Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-12-01
COLLINS EVIDENCE
YESTERDAYS TESTIMONY BORE d.
RECTLY ON THE MURDER.
ATTENDANCE IS INCREASING
WOMEN BRING LUNCHES IN ORDER
TO HOLD THEIR SEATS.
Attorneys for he Defense Succeeding
in TnnRlinE Up Some of the
States Witncsses-NO New
Facts Were Developed
Yesterday.
ATTENDANCE IS INCREASING


TOPEKA, Nov sO.-(Special) The state
consumed the entire time to-day IN the
Collins case in taking testimony bearing
directly on the commission of the crime.
This branch of the case will be put be-
fore the jury first. The state wants 10
have the jury conversant with the details
of the murder first then close its case
by showing that John Collins committed
the crime. All of the witnesses on the
stand to-day We're questioned very close
ly about the doors and windows and the
condition of the ground underneath var
ious windows. This was done for the
purpose of convincing the jury that the
one who committed the crime did not leave
the house. 1t so happened that the ofncers
and neighbors of the family made a some-
what critical examination at the time.
and no tracks were discovered around any
of the windows. nor were any of the doors
which opened on to the walks unlocked.
The attendance to-day was larger than
on any previous day. The court room
was packed from the first floor to the
gallery. The majority of the spectators
were women. They belong to all grades OF
society. a number brought lunches and sat
in the court room during the noon hour.
They We're afraid they would not be able
to gain admittance in case they went home
to lunch
While young Collins enjoys the notoriety,
yet he is in fear that the case Will soon
reach the bouquet period.
~ like the girls and also like flowers,
said he this afternoon during brler re-
cess, but 1 hope that no bouquets Will
be sent me during the trial. 1t always
draws forth SO much criticism from the
public press
The evidence given to-day was to a great
extent repetition of that given at the
preliminary trial.
Policeman Jenkins, the first officer to ar
rive at the Collins home after the murder.
was the first witness on the stand to-day.
He testified that he saw a gun in the hall
and upon examination found that 1t con-
tanned two empty shells. He then exam
ined the house to find out if a robbery
had been committed. There was no rob-
berry He then followed John Collins over
the house and examined the windows. He
found one open on the portico, but there
was no evidence of Il person having gone
out there. No other windows were found
open. Some one reported that a man was
going down the alley and the witness said
he left the house and ran after the man,
who proved TO be John Doane, who was
running TO get out of the rain.
Attorney Hayden crosS-eNamined him.
WAS Mr. Collins dead when you reached
the house,"
The doctor so reported to me-
Then where did you go?"
Returned to the hall"
WHO picked up the gun?'
Jenkins then explained that he picked up
the gun but could not open it; that Fiegcr
took the gun and opened IT.
Was John Collins the-e?"
Yes
Was he cryins?"
Mr.. Hayden again referred to the EVIL
dence at the inquest where jenkins had
sworn that John Collins was crying when
the officers were examining the gun.
IF You testified to this at the inquest
it was true?'
Your recollection was better then than
now?'
What did Ffeger do with the gun?'
Here Hayden presented the evidence of
the preliminary where jenkins had sworn
that Fieger put the gun down where it
Mr.; jenkins was then considerably
tangled as to the location of the gun in
the. hall. He could not remember the
position of the weapon and his testimony
to-day varied with that given at the pre-,
liminary.
Just as am trying to tell it now"
Il do not doubt your intention to tell
the truth. said Mr.. Hayden was there
wall on one side of the stairway"
Did you look for tracks on the roof?"
Did you examine all the rooms up
Il think So"
Did you examine any closets"
Were there any closets there?"
Il do not know
Then a man could have been hidden
in ..HS the closet and you not know ito
Did yov examine the fastenings of any
doors or windows on the west side?''
Did you examine the window fastening
in ..Ie the basement
Who found the window upstairs un-
fastened?'
John Collins"
Did you examine it?"
NO: he found ii and told u.s.
Then you examined no windows or doors
in the upper part of the house,"
Did Fieger?"
Il do not remember
Did You examine doors downstairs?"
Yes. but l do not reCollect for sure
w hat is your best recollection"
Who found the window downstairs un-
Mr. knowles"
Did you see any tracks from the win
dcMs .!yD after you Went outside?'
Was there anyone outsider"
Il think So"
DO YOU remember positiyeiy?"
NO. but | think Sergeant Donovan ar
rived about that time
Was there any mud found on the kitch-
en- roof
Il don't know.
HAD it rained during the night"
II think not.
Mr.. Hayden then referred TO the evidence
at the preliminary when jenkins said ac-
cording to the transcript:
Il think it rained during the night"
On redirect examination Mr.. Jetmore en-
deavored to straighten out the tange into
which Mr. Hayden had led Policeman Jenk-
ins. jenkins then testified that he was in
the house for the purpose of finding out
if there was a man concealed in the house
Mr.. Hayden:
THAT was your business there?"
Yes"
But you did not look into single
closet?"
NO. sir
This completed the examination of Jenk
ms and after few moments recess Mrs
]. S. Collins was recalled by the defense
to complete the croSS-eXamination. She
was asked by Mr.. GODDARD if she had posi-
tive personal knowledge that the doors and
windows were fastened. Mrs. Collins testi-
fed that it had always been custom of
Mr. Collins to see that every door and
window were locked every night. but that
she did not know that the windows were
fastened.
Police Sergeant Tim Donovan testified
that when he went TO the house Mrs Col
Inns was leaning over MIR. Collins crying.
He then made search of the house to
see If he could find anyone in hiding or
murderer had escaped No fresh tracks
could be discovered anywhere. A lump of
clay found on the roof of the back
porch, but it was old. and had not fallen
off the shoe of anyone. He examined the
bed hut did not find any revolver. He and
Chief IF polica Steele found some Ioa5ad