The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-13
n IS THE IRONY Of flIE.
DAVID COLLINS. a NEW MEXICO
COWBOY, ARRESTED HERE.
Ration He Was Released on Bona
HE Thea FIees to This Cify-Is
Iaentined by One Of His Suretfcs.

Strange fatality led to the arrest of
David Collins. a cowboy. In the Stevens
hotel yesterday afternoon AT lis o'clock,
on the charge Of numbering Barney Clark.
a deputy sheriff. in the Bank Exchange
saloon at Ration, Colfax county. n. H..
May Il. 1886.
Collins admits that he Is under ind.ct-
ment for n1urdeS. but denies ell knowledge
OF the crime. He tod Chief OF Police Reed
that he was willing to return and meet
the charge.
The arrest was caused by A. G. Daw-
SON and his brother. 8. n. Dawson, who
live near Ration, and who are in Seattle
on their way TO Alaska with stock.
After the murder Collins Was arrested.
He waived preliminary examination and
allowed the case 10 go directly before the
grand jury, which returned an indict-
ment for murder in the first degree. AT
that time there was no direct evidence
against Collins and he was released on
5000 bonds. furnished by A G. Dawson.
Mr.. Fox. Mr.. Walton and Bor.guard Lee
Collins skippsd out. and despite long
chase, kept his whereabouts secret. All
hope or arresting him was given up and
the matter had reduced itself down to the
point where Dawson and Walton, who are
well-known stock raisers, were In danger
Of being called upon to pay the bond.
The court, however, granted an extension
OF time.
The rush to the Klondike attracted the
attention OF the Dawson brothers ard
they came to Seattle recently. After maxi
ing all necessary arrangements to take
their stock north they were resting quietly
at the Stevens hotel. waiting for this moI n
ing 10 arrive, when they would sail. So far
as Collins was concerned, they had no
more idea Of seeing him than picking Up
$500 In the street.
Yesterday afternoon while s. NJ Dawson
was sitting In the hotel ONCE he noticed
a good sized. thick set man walk IN the
door and pass through into the barroom.
Without saying a word he left his chair
and went out on the street. where he
greeted his brother with the astonishing
Information that Collins was In the hotel.
Odicer Barr, who WAS called, went TO
Collins and asked him his name. Dave
Kennedy was the reply. AT this point
A. G.. Dawson walked up and ted Col
Inns that Il was no Use TO attempt to con-
ceal his identity. Collins laughed and said
that he guessed he might a. well give his
right name.
At police headquarters Collins said
that he had just arrived from Skagwsy.
where 1t is supposed he has been living
the life OF sport.
A. q. Dawson told q Post -In.elligencer
reporter the following story of the crime
for which Collins Is under arrest:
Collins was cowboy and gambler at
Ration. Barney Clark was deputy sher-
in. One afternoon about May Is, 1s35. Col
Inns and Clark were playing cards in the
Bank Exchange saloon. They nad a dis
pute and became involved In personal
encounter. Friends separated them, but
Clark had the better OF the trouble.
CLARK was In the saloon the next MORN
ing about l o'clock, standing a. the bar,
when someone SHOT MIN from the sky
light OF the second STORY OF the building
with rifle.
collins was arrested and .ndis;ed by
the grand jury for murder In ire first de-
gree. AT that time there was a Joabt as
to his guilt and the court fixed his bond
at $3.Wo. Collins pleaded with me to go
on his bond. did so and secured his re-
lease. He skipped out and we never got
definite trace OF him until he walked irto
the hotel this afternoon.
"a woman and man claimed that they
saw Collins do the shooting
Collins is big. broad-shouidered fell
low, with dark hair that long ago failed
to connec; with his forehead.
A warrant was sworn ,ut in Justice In
gersoiPs court yesterday afternoon charg-
ing Collins with numbering Clark and also
being fugitive from Justice. The COM
plant on which the warrant was issued
was signed by A. G.. Dawson.
Chief Reed notified the authorities at
Ration OF Collins arrest.