-
zen, Attorneys Stafford, Je;more, God
ard and Hayden. several newspape'
men. Sheriff Cook and a number OF depu-
ties and court attaches. in all not exceed
ing twenty. were present Il was as silent
and as solemn as CHURCH at midnight
when Judge Hazen asked: