The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-14

dust powder would have caused an or
binary gun to explode.
Mr.. Collins told me his arm was
black and blue at that time, two weeks
later, and his shoulder was so sore he
could scarcely raise his arm"
Q--DO you know if John Collins arm
was examined after J. s.. Collins had
been shot?
Ayes, believe it was.
Q.-Who suggested it?
Al believe 1 did.
Q.-To whom?
A.-Sherif Cook and Mr. WiIkerson.
On cross-examination by Mr.. Stafford
He asked Mr.. Holland if Collins had
been in the habit of using his gun fire.
quently. The witness did not know and
made the same answer to this question
IF the gun kicked Mr.. Collins it
would be likely to kick Sheriff Cook If
he shot 16 of those shells later?'1
Mrs. George Mccoy Tcstifies.
Mrs. George Mccoy was the next wit
ness called. Since her mother died,
twelve years ago, the witness said J. S.
Collins had been almost father to her
self and sister, their father having died
four years prior to the death of the
mother. Mrs. Mccoy was formerly Miss
Olivia Van Tassel. During her absence
in the east and other places, j. s. Col
Inns RENTED monthly to her the money
which was her allowance. once, at the
time Lew Best committed suicide in Ar
kansas, she was walking on the street
with J. s. Collins, who was talking to
her about it, and he said:
3" OLIVIA, that's about the kind Of
death I will meet. I can never be safe
On another occasion, speaking of sud
den and unexpected death, Collins said
to Mrs. Mccoy:
IA sudden death is the only way to
die. That's the way hope and believe
I will die"
Mrs. Mccoy then testified that during
her long acquaintance with the Collins
family the relations between the vari-
Gus members thereof had always been
of the most affectiOnate and loving
character. She also stated that Johns
treatment of his father sister and
stepmother was always the best and
that he seemed very fond of all of them
On crosse examination the witness said
she had not during the last two years,
seen very much of John Collins, except
what she had seen of him in his fathers
Office and as she had met them on sun
days going to church.
Q.-Then your knowledge Of John is
confined principally to what you saw
of him at the office?
Ayes.
Mrs Mccoy said that she paid little
attention to what Collins had told her
in discussing Lew Best's death until two
months before Collins death when,
during a conversation with the witness
in his office, Collins had said he was
very much worried. Then I thought
that perhaps what he had told me
about Best meant that he, Collins,
would commit suicide. He told me
them she said, that his affairs were in
a discOura ging condition"
DIR. Esterly Testifies.
DR.. d. E. Esterly of Topeka, who is
a physician, but limits his practice to
eye and ear troubles, was next called.
He fitted John Collins with glasses in
January, 1897 May 5 John Collins re-
turned to DR.. Esterly's Office with
broken eye glass.
On cross examination the doctor said,
referring to his day books, that John
Collins had come to his office. the first
patient among six who were in the Of
flee for treatment during the forenoon
of May 8. He couldn't say what hour
John Collins was at his office.
Miss May Lange of Topeka followed
DR.. Esterly. Miss Lange is an intimate
friend of the Collins family. She teSti-
fed that John Collins treatment of his
mother, sister and father was of the
highest character and that she had
never heard an unpleasant word pass
among them. She also stated that John
Collins and his father were very COM
panionable. The witness said: AT
Lawrence once heard John complain
ing about the treatment his father had
given him He seemed offended be-
cause his father had gotten a new gun
case when he did not get what he
wanted
Q.-What had John expected?
"A new pair of shoes.
Odd you ever hear any other COM
plants?
A.-No, sir.
The witness went to the Collins home
soon after Mr.. Collins was shot and
went into the room where Mr. Collins
died. He was still alive and John was
just going out of the room. Miss Lange
stated that soon after his father died
John Collins came into the room, knelt
down by the bedside and took one of his
fathers hands. and with the other on
his fathers forehead, cried for some
time.
Oils grief seemed sincere?
Alt certainly did.
Ole seemed much affected?
Ale was.
Odd John raise Grace from the
bedside while she was caressing her
dead father?
Al think he did.
Q.-Both were crying?
Ayes.