The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-16
if he had told her he expected that his
father would be assassinated.
Why He Told False Stories.

fenced a
caused him to deny the truthfulness Of
the stories he had told Miss Babcock,
and the statement he had written for
Sheriff Cook, the witness said he
thought it was after his arrest, when
he realized that those incidents had
been connected with the charge that he
had murdered his father. Collins was
asked if he had told Miss BabcOck that
he wished he could take his fathers
place, and he said he did not remember.
The witness was asked why he did not
tell all of these stories and include in his
statement the facts connected with the
disposal of his watch. AS before, Col
Inns reiterated his statement that he
kept those things from the officers be-
cause he was ashamed of his transac-
tiOnS with the diSreputable negroes and
feared that disgrace would follow the
publicity of those facts. Mr.. JeS1nore
also asked Collins If he had not at
Knowles and Mr.. Gage owing to the
fear that he would lose his place in
Lawrence society and be branded as a
dead beat. He responded no. EXplana-
tiOns of sundry transactions which fol-
lowed led the witness back to the false
statements which he had made prior to
his arrest, and at this time Mr.. Jetmore
inquired why, prior to his fathers
death. he had INDUCED in the practice
of constant lying. and Immediately after
being arrested, and at this time, when
his life was at stake, the defendant
could go on the stand and tell the truth.
The witness could not explain definitely,
but said that since the trouble has come
to him he had decided to make a clean
breast of everything, admit the fact Of
having made untruthfuI statements and
stand sQuarely upon the case as pre-
sented in its true light.
The witness was asked if he had made
certain Investigations of unimportant
details of his testimony, and he replied
by saying:
mo, I haven't had much opportunity
to get out and see things since I was
arrested.
Collins denied that he had given his
fathers revolver to Jess Harper at
Lawrence, and explained as a reason
for the purchase of the pistol in Topeka
on Dewey day, that the negroes with
whom he was dealing were not alto
gether law abiding citizens, and he
thought best to have pistol, more as
a threat than anything else"
Collins said when he returned to
Lawrence from Kansas City he had
given up all hope Of securing his watch
a revolver for purposes of protection,
il case he got mixed up with the
negroes. The witness said he had the
revolver in his pocket at home the day
his father was killed. Asked why, he
said: I did just as you would have
done, had some one broken into your
house and killed your father. We did
not know but that the man was still
in the house"
Of you had found the man who
had killed your father would you have
shot him2
Al think would.
John Collins was still on the stand
when court adjourned at noon
Afternoon Session.
During the forenoon today, and in
fact yesterday as well as this afternoon,
John Collins in the cross examination
manifested a disposition to antagonize
Mr.. Jetmore in replying to questions.
The county attorney by pressing at
various times, questions concerning
small
and he gave frequent utterance to
sharp responses to the questions. Both
questions and answers at times ap-
preached bitterness, and were RESPONSE
bic for criticisms by the spectators.
Some even went SO far as to charge
that the county attorney was unduly
aggressive, but Mr.. JetmOre laughed
at the insinuatiOns and said:
Il merely want to get at the facts
in this case and have no desire what
ever to be disagreeable. We are pro-
ceeding in accordance with the evidence,
and there is no disposition to be other
wise than fair
There were many persons in the court
room who were free to criticiSe John
Collins brazenness, as they character
lied it. and there were many who, in
the halls, and while passing to and from
the court room, said that the defend
ants attitude towards the county at
torney would strongly prejudice the jury
against him.
The cross-examination was resumed
tinued the explanation of the discrep-
ancies which appeared at various points
in the case, by reason Of the misrepre-
sentations which he had made at var
ious times
May 25 John Collins signed an nafidavit
in the presence of representatives of the
insurance companies, in which he stated
that when he heard the shots on the
fatal morning, he did not enter his
fathers room before he went across
the street to telephone from Mr..
7 90 Fr,~-
animation the defendant stated Thurs
day that he had gone into his fathers
room before going to Mr.. Lange's. Mr..
JetnOre showed the document to the
witness, who would not admit that the
document complete was what he had
signed. He said:
4 signed my name on the last page,
but the sheets were at that time separ-
ate and some others may have been
substituted for them"
Q.-Do you deny that is the affidavit
you signed?
A-NO, but I will not admit that it is
what signed.
Mr.. Jetmore asked Collins questions
covering his departure from the house
to telephone the doctor, but the wit
ness said he did not remember The
affidavit was then handed to Collins
and he was instructed to read 1t over
and point out the portions which he
had not sworn to. The defense then
asked permission to compare the
original with copy of the affidavit fur
niShed them by the prosecution, and |
they retired, John Collins going with
them. The comparison completed, the
attorneys and descendant returned. Mr.
Jetmore resumed his questioning, but
Mr.. Hayden suggested that the affidavit
should be presented in full and read to |
the jury. Mr. JetmOre then asked Mr.. !
Hayden to admit that the document |
was signed by Collins and this was
done. The affidavit was then laid |
aside for the moment and Mr.. Jetmore |
asked Collins if he had told Miss Bah |
cock that his father would be attacked |
from the rear and could not fight like |
The 1.-itrones -