The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-06-20
Afternoon Session.

Edwin Lange was the first witness
called.
Odd you hear any gun shots on
the morning of May Is.
A-Yes, 1 heard two distinct shots
about O'Clock.
Q.-Was it after 5?
Ayes. 1 heard the clock strike and
shortly heard two reports
Odd any one come to your door
Ayes, Grace Collins came to the
door.
A.-Two or three seconds.
Q.-How was Grace Collins dressed?
A.-She had night gown on and was
in her bare feet.
Q.-What did she say?
A.-She said Come quick. Papa is
shot" 1 said wait a minute and ran
back up stairs to get my slippers
Q.-What did Grace do?
A.-She turned and ran back.
Odd you get up stairs?
A-No, 1 got part way up and John
Collins came in.
Q.-What did he have on?
Ale had his trousers and coat on
but was in his bare feet.
O.-What kind of a shirt did he have
on?
O-Was YOUR attention called to it?
Ayes, by John. said would have
to go home to dress and he said you
see 1 will have to dress too, L have on
my night shirt
0.-Did John Collins telephone?
Ayes, heard him talking.
Odd you go over?
Ayes, I went over and lett John at
O.@Whom did you see there?
Airs. Collins was on the porch
She had been screaming. AS l came UP
she said Poor Jim is about gone
Odd you go in?
Ayes 1 followed Mrs. Collins in.
Q.-How did you go in?
Ave went in by the side door of
the bed room.
O.-What did you see?
Al saw Mr. Jim Collins. He was
lying on the bed with his face turned
slightly to the east. His body was
to try to open his eyes but did not
speak
Q.-Where was Mrs. Collins?
A-She came up as 1 was there and
She sat at the head Of the bed with her
hand on Mr. Collins forehead.
Q.-Where was Grace?
A-She was sitting on the foot of the
bed crying.
o.-When you came in did you see a
gun in the hall?
Odd you know it was the gun with
which Mr.. Collins was shot?
Al suspected it was.
Q.-How was it lying?
A-with the muZZle to the north
west.
County Attorney Jetmore constructed
a diagram according to Edwin Lange'S
testimony showing the floor plat of the
especially of the room where the muir
der occurred and the hallway where
the shotgun was found This attracted
the attention of the attorney for the
defense and they crowded about Mr..
Jetmore and watched the formation of
the plan.
Q.-How far from the stairway was
the muZzle of the gun?
Not than two feet.
O.-Do you know which way the gun
was-where the hammers We're pointed?
Al think to the west.
Q-What did Mrs. Collins say as re-
CARDS the murderer?
A-She said, Il don't know"
Odd you put the sliding doors to-
Ayes, they would lock but wouldn't
stay.
Q-When did you do this?
A.-About two weeks ago.
Q.-At whose instance?
AIR. Hotchkiss, a representative
of an insurance company
Odd you see John Collins again
after he used the telephone and before
you went for DR.. Tefft?
Al believe not.
Q.-Whom did you meet when you
got back from DR.. Tefft's?
A-The younger Mr.. knowles.
Q.-Was the gun lying in the hallway
then?
Ayes, we picked it up to see if any
name was on it. Then L said that we
had better leave it about where it was
found.
Q.-Who was in there when you got
back?
Knowles, Grace Collins and my daugh-
O.-Was John there?
A.-Not that 1 remember.
Q.-You hadn't made any invest1ga-
ton as to whether it was burglar or
not?
A-No.
o.-What did Mrs. Collins say when
you asked her about it?
A.-She said, oh, I don't know 1
didn't suppose Jim had an enemy in
the world. l remember now that |
saw Mrs. Collins gown bloody and L
said: Are you hurt Mrs. Collins? She
said, Never mind me, do what you can
for Jim. tits only scratch.
Odd she say anything about the
shots?
A-Yes, she said they were stunning
shots She said that she got up and her
husband said: 20, Helen, am shot
in the back, get the camphor?" 1
asked where Mr. Collins kept his gun.
Odd you hear Dr. Tefft say it was
a burglar?
Al heard Dr. Tefft say that it was
not done for burglary
Odd you notify the police?
A-Mr. Knowles asked me if the po-
lice had been notified, and 1 got on my
bicycle and went down there to police
station
Q-Whom did you see?
A-Heartburg and an old gentleman
Q.-The jailer?
Al suppose so.
Q=Why did you look around in the
hOuse2
Al wanted to see if anything was
missing.
Q-Was John there?
A-Yes. He spoke about sending tel
egrams.
Q.-About what time was it when
you went to notify the police?
Al don't know.
Q--Whom did you meet at the door