, 1898-11-04
CUCKOO" COLLINS.
THE FAMOUS FOOT RACER Es-
CAPEs FROM THE COLO
RADIO PENrTENTIARY.
Was Working as a Trusty in the Brook
side Coal Mines-Blcodhounds are
on His Trail-Stole Fifteen Hun
dred Dollars Worth Of Diamonds
From a Jewelry Store.

Cuckoo Collins is very we'll known
in Laramie. and the following chapter
in the history OF his checkered career
will be CT interest. The Denver Re-
publican says:
Cuckoo Jim Collins is at liberty to
run foot races again, or to steal, If he
wants to.
Shortly before midnight last night
the police received word that Collins
had escaped from the Canon City peni-
ttentiary, where he was serving a two
years term for grand larceny. He may
be headed this way and an anxious
lookout will be kept for him.
Collins is one of the best-known
crooks in the United States, although
he is no known to have served time
until he was sent up from Denver in
1897. By profession he is a foot-racer
of the fake kind, but on occasions he
thieves.
March 9, 1896. after having spent a
successful season in Denver and ad-
jacent towns in running sure-thing
foot-races, he stole $1,000 worth Of dia-
monds from Gottesleben & Sons jewelry
store at 1004-1OO6 Six eenth street. The
crime was n OF tine most daring in the
annals Of the local police department.
Murder came near being added to it.
Collins entered the store about 5
O'Clock in the afternoon, and asked to
be shown some diamond rings. He
said he wanted to buy one for his wife.
He was well-dressed and presented the
appearance Of a prosperous business
man. Therefore Clerk Charles H. Lep-
pla, who went to wait on him, had no
suspicious of his real character.
Leppla set out a tray containing
about thirty stones and Collins began
examining them. All Of a sudden,
while the clerks back was turned he
drew a heavy cardboard from his
pocket and clapped It ven the tray. In
an instant he vas out Of the store, the
tray under his arm, and was running
as though he wanted to run at least one
honest race in his life.
Leppla gave the alarm and in a mo-
ment a crowd was pouring down the
street in pursuit OF him. George Allie
SON. a candy-maker, better known as
Greek George" Joined in the chase
and soon led it. He overlook Collins
near Fourteenth and Lawrence and
was about to seize him, when Collins
drew a revolver, turned half around
and fired.
Greek George stopped running very
suddenly. for the bullet from the fugi-
lives revolver had struck MIN in the
arm and knocked him out.
Cuckoo Jim kept on running and
escaped. He boarded a train and left
Denver. On the following day he was
seen in Pueblo, but before an order for
| his arrest could be forwarded from
Denver he had again cleared out. A re-
ward of $500 was offered for his appre-
hension, but it did not avail.
Finally. on April IL, 1897, Collins
was arrested near Sacrimento. CAL,
by Max Fisher, a detective, who wired
the Denver police Of his capture. Sher-
if Webb SEN Deputy Gregory after
him. He returned without requisition.
On June g.. 1897, Collins pleaded gull
ty to the charge of grand larceny and
was sentenced by Judge johnson in
the criminal court. There WAS consider
able speculation as to his reason fol
pleading guilty, but tine accepted theory
was that he did 30 in order to escape
arrest by the ~Pinkertons, who were
said to hold a warrant against him for
stealing $1,000 worth OF diamonds in
British Columbia.
The prisoners term in the peniten-
tiary would have expired in about four
months, and the police w perplexed
for a reason for his escape, unless 1t be
that he still fears the Pinkertons.
According to the information receiv-
ed by the police, Cuckoo Jim" was
working as a trusty in the BroCkside
coal mines near Canon City, when he
escaped. At 2 O'Clock he eluded the
guards and got away.
With him went Gus Graebner, who
was serving a term of four years for
grand larceny, committed in En- Paso
county. A telegram from Pueblo says
that a ~penitentiary guard arrived there
last night In search of the men and that
bloodhounds had been started on their
trail from Broolcside.
At the police station last night Deaec-
tive DeLue said that Collins has . wife
living in Cincinnati and thek he h
deeply in love with hr. Y II thought
he may start toward Cincinnati to pay
her . visit.
Nothing Is known here concerning
Graebner.
eenATnn wAnnen