The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-06-22
Chief SteeIe's Testimony.


DO you know what time you were
called?
About 6:1O.
Q.-What time did you arrive at The
Collins house?
About $40 or later
Q-What officers were there?
A-Jenkins and Donovan.
Q.-See a physician there?
Ayes
Q-See the sheriff there?
Ayes, he was there.
Q.-Where did you go?
A.-Into the bedroom where Mr.. Col
Inns was.
Odd you see Mrs. Collins or John
Collins in the room?
Al saw Mrs. Collins.
Q--See John?
Q.-Where did you go in searching
the house?
Al searched the house soon after
going there. I first searched the first
floor, then went to the second floor,
then to the basement.
Odd you afterward make a sec
ond search of the house?
Ayes.
ON this second search, did you
make an examination of the doors and
Ayes. in the second floor and in
the basement.
Q--Where was this door that you
found unlocked?
A.@The one at the east end of the up
per hall.
Q.-I will ask you to state if you made
Ayes.
Q.-wfth which member of the family
did you talk about the revolvers?
Airs Collins.
Q--AnyOne else?
Ayes, John.
Q--At what time Gid you make the
search for the guns?
A--After the undertaken came
conducted2
A.-Dr. Tefft, Serg- Donovan and my
self lifted up the bed and searched it
Odd you have any conversation
with John In regard to the revolvers?
Ayes, I asked him and he said he
didn't know anything about them.
Odd you search the upper part of
the house for the revolvers?
A.-Yes.
Odd you search all the closets ex-
cept the young lady's?
Ayes.
Odd you search the closet in the
upper hall2
Ayes.
Q.-What was there in the closet
when you searched it?
A--ThePe were bedcIothes and such
things.
Q-Was this in the forenoon?
A-Yes, before IL o'clock
Q--HoW did you search the things in
the closet?
A--There are shelves on the east
side I took the quilts and blankets
and LAID them on a trunk.
Q--Pid you examine everything in
the closet2
A--Everything that would hold
Did you find any revolvers?
A.-No.
Q.-When did you go to the closet
again?
About IL o'clock Saturday
Q--How did you happen to go?
Al heard the gun had been found.
with John?
Ave went into the library and Mrs.
Collins shut the door. I told her
tod Ir
came back in a few moments and gave
John a key. John and I went up to
the closet and unlocked it. The revolt
Yer lay on a shelf and the handle was
In sight. Mrs. Collins told me that
Mrs. Grant Meade had found the gun
the evening before in getting down
some bedclothes. 1 took the gun and
kept it until the cOroner's inquest Mrs.
Collins identified it as her revolver.
Cross Examination.
The crOss-examination of Chief Steele
was conducted by Attorney GODDARD:
Odd you visit the room in the
north side of the hall and back of the
stairway?
A-Yes. I searched a room north of
the hall and west of the stairway.
Odd you search the closet?
Al don't remember.
Q--How thorough a search did YOU
make of the closet adjoining Mr.. Col
A.-Pretty thorough. We were look
ing for shells that would match those
We IOunO IN the shotgun.
Q-What room did you search first
for the revolver?
A.-John's room. My judgment is
that John was with me part of the
time.
Q--Search the closet?
Ar there was closet in the room
i searched it,
Q.-How carefully and thoroughly
did you search that room. (Fronr
room occupied by John.)
A--As thoroughly as I could
Q.-HoW many shelves in this upper
hall closet?
A--Three on the west side and one on
the south and east.
Q.-What shelf was the revolver sub
sequently found on?
A--The south shelf
The defense succeeded in shaking
Chief Steeles testimony at the coroo
ner's inquest, but in this case the CONN.,
ty attorney asked no questions on df-
rect examination in regard to the con-
Versations he had with Mrs Collins in
regard to the responsibility for the
crime.
Jesse Harper Testifies.
Jesse Harper was put on the witness
stand He was ttired in neat tailor
made suit and high standing collar. He
Is coal black negro with a tough man
ner
County Attorney Jetmore questioned
Q.-Where do you live?
A-611 Vermont street, Lawrence.
Olive at home?
Ayes.
Q.-Have you ever been in the pen
ttentiary?
A.-No sir, (vehementIy).
Q;-Are you acquainted with John