The Red Cloud chief., 1898-12-02
JOHN COLLINS ON TRIAL.
Opening nay Of the Sensational ropess
Murder Trial

hbh'Nh LIVE
TorEKA, Kan, Nov. 90. John Henry
Collins walked into tho Shawnee
county district court DON Mt $500 this
morning TO be put on trial on the
charge Of having murdered his father.
J. s. Collins. lie wore n black worstcd
suit with high standing collar and
heavy black satin cravat. His gold
eyeglasses carefully set, his hair fault
lcssly arranged and his shoes shining
with fresh polish made him appear
more like q man OF fashion than IN nc
cused offender az the bar.
Collins walked behind Sheriff Cook.
modestly bowling to friends who spoke
to him as no passed into tho crowded
court room. He took q scat facing
the judge with A. A. GODDARD. his prin.
cipal attorney, at his sido. GODDARD
showed him some letters which no
read with interest before Charles
Hayden, the associate counsel for
tho defense, arrived and took n
seat next to Collins. There was
nothing In tho young mans appear
nnce To Indicate TO those who saw him
in May. when he was first charged
with his fathers murder, that ho was
changed In the least. Men In ordinary
business lifo change more In Ave
months than Collins has in tho time no
has been in Jail. Ho listened intcntly
while the court disposed OF a few 40
tons
At 0:l2 o'clock Judge Hazon read:
Estate VS., John II. Collins" and asked
II tho state was ready for trial. Coun-
ty Attorney Jetmore said no was. but
asked permission TO indorsc on the In
formation sonc new names and cor
rect others. The court consented, the
defense taking exceptions. Jctmoro
then read tho following names Of new
witnesses; William Wicdeman, J. j.
S~tricklcr. Louis Teift, William Brom.
elsick, ]. @. Gibbs, Roy Harper, Sol
Marks, Abe Levy, Herbert Bullcnc, A.
N, Baldwin, Silas Rain, J. ID. Smith.
Nearly NIL Of these witnesses ara Law.
renee merchants.
Attorney Charles Hayden. for Col
Inns, addressing the court, said: 1.-THE
defendant objects to proceeding with
the trial for tho reason that he has
not been furnished with q copy Of the
information with the pames OF oil the
witnesses Endorsed thereon"
Answering questions by tho court,
Hayden said Collins had been fur.
nished with . copy Of the Information,
but new had been Endorsed
since. Judge Hnxen overrulod the OBJ
lection and asked Hayden II he waived
s~rraignment.
I'VE do not waivc arrsignmcnt,'
Hayden replied County Attorney Jet
more read the information charging
Collins with numbering his father by
shooting him with . double barreled
shotgun.
Are you guilty or not guiltyp'
Judge Haxen asked.
Collins rose from his seat, stood per.
fectly erect, fnoed the court and with
out q tremor In his voice, which rang
out clear and strong through tho silent
court room. said slowly; II IN moi
guilty"
The court room crowd, u largo one,
but not so large as that which at
tended the preliminary hearing, prob
ably because Of tho bad weather and
Icy streets had watched Collins In
tently. His face showed no emotion.
The reading Of the charge had moi
produced any apparent effect. TO the
buzz OF conversation which followed
he seemed impervious. He smiled
few minutes later when tho fra
twelve names Of possible jurors wer,
called.
Hayden's examination OF veniremer
was very close. He asked every maj
particularly whether he had q N opin
ion a. TO whether J.. B. Coliins WA
murdered or had committed suicide
He dwslt particularly on the suicid,
feature. indicating that suicide will
be an important part Of the defense.