Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-12-13

servation, how close John and his father
seemed 10 be 10 each other and how ehum-
my they seemed. Once Mr.. Collins 6, tod
me how he had been followed Sixth
street, and finally discovered that q col
ored man was lodging from tree 10
tree, and closing towards him. Mr.. Col
Inns said he turned, confronted the negro.
marched him out under the electric light
and asked the negro what he was doing
with knife. The negro, ne SAID; then
commenced to beg, and MIR. Collins told him
that this WIS the second time the negro
had followed him, and if it occurred again,
he said he would fix him so he couldn't
do it again.
Mr.. Hayden then asked Mrs. Cochrane
II she had ever seen anything to indicate
that John Collins was brutal, avariciouS.
or cold-blooded in his manner.
81 never have"
Miss Mary Wyatt. ]. S. Collins stenog-
rapher for ten years prior TO his death.
was the next witness. She told how Mr..
Collins himself had kept the cash account.
paying out all moneys by check, and enter
She testified that Mr.. Collins had large
ciientage and handled all classes of prop
erty, for rich and poor alike. dealing at
all times with all classes of people. The
witness thought Mr.. Collins had 100 regular
tenants.
Tell the jury what Mr.. Collins manner
was in dealing with other men,?
IF they were immoral men, he was very
harsh toward them. Where ! might have
tried to conciliate them and not get their
i'll WILL he was very severe and seemed TO
care not for the consequences. He was also
very severe in collecting delinquent rents.
He made many enemies.
Mr.. Collins was also Interested in the
Edwards estate. his mother was an Ed
wards. in New York city, and il had been
leased for a term of years The lease was
about TO expire, but the document had
been stolen and by man who had com
mitted some other crime in the past, of
which Mr.. Collins was well aware. The
missing document was all that was neces-
sary TO establish the claim of the Edwards
family TO the New York property;
Miss Wyatt also testified that Mr.. Col
lins had always kept ammunition in his
office and frequently left his gun there.
The office was broken into and all desks
and drawers were looted. keys TO houses
were scattered over the floor. and papers
were also thrown all over the office.
Did ]. S. Collins receive anonymous
letters?"
Yes, once when he was. running for
mayor. and once within the last year. He
told me the letters Were threatening"
Did they worry him.
Where did John spend his leisure time?'
I'm the office with his father. collecting
or working with the typewriter.
What were the relations between them?
THE very kindest. but they seemed more
like brothers. they We're so much together.
John was always kind ana gentle TO his
DO you know of any trouble. at any
time, between them?"
Il do not"
Would you have known it?''
Yes, sir, i think ! would.
Did Mr. Collins have some deals on
hands at the time of his DEATH"
Yes. he had large tracts of land be-
longing to Governor Morrill,, Major Hood,
Mr. Storch. of Atchson; the Copeland.
Throop. Chesterfield and Fifth Avenue no.
tells in Topeka for sale and had about COM
I,leted deals for some of these properties,
and would have realized several thousand
dollars
Miss Wyatt went TO the Collins home
about o'clock on the morning of Mr.. Col
Inns death and talked 10 John. who said:
1T seems so terrible. that We have 10
stand around and father die without
being able to do anything for him.
Miss Wyatt here began TO shed tears and
answered questions in the midst of sobS
During this recital tears gathered in the
eyes of both Mrs. Collins and John. The
witness further stated that John Collins
on that fatal morning. seemed broken
hearted at the loss of his father.
The witness was asked IL she heard the
conversation between John Collins and Dell
Harbaugh She did. and swore that Har-
haugh said. when John told him about the
negro coming into the office. that one could
not depend on negroes. Because he said
Il could get negro to do anything foI
$50 or less
You would not hesitate to tell the iury
all you know about this case?''
.'No. sir: believe in hereafter and will
tell only the truth
MIR. Collins had anonymous letters?'