The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-05
POISON.
A Lawrence Drugstore EmplOye
Testifies Today
In the Collins Trial That John
Collins
Offered Him $50 to Get Soluble
Poison For Him.
MAKES A SENSATION
When This Evidence is Offered
In Court.
Poison Was Refused Unless Col
Inns Would @'Sign'' For 1t.

The trial of the Collins case was re-
sumed in the district court at 10 O'Clock
this morning. The regular hour for the
opening of court is o'clock but Judge
Hazen gave the jurors time to reach
the city from their homes in the cOun-
try, whittier they went Saturday TO
spend Sunday.
Prior to the opening of court the mo-
ton docket was called, and large pro-
portion of the members of the Topeka
bar was present occupying the seats
reserved for them in the court room.
When the motion docket work was con-
cluded, the women, who had been stand
ing up outside of the rail, made a sim
ultarUeous dive for the chairs which the
lawyers were vacating. There was in
describable confusion for a few mo-
nents, until the women had filed the
chairs. then they settled back and gos-
slipped, comfortably, until the case was
resumed.
There was a new crowd in the court
room this morning. Many of the women
who were regular attendants last week
could not be seen today, but there were
dozens of new faces in the thrOng which
crowded the court room. some time be-
fore court formally opened.
A few minutes before 10 O'Clock John
Collins came into court and was soon
followed by his mother and sister, Mrs.
Nettie Beard of Hutchinson, Mrs. Gil
lespie and Mrs. Morehouse of Topeka,
the defendants aunts; Mr.. and Mrs.
Grant Meade, and Mrs. John Collins of
Westmoreland.
The first thing John Henry Collins did
in the district court room this morning
was to kiss his mother
Then he placed his hand to his black
four-in-hand tie to see that it was in
place, took his gold trimmed spectacles
from his pocket and adjusted them,
and drawing a chair close beside that
of Attorney Hayden, sat down.
His sister, Grace Collins, followed
Mrs. Collins into the court, but he did
not offer to kiss her, nor did she offer
to kiss him. He simply turned in his
chair, smiled and nodded, and she did
the same. Grant Meade entered a mo-
ment later, and he shook hands with
him without rising from his chair.
John Collins entered the court room
as the jury with much noise filed into
the jury box, and his entrance was
practically unnoticed by the majority
of the people in the court room. But
as his mother entered and he stepped
liZed that the principal actor in the
great criminal drama, was present, and
all eyes were turned upon him.
Plumes and bright colOred tips of fe
among the crowd of humanity that
thronged the room as their wearers
endeavOred to get good view of the
accused. In the back of the court
room and in the balcony feathers and
ribbons alone determined the location
of female auditors
Heads waved to and fro and necks
craned this way and that way in a gen
erai survey of the defendant until the
first witness, G. G. Gage, was called.
Then attention centered for the most
part on the testimony.
John Collins heard Mr.. Gage recount
his attempt to borrow money sitting
stolidly with his head resting on one
hand and his eyes fixed intently on the
witness. He heard him tell of his con-
versation with him after J. S. Collins
death, in the same position.
Collins Listens IntentIy.
When Ed Miller took the stand Col
lirs drew his chair a trif1e closer to that
of Attorney Hayden and sat up straight
for q few minutes. He soon resumed
his usual position, however, resting his
head on his hand and his elbow on the
table.
Miller is a good looking colored man,
with regular features and light in color
He was neatly dressed, and the only
large red necktie. He wore a dark coat
and vest, striped trousers and light
yellow shoes. A few minutes after going
on the stand he caused an Outburst of
laughter among the spectators by say
ing in answer to a question as to what
relation he bore to Jesse Harper, well,
I had a brother who married his sister.
and that would make me his brOther-in-
law"
In the testimony of Miller John Col
Inns manifested more interest than he
had in the testimony of any witness up
to that time. A recess was declared
about 1:30 O'Clock, shortly after the
cross examination was commenced. and
John Collins spent the few minutes re-
spite from the strain of the trial in
laughing and talking with his lawyers
and several friends who crowded about
him. But as soon as the cross -eXami-
nation was resumed, he moved his chair
directly to the railing around the
judges desk and leaning forward lis
tened intently to the answers of the
young colored man.
If the attorneys for the defense have
any startling features to introduce at
the trial. as would be almost suggested by
the conduct of John Collins and his
mother and sister, they are wasting
time and effort in attempting to break
down the testimony of the colored wit
nesses. Attorney Hayden conducted
the cross examination of Miller this
morning, and he tried in every way
possible to make the colored man con-
tradict himself. But Miller proved an
excellent witness for the prosecution,
and steadily refrained from entangl-
ing himself in his answers to Mr.. Hay
den's questions.
The statement that John Collins had
attempted to purchase poison that
would dissolve in water and wanted it