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

1t was a fatal thirteen for John Henry
Collins, unconscious of the procession
| that was passing the Jail building, en-
| joying a cigar after his evening meal in
his cell on the third floor
Sheriff Cook followed in the rear of
the twelve jurors to see that no one at
tempted to talk to any of them. As the
| procession reached Kansas avenue a
neWsbOy came running up behind them
shouting his papers.
keep away from those men," shout
ed the sheriff, and the little newsboy
skunk away in fear at the stentorian
tones of the officer, wondering why he
was not allowed to sell his papers to the
men marching up Kansas avenue.
The bailiff and the jurors entered a
Kansas avenue restaurant, where places
were reserved for them at the tables.
John COyne's position was such that he
could watch every man, and he saw that
neither they talked to the walters or
the walters talked to them. Once in a
while the jurors would make remarks
in a low tone to each other, but alto
gether it was a silent meal
It was few minutes before Z o'clock
when the jurors left the jury room. 1t
was 30 minutes later when they re-
turned.
Bailiff Coyne had hardly locked them
in the room when Judge Hazen arrived.
A few minutes later a Kansas City
newspaper man dropped in. Then came
Attorney Harry Stafford and Bert Lucas,
ex-under sheriff of the county. Soon
County Attorney JetmOre and Attorney
Charles Hayden raped for admission
on the hall door.
The hum of voices in the jury room
as each arrival passed it on his way to
the judges chambers, showed that the
II jurors were in the midst of a discus
sion of the case.
Harry Stafford and Bailfff Coyne told
stories. Judge Hazen and the others in
the room listened and laughed. AttOr-
ney Hayden incidentally referred to a
law point and Judge HaZen took issue
with him. The two started to look the
matter up. 1t was not interesting to
the others and they strayed into the
court room across the hall from the
chambers of the judge, and chatted
about the trial. The minutes passed and
the hands of the clock on the wall of
the court room gradually neared the
hour of o'clock.
Judge Hazen and Attorney Hayden
had finished their legal controversy and
were discussing famous cases. County
Attorney JetmOre and Harry Stafford
walked into the room and listened, now
and then putting in a word About 8
O'Clock the conversation Jagged for a
moment and Judge Hazen stood up and
stretched himself. 4 think by the time
I have eaten that lunch on Jetmore I
will be ready to go to bed he said
Have you the lunch on Jetmore2''
asked Mr.. Hayden.
yes, the county attorney has to set
it UP tonight" replied Judge Hazen.
HE bet Harry Stafford and me that you
folks wouldn't put John Collins on the
stand and we bet that you would. We're
going down to eat on him tonight
The attorneys laughed, and Judge
I Hazen pulled out his watch. Il think
before go I'll call the jury in and give
the men the run of the court room to-
night" he said john he continued,
calling to Bailif Coyne, bring in the
jury
Bailiff COyne pulled his keys out of
his pocket and rushed down the hall.
Judge Hazen walked into the court
room and took his accustomed seat be-
hand the desk. The door of the jury
room was heard to open and a moment
later the door of the court room was
pushed back and the jurors shambled
in, taking their seats in the jury box
When all were seated Judge Hazen
turned to them and said: