The Topeka state journal., 1898-12-10
THEORY OF DEFENSE
S That Negroes We're to Divide
Profits of Gambling
With John Collins and Killed
j. s. Collins
For the Purpose of Getting Rid
of John.

The defense Of John Henry Collirs
will be based upon two main PROPOSE
tions.
First-That the evidence of the Law
renee negroes is false in every par
ticular and that they buncoed and sWIn-
died John Collins and got his money to
use in gambling, agreeing to return GER
tain profits, and when John attempted
to get the money back they dragged
him deeper into the mire, and after
they had killed J. s Collins cOnnived to
place the responsibility Of the crime on
John Collins.
Second-That on the morning of the
murder about O'Clock, a cOlored man,
carrying what seemed to be a pair Of
shoes, was seen crossing the Collins
kitchen roof and that he descended to
the ground over the coal shed and then
made his escape through the alley.
These facts were developed this morn
ing when A. A. GODDARD made, for the
defense, a statement of the case to the
jury.
There was not large crowd present
this morning but all gave close atten-
ton to Mr. GOdard's statement OF the
case for John Collins.
Mr. GODDARD thanked the jury for
the careful attention given to the states
evidence and asked a similar favor for
the evidence of the defense. He said
the evidence already presented was en-
tirely circumstantial and in no instance
direct. I'VE shall be brief he said,
and hope you will not regard it as
tedious, because you all realize that it is
important that our client should be
given the advantage of everything we
can find in the way of evidence.
we expect to show that Joe SmOth-
ers is entirely unworthy of belief; that
he has said he is one of five witnesses
who were to be paid for testifying in
this case
I'VE expect to show you that Jess
Harper's testimony is false in every
particular, both with reference to the
diamond and revolver; but it is hardly
necessary since he testified that he
pawned a blue barrelled revolver when
the pawnbrOker says it was a nickel
plated gun.
we will show that Cornelius Carter
told nothing but faIsehoOds.
We will show that Ed AIiIler's story
about John Collins buying poison is
false, and made out of whole cloth.
we will show that Johnson Jordan
attempted to blackmal Mrs. Collins
prior to this trial and that he procured
the watch by gambling We will also
show that he said he had killed J. S.
Collins on account of an old grudge.
we will show that Miss BabcOck is
mistaken in some of her statements:
not that she did it maliciously, but that
she was influenced by some other per-
sons.
We will show that the witness Har-
baugh is utterly unworthy of belief and
cannot be relied upon That he testi-
fed falsely when he said John Collins
wrote left handed; and that the state
ment that the gun was placed in the
hall by left handed man, was false,
and that both statements are malicious
and false in every particular.
We viii show that J. S. Collins took
a prominent part in parades; was a
member of numerous orders; stood high
In the community and that his business
was that of real estate: which he had
Followed for several years, also renting
aesfr1 LIa 4
large rental lists, particularly small
buildings and business blocks: that he
was a man of nervous temperament;
1mpetuOuS; that when he took a dis
like to any one he vigorously smoke his
mind with but little regard to the con-
sequences and thereby made many enc
mics. If any one came to him to rent
building or rooms for immoral ar ille-
gal purposes he was particularly
scathing and not infrequently ordered
them from his Office. He was also Civ
en- to ordering people back from the
way of parades. bringing him into
quarrels with many people.
Mr. Collins had been in good circun-
stances. but prior to his death his in
come probably did not exceed the -outgo
but he had amassed considerable mon
ey-
j s. Collins lived in constant fear
of being murdered He was never seen
out of his house without carrying
loadeu cane. He always tried every
door and window then slept with two
revolVers in his bed and a loaded shot
gun near by.
we will show that he was held up
near the starch factory, and that not
so very long ago he was followed, on
Sixth street, by colored man whom he
marched out under an electric light,
ana found ne was carrying a big knife.
We viii show that Mr.. Collins told the
members of his family and some of his
friends that he was being followed and
haunted by cOlOred man and We will
put these people on the stand to prove
dt.
John Collins High Standing.
1--WE will show that the standing of
John Collins in this community is Of 4ba