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

Gentlemen of the jury, have de-
cided to give you the use Of the court
room tonight. You may stay in here in
stead of in the jury ROOM
One of the men in the front row of
seats stood up. 1t was John Dickey,
and he had been elected foreman by
honor he said as he leaned forward
with his hand to his right ear.
4 say" said Judge Hazen in loud
er tone, that 1 have decided to allow
you to remain in the court room tonight
instead of the jury room. You can con-
tinue your deliberations here and any
time that you agree upon a verdict you
can announce 1t to the balim and he
will come and tell me. I will come up
and take the verdict any time you
agree"
Foreman Dickey was still standing
with his hand to his ear and from the
expression of his countenance it was
noticeable that Judge Hazen was say
ing something he did not fully under
stand. As Judge Hazen ceased he drop
ped his hand. But your honor,'' he
said, I'VE have a verdict
Judge Hazen started. The attorneys
and others in the court room stepped
toward the jury box with eyes open
wide in astonishment. whats that ."
exclaimed Judge Hazen.
I'VE have verdict your honor and
have had it for some time,'' replied
Foreman Dickey. Il pressed the button
in the room three times and we sup
posed the delay was caused by the bail
Every man in the court room includ-
ing Judge Hazen was thunderstruck.
Nothing similar had ever been known
to happen before. When the jurors had
called the bailiff earlier in the evening
the sound of the "buzzer'' was plainly
audible in the chambers across the hall.
For an hour before the jury was called
in by Judge Hazen some one had been
in the court room continuously.
The machinery of the little electric
machine had never failed before. The
truth of Foreman Dickey's statement
could scarcely be realized.
John Collins Sent For.
Judge Hazen recovered from his sur
prise in a moment. "Bailiff." " notify the
sheriff to bring the defendant to the
court room at once" he said.
Bailif Coyne went out of the court
room like shot, never stopping to even
put on his hat. When the noise of his
departure died away a deathlike still
ness fell on the court room.
The u men sat bolt upright in their
seats in the jury box with stOlid faces
County Attorney Jetmore and Attorney
Harry Stafford slipped into seats in the
court room. Judge Hazen nervously
pulled a piece of paper from newspa-
per lying on his desk and placed it be-
tween his lips. In the narrow han At
tOrney Charles Hayden paced quietly up
/ and down.
The clock on the court room wall
slowly licked the moments away. 1t
was the only noise that broke the still
ness IN the room. Ihe dVe minutes that
elapsed from the time Bailiff Coyne left
the court house until steps were heard
approaching on the stone pavement of
the first floor and up the steps to the
floor of the court room, seemed to those
in waiting to be multiplied several
times.
The footsteps came nearer and nearer
| and every eye in the court room was
turned toward the door. Grant Meade
entered first and then the defendant
FIe was followed by John Collins, senior,
! and Sheriff Cook.
AS John Henry Collins reached the
court room door he took a lighted cigar
| from his mouth and held 1t in his hand
as he sat down to hear the result of his
/ trial
His position was an easy one, with