The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-06-24

|
law holds that nonresident witnesses
may be required to give bond in muir
DER cases to insure their presence when
wanted. think that will be proper in
this case. Neither is a regular resi-
dent here
| While Jordan and Harper are held
for completely in the murder they will
not be given a hearing until after the
| trial of John Collins In case of his
| conviction they would then be tried for
their part in the murder. Should he be
ACQUITTED, then the cases against them
| would be dismissed.
Last evening the most remarka-
| PIE Prehmlnary hearing ever held
IN Topeka was concluded. The
| ever held in Topeka was concluded The
| crime with which young Collins is
charged is a revolving one and goes
| down in history as one of the most
| brutal in criminology.
Justice McClintock announced at the
| close OF the testimony that he would
pIho Collns over for trial in the dis
tr1ct court without bail. Attorneys God
ard and Hayden quickly objected stat
ing that under the laws bail should be
allowed County Attorney Jetmore
arose and said that in cases of sup
posed murder where the proof of r1lilt
was strongly indicated that there was
no provision made for bail. Justice Nc
Clintock then said that he would take
the case under advisement and that
Friday morning arguments would he
made on the subject.
When the judge announced that the
defendant would be bound over John
Collins face took on a smile and he
stretched himself as if he considered
the ordeal over for awhile
Justice McC1intOck at 43O o'clock
made his decision on the johnson Jor-
dan letter which it is alleged John Col
Inns wrote. He said: Before 1 make nv
decision it will be necessary that the
court shall know what is in the letter.
or whether it contains anything which
would criminate the witness. 1t will
therefore be necessary for the court to
see the letter.
Justice McClintock was handed the
letter and read it. Jordan was asked
by Attorney Jetmore if he objected to
the letters being introduced. He hesi-
tated awhile, then gave his consent
Attorneys GODDARD and Hayden then
read over carefully the letter which
from Collins.
County Attorney Jetmore asked the
court to introduce the letter in evidence.
grounds that it had not been proven
that the defendant had written it. Then
Attorney Jetmore proceeded to furnish
the proof He asked Johnson Jordan:
Jordan. did Collins ever speak to you |
about this letter?''
Ayes. he asked me why I didn't |
answer it.
Q.-Is this the letter? |
Alt is.
Attorney Hayden objected but was |
overruled.
Attorney Stafford then read the letter |
in open court The envelope bore the |
postmark May 6, was addressed to /
Johnson Jordan and had a special de- |
livery stamp on it. The letter was on |
ordinary writing paper and the words |
were printed with a pen. The letter /
was as follows:
Il ask that you make an explanation |
at once either by letter, telegram or by |
seeing me in person as to why you did |
not keep your promise to me about |
last night. 1t has placed me in an ex-
ceedingly dangerous position as 1 had |
planned all my affairs on the suppoSi-
ton that you would keep your promise
at any risk Write me at once fully /
as to what is the matter and as to
whether may expect that you will at
tend to things for me tonight. If you
have been pinched, use every means
to get out so. that you may be at my /
service tonight and use a special de-
livery stamp when you write me, so
that may receive the letter at once.
Il was very much disappointed not
to hear of anything last night. Tell me
at once what is the matter I shall
expect that you attend to things to-
night, rain or shine, without fail. as
this will be the last possible chance.
After I have treated you as 1 have,
you should not fail me in an emergency
like this.
Be very careful not to get pinched
as either failure or delay would be dis
astrouS to both you and me now. Tell
me whether you went to k c. and if so
why things did not come off, and let me
thing tonight without fail. shall try
you this once more tonight, and L will
trust you not to fail me as I still trust
you, in spite of your failure and long
delay. But I shall lose all confidence
in you if you fail me tonight. You
can, upon some good excuse, get my ad-
dress here from the young lady in the
office, when the proprietor is not in, or
you can send your letter here to the
man with whom we met before, and tell
him not to wait to meet me on the
street, but to bring it to my house at |
once.
Seal it carefully and be sure to use
4 special delivery stamp Use no
names. Write me fully as to what
you have done since I saw you, and
as to what your plans are for tonight.
mark the envelope personal Burn
this letter at once as 1 will do with |
yours Now, do not disappoint me
again. [ shall expect to hear from |
you twice before morning, once by let
-er and once again in a different way"
During the reading of the letter John
4. Collins moved about uneasily in his |
,hair. 1t was the first time in the four +
lays trial that he had shown any un-
easiness. All eyes in the court room
we're centered on him. It was the most
rying moment in his life. The crowd
ID court room with it's hundreds of eyes
gave a look which said: He is weak
.ning." In the eyes of the public John |
Collins was convicted of murder.
After the reading of the letter there
vas a spontaneous burst of murmuring |
everyone said something to the one |
lext. 1t was the sensation of the day. |
md indeed of the trial. 1t was the |
asst link which Joined the chain of cir
.umstantial evidence about John Col
ms. He felt its iron grip and shrank
rom it nervously.
JOrdan's Nerve.
Attorney Hayden, previous to the in
RI ion f10 n Tn17
ordan through a terrible fire of cross
Examination. It was a perfect bombard