The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-05-13

serious and do not cause her any incon-
venience. They were stray shot. The
shot were small, not larger than No. 3
and if they had been fired at long
range they would not have caused
death instantly.
The shooting occurred at just 5
o'clock and Mr.. Collins did not live
longer than Is minutes and he did not
recognize anyone after he spoke to his
wife. He bled to death.
Mrs. Collins told her story to Jour
nal reporter short time after the
soundly when I was awakened by a ter
ribIe crash. I jumped up and Mr.. Collins
said Helen. 1 am shot in the back
"'Are you much hurt, Jim?' 1 asked.
Yes said he, go and get the cam
phor and rub my back. am badly
hurt
HE was lying on the bed and 1 saw
a frightful stream 1 then ran to the
foot of the stairs and called John and
Grace. They both ceme down and
went for help. When went back into
the room Mr.. Collins could not talk.
Il heard no one, L was stunned by
the report of the gun and naturally
would not give as much attention to
any thing of that kind as I might un-
der other circumstances.
when 1 went out in the hall and the
children had come down found the
gun lying in the hall. The front door
was not open but the double doors be-
tween our room and the parlOr were
open.
1T was not a burglar, of that I am
sure. Right at the door where whoev-
er did the shooting entered the room
were Mr.. Collins trousers with IS or Sc
in silver in the pocket and the
were not touched. Mr.. Collins gold
watch was lying on the dresser.
L have not the least idea who did the
terrible deed. I do not know that Mr..
Collins had an enemy in the world. He
has seemed in excellent spirits recent
nd ha "a "a " T1Tnl lyT1ny
of no one who had a grudge against him
and am at loss to know why any one
should have murdered Mr.. Collins for
he never had trouble with any one"
John Collins, the son who has been at
tending the State University returned
to his home only yesterday. Il came
home because I was sick" said
he. Il tried to find DR.. Grubbs yester-
day to consult him about my health but
did not see him, so I came home early
and went to bed. I slept soundly and
TINS morning early heard a noise. 1t
was loud but did not know what it
was until 1 heard mother calling, John
your father has been shot said she,
get up right away
Il rushed down stairs and saw faith
er stretched across the bed in a pool of
blood. Then 1 ran up stairs and got
my trousers on and ran across the
street in my bare feet to waken Mr.
Lange and telephone for a DOCTOR 1t
is horrible thing.
The gun that belonged to my father
was lying in the front hall. The front
door was not open but the dining room
window was unfastened and a window
up stairs was also Unmatched"
Miss Grece Collins, who was sleeping
in the bedroom over the parIor said:
i was awakened by the report of the
gun. did not hear two reports Then
L heard mother calling and the next
thing l heard was John jump out of
bed. 1 followed him down stairs
Il heard no one leave the house and
L heard no doors OPEN Papa's big gun
was lying in the hall when 1 went
down.
Miss Collins was almost frantic with
grief and it was with difficulty that she
was able to talk about the murder.
Mrs Collins and John Collins seemed
more composed. They had evidently
mastered their grief
X. II Knowles who lives at 3O9 West
Sixth street near the Collins home said.
"A man came to our house this morning
and rang the door bell NV motheI
went TO the door and the man said that
one OF our neighbors had been killed.