Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-12-09

gOu III tie dieS
J. Y. Niles, the postoffice employe who
delivered the special delivery letters 10
Johnson Jordan at Crook Wright's club.
was called and identified the envelopes that
bore the letters which contained such dam
aging evidence
fendant. was put on the stand for the plr-
pose of identifying John handwriting. She
was shown number of letters and records
containing matter said to have been writ
ten by him. but she would not identify it
positively as the writing of John.
torney Jetmore asked Miss Babcock TO take
the witness stand. A hush fell over the
vast crowd of spectators as the young
closely with the Collins tragedy stepped
in the door at the back of the courtroom
and took the witness stand.
In response to questions she gave her
name and address. She became acquainted
with John Collins two years ago fast Oc-
tober. His first call at her home was al her
house. parties witness said she had gone
TO only three other parties with John.
Were you going with other young men
Yes. sir
Were you and Mr.. Collins engaged? I
beg your pardon for asking the question:
said Mr.. JetmOre.
Did he ever give you ring?"
at seems to me-" said Mr. Hayden, that
this is unnecessary, and is very embarrass-
ing to the witness.
Miss Babcock gave Mr.. Hayden look
did you give John Collins a photo
graph"
He had picture of you?'
Il have heard So.
Three weeks before the murder Join
told her his father had been shadowed by
n colored man.
When did you have your next conver-
Sation with him?"
frequently. and later told me that Il coloreGl
man came into the office in Topeka and
asked the stenographer for Mr.. Collins.
and wanted TO secure q farm for his father
who was going to move to Topeka. The
man was 10 come to see about the farm
again on Friday. but did not. and John
said II worried hfs father
witness spoke about losing one of her 1ia-
monds. and John remarked that he had lost
his diamond stud. but that il might have
gone 10 the laundry.
The Saturday before the murder. Jonn
took her To ball game in Il buggy, and.
going out. John showed her Il revolver he
was carrying, and said his father gave it
to him TO protect himself In case the ne
groes ever attacked him. He also spoke
about his father taking his key to The
house from him. John had an engagement
with the witness for the Sunday night col-
lowing the ball game. He telephoned her
see him at Topeka. but thtt he might be
back in time TO keep his engagement. John
came back and called that evening.
At another conversation. John said he
was worried. The witness testified:
Il asked him why he was worried. He
said: Anonymous letters are devilish
things. ] asked him what he meant. He
said: I can't tell you: have told you too
much already | said no more to him
about il. After We went back TO the house
he said he came TO Topeka and SAW his
father at the office. where he hIi told
John all about his business and his life
| Insurance. He said his father feared
something would happen to him and he
wanted John 10 know all about his af-
fairs. He said his father had heart disease
and was unable TO have some of his in
surance renewed. He said he was sorry
for his father because he didn't know
when the blow would come and his father
! could not stand up and fight like man.
On "Wednesday she received a MESA ge
from him from Kansas City over the tee-
phone. saying he was going TO Topeka
| That night colored boy brought her 4
note from John in which he said he wanted
| to see her the next morning at school,
At that time he said he had gone 10
Kansas city 10 see about bombshel!
which was CONNECTED with the anonymous
| letters. John told her he would like to in
vlte her to Topeka Dewey day, but that
something WAS liable TO arise that would
make ii embarrassing.
She received telegram from John on
the morning of May H. The operator read
i over the telephone 10 her. She, under,
The boys" She notified the boys at school.
The telegram, in reality, read. Tell moth
ing. instead of Tell the boys.
John called her up over the telephone
that same morning and asked her if she
had told anyone of the things he had men,
TONED 10 her prior 10 the murder. She
said she had not. although the stand
she admitted that she had told her mother.
This letter. written by John that same
DAY to her. was then introduced:
My Dear Little Girl:-f received your
| letter this afternoon. Leonard came uI
and will stay with me. Grace and mamm,
are almost proStrated aS well as myself
but Us long as We do not sit still and think
Of the awfulneSS OF the affair We can Keep
up. | send YOU extracts from extra edi-
| tions of the Journal and Capital which will
| tell you more than | can. As yet | am SO
daZed and stunned that 1 can not bear to
| think of our bereavement. The police seem
as yet 10 have no definite clue. There are
rumorS of a man having been seen shortly
after the murder hurrying away from the
neighborhood. but then there are lots oi
| rumors: IL was providential accident
| the doctor in time. would have come back
| 20 Lawrence on the afternoon Union Pa
| cific train. The last thing my father said
| 10 me was for me not TO go back until this
afternoon. even if missed school. | think
| the funeral will be on Monday. The
| Knights Temnlar will guard the body
throughout Sunday. when il may be seen
! by friends. The man who did the deed did
another thing equally as dastardly-he ar
ranged everything so as 10 throw suspicion
| on the only other man in the house-my-
| self. Even If nothing serious comes of it.
| there will be Il suspicion in the minds OF
some people and il will always be Il blight
| ON my reputation in their minds. We car
| hardly realize that We have lost kind
| noble father. who was the center of ouI
| home life | think realize this more
and more the sense of desolation will he
| something awful. l think our keenest sor-
| row is yet to come. Remember what 1 told
| you and be careful until ] can see you. Dc
| not let anyone catch you off your guard
| and believe no one unless I tell you in per
son.
| God bless You. my dear girl. and keep
| YOU until can see you again hope your
| little home may never be visited by such
an awful affair. Good-by. JOHN.
Did You receive another letter from
him?"
Yes. but 1 destroyed it. In it he said
| his friends were all being very kind 10
| him: that his mother and sister felt te-.
| ribiy, and at the end of the letter told
me TO say nothing about what he had
| told me because his lawyers had cautioned
| hm 10 say nothing"
| Anything else?"
He told me in some letter TO believe
| no one except himself"
What do those words. Tell nothing,