The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-09
YESTERDAYS LATE TESTIMONY
Evidence Presented of John Collins
Financial Transactions.

Journal had gone to press were as fol-
lows:
At 8 O'Clock, after the recess, c. o.
Knowles was called. He knew J. S.
Collins and is acquainted with John
Collins. He identified a letter from
John Collins, last January. The letter
writer stated that owing to unwise ex-
penditures and the non-payment of
loans made to a chum," he desired to
borrow $50 for year have no Sc
curity other than my own good name or
perhaps that of my father, except a
chattel mortgage on personal effects
said the letter.
Collins insisted that the letter be kept
a secret, because you know, of his pc
culiar disposition about which enough
has been said here" Collins wrote that
he would volunteer to agree that if the
note was not paid promptly, it should
be referred to his father.
Odd you answer the letter?
A.-NO.
Did you talk to him?
A.-Yes, in eight or ten days over the
telephone. He was in Lawrence.
Q.-What did he say?
A-Asl1ed if had answered the let
ter and told him had no money to
loan and that he had better see his
father.
There was no cross-examination and
D. w Nellis of Topeka was called He
was on intimate terms with Mr.. Collins
and is now administrator Of the Collins
estate.
Q.-How much insurance did J. S. Col
Inns have in favor of his son?
A.-$13, 900 payable to son and daugh-
ter
Q.-How much insurance did hecarry?
A-$26, $780, think.
The witness then wrote a list of poll
cies of insurance, payable to Mrs. Col
Inns, total of $135 500. The policies pay
able to John adm Grace were: Cove
nant Mutual, S., 900; Preferred Accident,
$5, 900; National Union, SO, 900.
Q.-Any insurance payable to the
estate?
Al, 500. It netted about 81 300, ow-
ing to some claims against it.
Mr.. Nellis' testimony was in the main
concerning Mr.. Collins financial at
fairs.
Mr. Nells said Mr.. Collins personal
assets had been appraised but the real
property has not been. The witness
was asked by Mr.. Stafford if the claims
couldn't answer.
Q.-Is the estate insolvent?
Al can not say.
O.-What is the condition Of the
estate?
Al can not tell.
Q.-What are the liabilities?
A.-The books and the claims filed are
not the same.
Q.-Ten both?
object" said the defense.
Sustained said the court.
Q.-HOW many claims have been filed?
About 81, 900.
Q-How much have you no hand?
A.-AbOut 81 300.
Mr.. Stafford made another attempt
to have the witness say whether or not
the estate was insolVent, but the court
ruled against him.
The witness was asked as to the men
tai and physical condition May II.
A.-There was no change from his
usual condition. He seemed cheerful all
the week and we had been together a
great deal.
On cross-examination Mr.. Nellis said
none of the insurance policies have been
paid.
Mrs. ]. F. Mills, receiving clerk at the
western Union telegraph office in this
city, was the next witness. She identi-
fed the mysterious Tell nothing tele-
gram and said the original telegram
was: Father is dead" and was filed
by F. Lange at a. m. In a few mo-
office and added the two words: "Teu
nothing" This was the message sent
to Miss BabcOck.
Mr.. GODDARD, on cross-examination,
asked the witness how she knew it was
John Collins and she said he had come
into the office, and stated the contents
of the message, and she had identified
him as the man at the corOner's inquest
The prosecution here offered in evi-
dence the Johnson Jordan letter, print
ed in the Journal Wednesday,.
Mrs. StOrmOnt on the Stand.
Mrs. Jane c. Stormont of Topeka. was
called and produced a note for $50, da-
ted February %, which she said was
given to her to secure a loan which she
had made John. In the cross -examina-
tiOn Mrs. StOrmOnt said she and John
were talking over his school affairs
when she offered to make him the loan
and that John Collins did not ask her
for the money.
w N. Morrison, to whom Edith Bev-
ms pawned chain, (which the Collins