The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-15


Ayes, I did.
Q.-Then what was done?
John Grew Desperate.
Al went out on the porch and told
Jordan that believed he had lied to
me and had swindled and buncoed me.
He laughed and told him I would take
steps to get my watch. He laughed
again and I went home. I went to Law
renee the next morning on my return
, trip ticket, and then I was so much
worried and in no condition to study
that went on to Kansas City to see
Harold Smith, the assistant treasurer
of the Coates opera house. He had told
me that he was to be manager of an
] Uncle Toms Cabin tent show in Kan
sas and Missouri during the summer
and said if 1 wanted a job and wanted
to have some fun there was a good
chance.
Odd you see Smith?
A.-No; I went to the Coates three
times but could not get in.
Q.-Then what did you do?
Al went to the depot and went to
Lawrence.
Odd you telegraph Jess Harper
from Kansas City?
Q.-Why?
A.-Because wanted him. and so
telegraphed him to go to Jordan and
see If he could get my watch.
Odd you see Harper?
Ayes
Q.-Where?
AIT his home.
Q.-What did you say to him.?
Al told him what Jordan had done
and told him wanted him to go to To-
peka and see if he could get the watch.
He abused Jordan violently and pro-
fanely and swOre he, Harper. had also
been fleeced by Jordan. Harper was
mad but he didn't seem to want to
come to Topeka.
Odd you see Boy Harper that
evening?
A.-Saw a small coIored boy; don't
know who he was.
Odd he carry note for you?
Ayes, to Miss Babcock.
Odd you give him two notes?
Did you give him a note for Ed.
Miller?
Odd you ever write a note to Ed.
Miller?
A.-Never in my life.
Q--What did you buy in Kansas
"A white vest for 50 cents. a neck
tie for 25 cents, drank two beers, one
cocktail, then bought a 25-cent bottle
of champagne and went home.
Q.-That little Republican bottle of
stuff which was brought in here?
o.-Where did you go after seeing
A.-went home and took Miss shella-
barger of Topeka to a whist party.
ODD you get up early the next
A-Yes, I was sick, and I went down
town and got a glass of milk and a
sandwich which made me sick and I
threw it up in the toilet room of the
Eldridge House.
Il started back home, and as I was
passing Dick Bros drug store, Carpen-
ter called me in and asked me to have
a drink of soda I drank with him. and
then bought two cigars. Then Carpen-
ter and I went out and walked down
street together
Odd you talk to Ed Miller?
Odd you ask him for poison?
A.-No. sir. 1 never talked to him
about poison.
Q-What did you do that day?
Al came home on the Union Pa
cific.
A.-For what?
Q--To see if I could get my stomach
Q.-When did you expect to return TIC
Lawrence
A-That afternoon on the Union Pa
cific.
Q-Where did you go when you came
home
Q.-Went to the house where I found
the family at dinner.
Q.-You told them why you came
home
Ayes, and told father. I came to
see the doctor. Father asked me why
I didn't see a Lawrence doctor. I told
him I would rather see our family
physician, DR.. L. Y. Grubbs.
Mr. Lange waited to find the number
for me but could not see as he did not
have his glasses. I finally reached Dr.
Tefft by telephone and then telephOned
the police station that J. S. Collins had
been shot.
Il then went back to the house, and
went into the room where my father
was lying. l kneIt down by the bedside
and saw that he was still alive. Later
/ left the room. "
Q.-JOhn, did you kill your father?
A.-No, sir. I had no reason to kill
him or do him injury.
Odd you know he was to be killed?
A.-NO, sir.
Odd you fix any windows or doors
so any one could enter or leave the
house that night?
A.-NO, sir.
John Collins at this time was greatly
agitated. His voice trembled, and tears
were in his eyes. He was greatly af-
fected.
Q.-what did you do when you knelt
Al put my hand on fathers hand
and my other hand placed upon his
there at the bedside.
Odd you shed any tears there that
morning?
A.-Yes. I tried very hard not to do
so on accouont of my mother and sister
Odd you take those pistols from
your fathers bed?
Did you hide the pistol in the
closet upstairs?
Al did not.
Q.-You heard all of Miss Babcock's
testimony?
Ayes
Q.-Were your relations very close?
Ayes
Q.-Had you ever spoken to her of
marriage?
Ayes
Q.-Was there an engagement?
A.-No. We had talk about the
subject and she urged that we had bet
ter wait until autumn. as perhaps
neither of us were old enough to know
what we We're doing She said if we