Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-12-14
COLLINS DEFENSE SCORED TWO
POINTS YESTERDAY.
ATTORNEY JETMoRE ACCUSED
WITNESS swEARS STATE TRIED To
INFLUENCE HIM.
Ella Buckner. a Notorious Negress,
Declares johnson Jordan Told
Her He Murdered Collins
Mrs. Burnett Partially
Corroborated.

TOPEKA, Dec. 13.-(Special) Two sen
sations were sprung in the Collins murder
case to-day by the defense.
Ella Buckner, a Smoky Row negress, tes
tilted that, in a quarrel with johnson Jor
dan last summer, Jordan told her that ht
killed ]. S. Collins and that he got money
for doing it.
Robert Hitchcock formerly newspaper
carrier, but now a janitor for the building
in which is County Attorney Jetmore':
private Office, testified that JetEore himself
told the witness to go and see GODDARD anc
see IL he could not get anything out oil
them" and, If he couldn't to tell Godart
that he knew nothing and keep out Of the
case.
These statements. made under oath. ere
ated big stir in the courtroom. Wher
Witness Hitchcock made his statement
County Attorney Jetmore uttered an ex,
cIamation, and made demonstration as
II to strike Hitchcock. Assistant Prose.
cutor Hcrry Stafford grasped Jetmore's arm
and quieted him. .
the damaging charge against Jordan, was
very brief. After giving her name and
telling about living on Smoky Row she was
asked:
Did johnson Jordan ever threaten tc
shoot you?"
Yes"
did you have a conversation with Jor.
dan. in which he said he killed ]. s. Col.
lins?"
Yes
did he admit this to you?''
Yes: he said it to me. and said to him
That's where you got that suit of clothes
hat and Shoes"
Then what did he say?"
Yes: killed Collins, and want to say
/ got money for doing it. I've got more
nerve than lots Of these niggers in Topeka
and don't ask no one to take care Of me- -
Cross-examined by Mr.. Jetmore:
How many times have you been ar.
rested?"
You amt trying me; you're trying Col.
Inns"
Answer the question" said the Judge
<s'or the court will impose punishment upon
you"
II don't KNOW" snapped the witness 81
pay my fine and that's all care for
Policeman Joseph Campbell was called to
corroborate the testimony of the Buckner
woman. He was asked:
do you know Johnson Jordan?"
yes"
"Were you present at an alteration be.
tween Ella Buckner and Johnson Jordan?''
"Yes"
Where was it,"
'on Railroad street in North Topeka
What was said?" a+
ELLA Buckner was fussing, and said tu
Jordan: You killed ]. s. Collins Jordan
said: oh. yes; killed Collins. You seem
TO know so much about it. -
What did you do?"
ELLA Buckner said Jordan had a gun or
him. but 1 searched him and found none
Then I took Jordan to the avenue and
turned him loose
Mrs. May Burnett who testified yester.
day that she saw a man on the roof of the
kitchen OF the Collins home at about
O'Clock on the morning of the murder was
recalled this morning for cross-examina
tion. She was questioned closely concern.
ing her past reputation. She admitted be-
ing arrested once. but said she was dis
charged. She was asked: Did you tel
Mrs. Ed c. Moore that 1t was worth 81
to you to testify?"
II did not was the blunt reply
Ella Buchanan, the coIored girl who lived
with Mrs. Burnett, testified that she wen,
with Mrs. Burnett that morning to hum
a house and that, when they were goine
down Sixth street, they saw a man on the
roof of the kitchen at a house across the
lot.
who first saw the man on the roof"
Mrs. Burnett"
What did she say?"
''She called my attention to the man or
the roof and / said: We're not the onlies,
mt eIx- hut ar,-%H;
kansas"
Then, IL Mrs. Burnett said you frs
called her attention to the man on the roof
she was mistaken"
"She certainly was
The witness kept up a continuous smil
ing during Mr.. Stafford's cross-examina
ton. and it worried him into saying:
Whom are you smiling at?''
why. Mr.. Jetmore." said the coloret
girl with broad Taught, in which Judg,
Hazen and the spectators Joined.
When did you hear of the murder?"
After We got breakfast and wa!
throwing out my dishwAter. a neighbo!
called over and said a man and woman
had been murdered
The witness was asked why she had no
told this story before this time.
We'll, every time anything happens peo
pie say a niger tries to get into 1t ant
j kept still because I know I'm coloret
and didn't want to get mixed up. Las
Friday j went to Mrs Burnett's house or
jackson street, No. 12S. where she talked
20 me about this case. She wanted m,
40 come and work for her and / wen
home and told my folks. then went bacl
and went to work. She told me then som,
more about the case and then we went t.
Mr.. Godard's Office. where the case wa.
talked, over"
-was 1t raining on the morning of Ma,
1872"
II don't remember. but IL IL did didn'
get wet
1T was light that morning.
"Ye.. quite light"
DO you have a distinct recollection
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