The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-26

him. He tried to borrow money both
here and in Lawrence. He failed to get
it, and seeing no way out he turned to
desperate means. Some have been un-
kind enough to say that it was John
Collins infatuation for Frances Bah
cock that was responsible for the muir
der. John Collins infatuation for Miss
Babcock, if there was an infatuatiOn,
had nothing to do with it. He was in
debt and needed money. He had to
have money and he killed his father
with the intention of getting it.
John Collins was proud Of his posi-
ton in society. He was ,elated at his
social standing. He liked to be looked
upon as a society young man. He liked
to buy his young lady friends flowers
and bon bons and take them to parties
in carriages. He knew that his father
was in Strengthened circumstances and
could not furnish him with the means
he needed to sustain his position in So
ciety.
Il say to you, gentlemen, that John
Collins was terribly worried over his
debts He admitted it on the stand. He
was in fear of being denounced as
dead beat. He was in a desperate sit
uation. 1t meant his social downfall
unless he secured money, and he looked
about for way of securing it. He
could not go to his father because he
knew his father was in no position to
help him.
Il know, and you know, gentlemen of
the jury, what way he took to secure
this money and to his mind apparently
it was the only way. The court tells
you in the instructions that where one
person is carrying insurance in favor of
another and is murdered by the bene-
fciary, the beneficiary is not entitled to
a dollar of the insurance. That is true,
gentlemen, but 1 want to say that if
James S. Collins did not carry insurance
in favor of his son to the knowledge of
that son he would not be cold in his
grave today.
Gentlemen, actions speak louder
9 Wf7xT iii To,17r GTnTI "a
as he did on the morning of the murder?
Grace Collins ran down stairs when her
mother called and ran across the street
in her night clothes, while John Collins,
the man, waited to go back to his room
and put on his trousers and coat and
possibly his hat. If anyone should have
gone back to dress it was Grace Collins,
the modest girl that she is. But no,
she did the natural thing, she rushed
down stairs as she left her bed in her
night robe and rushed out into the
street. If the girl could have gone
across the street in her night clothes
why in the name of God couldn't the
man have done the same thing. But
he waited to go back to his room and
dress before he went out on the street.
His actions were unnatural, gentlemen,
and his actions were unnatural because
he was guilty of the crime.
THE defense has talked TO you about
Dell Harbaugh, and how it would be
an imposition on the hospitalities of hell
to present his soul for admission there.
Gentlemen of the jury you have seen
some of the best men in the state of
Kansas get on that witness stand and
swear that Dell Harbaugh was an hon
est, truthful, respectable citizen of good
reputation. They have tried to patch
up a, record for Harbaugh that would
show that he had at some time or other
lied, but the witnesses they brought be-
fore you to do it were witnesses who
were a disgrace to the defense. And
right in this connection, gentlemen Of
the jury, I want to present to you the
record Of another man. and with this
remark he reached in his coat pocket
and took out folded paper. ''I hold in
my hand here he continued "a paper
headed John Henry Collins lies and
is a record of the lies that he has told
in connection with this case and which
have cropped out at this trial. This rec
ord is not complete, because have not
noted all of John Collins lies that have
come out during the trial of the case,
and God knows how many lies he has
told that L have heard nothing about"
County Attorney Jetmore then started
to read the list, calling the number be
fore each reading. Thirty-eight was the
last number called. The fabricatiOns
compiled by Mr.. Jetmore extended from
the time John Collins wrote Mr.. G. o.
Knowles of this city for money, stating
that he was short because of a loan to
a college chum, up to the time of his
testimony in the district court, and in
cluded statements made to Miss Ba b.
cock, Ross Broadhead, Sheriff Cook,
Jess Harper, Dell Harbaugh, Clay Lyon
and many others.
John Collins heard the list read with
his eyes on the ceiling of the court
room, and no evidence of either shame
or resentment depicted on his counten-
ance.
Mr.. Jetmore concluded the reading of
the list and turned his attention to a
review of the efforts of the attorneys
for the defense to impeach the states
witnesses, and in which, he declared,
they had failed in every instance. In
conclusion he said:
'It seems to me. gentlemen of the
jury that it unnecessary for me to
keep you here longer. 1t seems foolish
to review further the evidence in this
trial This is not a matter of sentiment
with you, gentlemen, but it a matter
of deciding according to the law and
the evidence. You undoubtedly appre-
ciate the Importance of this case. It is
not a question of making that family
happy on Christmas day, and God
knows I would like to do something to
make them happy, but it is a question
of trying it according to the law and
the evidence without passion or preju-
dice"