Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-06-24
Collins. Harhaugh and himself. Harbaugh

w hat did John say?'
He said hr had not committed the crime
and had no confession 10 make. John ap-
peaied TO be greatly surprised at the charge
made against him: so was J.
Sheriff Cook said the witness stand
that ne wanted to be considered friend OF
John Collins: He said he regretted having
10 testify. This would Indicate that Sheriff
COOK Is not firmly convinced that John
Collins murdered his father. He said that
he was an unwilling witness
Mr.. Constable bring IN johnson jar
don. SAID County Attorney Jetmore. There
was Il bustIinR among the spectators. Jur-
don was the witness they iOnged to hear
testify. He Is the negro that young Collins
WAS accused of de:iiing extensively with in
The plot TO kill his. father. Young Collins
drew up closer 10 his attorneys. The wit
ness was brought in and seated in the Wit
mess chair.
After telling his name Jordon said he had
lived In ToTrka for eighteen years and
knew Jcssc EarTcr. OF Lawrence
- on April 26 he received telegram from
HHrper. He got it about f:3J p. m. ana
wired. Harrer that he would be down on
= went 10 i,awrence that night with Joe
Harper and Tom Griffith. Griffith and T
went down the track 10 Harpers home ana
Harper and JotHson went uptown. No one
was AT home al HarDcrs and ] went into
the front room and stayed there few
minutes. wher Harper and John Collins
came in. Collins and went into the back
room"
What took place between you and Col
be wanted me 10 do a job of dirty work.
lie said he wanted man put out OF the
way. / asked him who the man was, and
he showed me II photograph.
- Did you ever see that n:an?' he asked
Il said had seen him but didn't know
He led fire Odd Fellows parade at
Topeka few Gays ago said Collins. 'Peo-
-ple think he is my father. hut he ISN'T.
= collins asked me II 1 coEid 80 the work.
j said co Ildn'a do II. as | was not'in the
business Of putting men out Of the way.
- There /, big money in it. said Collins.
" is that so?' | asked. Money talks
= How m uch would it take TO do the
Z" Oh, that : worth $3.50 or 5000 said.
That's &c much, said Collins. i can't
raise That IN UGH.
NIT suicide
How mue money can you raise?' /
He said he did not know Just then
Harper came & and said: Make il So
- collins said he would get the money the
= next morning. I went to Morris, across
the river. and he following morning Hsr-
. per brought me the money. i splif n up
with Jesss. We couldn't break ii live and /
kept so and CAV e Jesse sS5. 1 returned to
special delivers stamp. il came TO the
~ joint In ~. Instance. IL said. IT don't
think you are on the square. Why don't
sou do az sou agI eed to- .AEgwer TO Jesse
Harper. Burn thf letter up --.'.
= y irlrned the lss ter and never answered
1t, The letter was mailed on the train.
- One evening alb Jut May or | met
Collins at Crook rights so club. We
went 10 an upstairs room. He said he die
, not believe ] WAS square fellow. told
him maybe WASH l. Why don't you do
what j paid you foi =? he asked. said 1
could not do the job
- have got a sc heme to do the work
easy said Collins. The job ian be done
with a bomb. DO yoL know anything about
explosives
II told him WIS
dynamffer. and that i had thouphtSo OF the
saQe scheme and hs ordered the bomb
made at Kansas City told him that l
paid 81 down on it ana would have TO
navs 80 more. to get II out. Collins didR t
b. have stn any ngnfy .r worked ham out Of
Wright helped me do II. Before handing
me. me the watch Collins scratched sh a picture
i pawned the chain In Topeka.
The witness then told Of a second letter
n. ne had had received II bor a q special delivery
Have you that letter p
Who has that letter: .
- MY attorney. Mr.: w. !. JAMESON
The witness stood as6 moment and
Attorney Jameson took. . be stand,
livery stamp. ami pdsimapSa @ IKE fawrsnce ~ rsf' and n
addressed TO Johnson Jord on?i
Produce H.
II refuse to-do So ...-. -..
Il insist" remarked At torney Stafford.
Jameson then asked the ,riyilege Of max
Ing statement, He said' that the letter
was privileged cor1mun icstion between
him and his client. and he should not be
compelled 10 produce 1t.
The court said IT was p ,t privileged
Communication and told him to produce IL.
Jstmieson asked 10 be given until o'clock
10 consider the matter and he request was
graBted. The state wanted 'ihe letter iden-
tilted by the, stenographcr, but the Judge
said II was not necessary
Jordon was put back on the stand. He
testified about John Collins meeting him
on other occasions and talk ing over the
bomb. On Dewey night JohIi came to my
house" he continued, "whik | was not
there. When 1 went home found him in
my room. He wanted to kno W where the
bomb WAS. I told him that II was i'm North
Topeka. but that I couldn't g over there
and get IL. said ] could get man to
go over and get II for s.. Coll ins gave me
The money and 1 got Asa Bright to go
over there
Jordon and Bright had put up job 20
Jordon sent Joe johnson OFT 10 find
Bright. He came bach. and saId Bright
had been arrested and that the police had
got the bomb In a raid but tina; for s,
ne believed he could bribe a oolored po-
Hceman and get il back. Collins gave
him s. and he went away again. but re-
he couldn't get next to the colored cop
that night. but would the next day. John
son then left.
said Jordon. He said that 1 couldn't work
him any longer. He pulled a gun out of
his pocket and wbirled it. around on his
finger.
Come and go across to the west side
OF town with me- ssfd Coilins.
can't cross the avenue said / TO
him. The police will get me sure.
'fou have got to 20 with me and do
that job tonight said Collins
Il tried 10 put him off. He wouldn't
have II.
Come with me right now said Col
ins.
Il told him that II would never do for
10 cross the avenue with him. they
would get sure. ! told him 10 go on
acruas and ! would slip around and meet
him over there. He said. All right. and
l@it. I promised to slip around and NEE
him In few moments. ! didn't meet Col
Inns 1 went down 10 Smoky Row
JUrdcu said he dri not see Collins again
. until after both Of them Were arrested, on
Iek:L jail. J"rdOn said he went to Emporia
on May u, and went from there To New
ION. whef" he was when arrested by
Sheriff Cook and Detectives Kinney and
tress. went with iItrn TO Ernporfa ana New
Ion. aHd WAS with him at the time of his
arrest
Upon cross-examination Jordon clung to
Lis original story closely. lie contradicted
himself on a f.w minor points, but not on
any important questions.
The first question asked by Attorney
HAYDEN. for the defense, was:
cd?''
Honestly, can't answer have been
arrested 30 often that / can't count 'em
ALT
- ..iiavc'you been arrested fifty times?"
Don't know
"One hundred tines
Not that many times. I guess That
would be my best Judgment. truly. Dats