The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-05-17
Witnesses in the Inquest OF the
Coroner
On the Murder of Mr. j. s. Col
linS
TELL A GRAPHIC TALE
Of the Incidents of the Murder
Mystery.
John Collins, Son of the MUIR
dered Man, Arrested.

The coroner's inquest in the J. s.
Collins murder mystery was opened at
10 o'clock this morning.
1t was intended to commence the in
quest at o'clock but ii was almost 10
o'clock when Mrs. Collins, John Collins,
Grace Collins and other relatives ar
rived. Mrs. Collins was heavily yelled
but as she stood before the coroner she
lifted her veil revealing a face calm and
digniied. She was somewhat paler
than usual. John Collins showed the
same calmness that has characterized
him from the first.
Police Sergeant Tim Donovan was the
first witnesses called. He was ques-
toned by County Attorney Jetmore
He said he had just got home on the
morning of the 18th when he was called
to go to the j. S. Collins home. Fol
lowing are the questions:
Q.-Where did you go?
Al went to Mr.. Collins house.
Q.-How did you get in?
A.-By the front door.
Q.-What did you find there?
Al found DR.. Tefft and Mrs. Col
Inns in the room where Mr.. Collins was
lying dead
Q.-What did you do?
Al said how did this happen? DR..
Teft said that he did not know He
said: Come here and 1 will show you
the gun He took me to the hall and
the gun was lying there. It was a dou-
ble-barreled shotgun and picked it up
Q--Did you examine the house?
Ayes.
Odd you find any tracks?
A-No.
Q.-Did you find any windows un-
locked?
Ayes, I found back window up
stairs open about six inches. 1t led to
the roof of the kitchen.
Odd you see any tracks?
A-No, L found no tracks.
Odd you make the examination
before the rain?
A.-Yes.
Q.-What else did you find out?
Al asked Mrs. Collins if she saw the
man who did the shooting. She said
no She said the murderer went out
door of the room was locked and she
opened it when she went out in the hall
when she found the gun.
Odd she say she unlocked the side
door?
Ayes.
Q.-Did you ask about the gun?
Ayes, 1 asked where the gun was
kept. She said she did not know where
1T was that night, but he always kept
it in the closet. She said he had cleaned
1t that evening.
Odd Mrs. Collins say whether the
front door was open
A.-She said it was locked. I exam
lned all the doors and windows with Dr.
Tefft and found only a north window
in the dining room unlocked and the
window up stairs.
Q.-Where did you first see John?
. A-At the door when I came out of
the room where Mr.. Collins was lying.
Q-What was he doing?
Ale was talking to some one,
don't know who.
Q-Did you talk to him?
Odd you go into the closet where
the gun was kept?
O-What did vo,, fnd9
=, Al found a couple of satchels and
In one of them there were some shells.
Q-Were they the same kind as were
in the gun?
A--No, those in the grip were black
covered We found on a shelf in the
closet a box of shells red covered like
those in the gun. Steele was with me
l found some wadding in the bed Here
they are ONitness produced four gun
Odd the wads correspond with
those in the shells you found?
,A-LYes 1 also found some shot in
the bed clothing.
Q--Did you find out anything else?
Q.-Did you have any idea who COM
mitted the murder?
Lawyer A. A. GODDARD who was pres
ent objected on behalf of John Collins
1t was overruled by the coroner and
then County Attorney Jetmore changed
the form of the question.
Odd you conclude whether or not
the crime was committed by a blIrpIar9
Ayes, we all agreed that the muir
der was not done by a burglar
Q.-YOu saw the young lady Miss
Collins)- What was her condition?
A-She was crying.
Q-What was the condition of Mrs
Collins? - .
A--She talked all right and did not
cry but she seemed excited.
Q-Did John cry?
A-No, / did not think he seemed to
care as much as boy should I would
IKE TO state another thing. Mrs Col
ans told me that Mr.. Collins kept a re
N0IVer under his pillow. I asked her
Mhere 1t was. She said she did not
know. examined the bed and did
not find any revolver.
-Dld you look for the revolver be-
1ore the body was removed?
A.-1es and after it was taken off the
1eg | made thorough search but
FAILED to find it.
SroSs examination by Mr., GODDARD:
Nv here do you live?
A--At 221 Madison street
4h,HoW many people were outside
H9Hse gse When you got there?
ave or six-not more than fen
w nat time did you get there7
49, think about 20 minutes TO &.