The evening times., 1899-09-30
SLAIN IN HIS STORE.
Baltimore Matchmaker Found
With His Skull Crushed.

With His Skull Crushed.
BALTIMORE. Md. Sept. 3o.-william
H. Collins, matchmaker and jeweler, at
2404 Pennsylvania Avenue, was found dead
about $50 o'clock yesterday morning In a
room in the rear Of his store. His skull
had been fractured by blows supposed to
have been dealt with an iron coupling pin.
which was found by the police lying
alongside the body. George l. Amend.
aged forty-two years, is locked up at the
Northwestern police station on suspicion
his guilt Amend is said to have quarrel
ed with the murdered man late Monday
afternoon and threatened to do
him harm. The house where the
crime was committed is one-story brick
structure. 1t was divided into two apart
ments by a portiere. The front portion
was used as store, while the rear was
used as sleeping room and kitchen. There
were in the store, besides an iron safe.
showcases containing watches. spectacles,
and jewelry and number of clocks.
The murder is supposed to have been
committed either late Wednesday night or
early Thursday morning. Mr.. Collins was
last seen alive about $3.50 o'clock Wednes-
Cay night. He did not, according to the
nelghbors, open his store on Thursday and
nothing was seen of him during that day
kettle of milk which had been left at
the store door was taken in charge by a
neighbor, because the latter concluded that
as Mr.. Collins did not open his store he
was not in the house. AS far as the police
flrr lanr L.
place.
The dead man was found lying in pool
of blood, with his feet pointing toward
the rear door. which was, found unfasten-
cd. His body was covered with the bed
clothing. which had evidently been pulled
off the bed.
There were possibly three blows struck,
although this could not. be determined def
nitely at the time DR.. Abercromhie made the
examination. One OF the blows was in the
csntre of the forehead. while another was
on the=left temple. The back of the skull
had been fractured. but the physician is not
positive that one of the other blows may not
have caused it. Amy one of the blows, said
Dr. Abercrombie, was sufficient to cause
death
Capt. John Baker, of the Northwestern
district. accompanied by several of his men,
went to the scene OF the murder soon after
1t was discovered. They had been there
only few minutes when the weapon with
which the crime is believed to have been
committed as found. This was an iron
coupling pin, wrapped in a newspaper and
tied with ordinary cord. One end of the
weapon was covered with blood which had
turned dark. The coupling pin is such
one as is used on steam railways and is
very heavy. 1t was taken to the station
house by Captain Baker. and the police
will make an effort to discover where it
was gotten
The police say that If Amend committed
the crime he did it from motive of re-
venge. 1t is said by the mother of the
dead man. however, that he had in his safe
$2e0. When the safe, which was found
open, was looked into yesterday no money
was found. diamond pin valued at $50,
which Mr.. Collins Wore in his shirt font
was missing, and the shirt looked as if the
pin had been pulled out of it A valuable
watch belonging 10 the murdered man is
also said 10 be missing.
Just how the murderer entered the place
is enshrouded in mystery. It is believed
that he may have gotten into the store by
the front door, and after committing the
crime locked the door and then departed
by the rear entrance. which was found
unfastened. The blows were evidently
struck in the rear portion of the house. as
there are no signs of blood in the front
part. Another view is that Mr.. Collins met
his death in trying to protect himself
against a robber.
Captain Baker is inclined to believe that
it was committed with robbery as the mo-
tive No money was found in the place
or in the dead mans clothing and the
fact that his valuabies are missing lends
color to this theory. The stock in the
store, however, was apparently undisturb-
ed. 1t is asserted by the mother of the
dead man that the s200 was taken from a
drawer of the safe, which was found not
far from the body.
William Henry Collins, the murdered
man. was born at Boston about thirty-four
years ago. He was brought here by his
parents when quite young. He learned
matchmaking with George T. Saftler &
Son, and after finishing his trade cortin-
ued for some time in the employ OF the
firm. For number of years he was in
the matchmaking and jewelry business on
Gay Street, near Chase, and afterward on
Gay Street, near Lexington. He had bsen
in business at 2404 Pennsylvania Avenue
for about two years. Mr.. Collins was un-
married.