The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-05-11
UTAH WOMAN IN MEXICAN JAIL
UNJUSTLY IMPRISONED FOR
KILLING HER ASSAILANT.
Mrs. Collier Shot Mexican Who
Assaulted Her and Was Sentenced
to Four Years.

a special TO the Denver News from
Nogales, Ariz., says: The Americans in
the great mining camp of Sonora at
Minas Prietas and La Colorado and at
the capital city, Hermosillo, are enlist
ing heartily in the cause of Mrs. Col
lier. the American woman imprisoned
at Ures for killing man on the 31st of
March, and have raised a large sum of
money TO be expended in securing her
release.
Your correspondent has just returned
from visit to La Colorado and Minas
Prietas, where he found the Americans,
of whom there are several hundred.
unanimous in the belief that the woman
is unjustly imprisoned, and that she
killed her assailant in self-defense.
AT La Colorado your correspondent
met an American whom he has known
for years and knows to be reliable and
veracious. who was in UreS at the time
of the tragedy, who asserted that the
facts are as follows: Mrs. Collier has
been in the state of Sonora now about
year, and has been accompanied by
her brother, a man named Frost. They
are reported to have come in from the
Mormon colony in the state of Chihua-
hua, and are said to be originally from
Utah. Frost has supported himself and
On the evening of the tragedy, Mrs.
Golfers assailant, a California Mexi-
can, or. as they are called in California,
a Spaniard. entered her home in UreS
and made a criminal assault upon her.
The woman fought against him, and in
the struggle they ran against a table
upon which lay a loaded revolver. Each
grasped the weapon, the woman by the
butt, the man by the barrel. and the
crr Oeyla fnt of
the pistol.
In the struggle they reached the open
door, and the man stepped in the door
way. The woman released her hold on
the pistol with one hand and quickly
closed the door in the mans face. fore
ing him to let go of the revolver She
then locked the door. thinking herself
safe. but the man attempted to kick in
the door. and. as it was frail, it seemed
that he would soon succeed.
With an idea of intimidating him.
Mrs. Collier raised the weapon and fired
through the door, aiming high. not eX-
pecting to hit him. but the bullet struck
him in the forehead. Ten minutes later
Mrs. Golfers brother returned and
found the man lying dead in front of
the door,
She went to the chief of police imme-
diately and surrendered herself. A day
or two later, upon her own statement,
she was convicted of the homicide,
sentenced to four years Imprisonment,
and is confined in the Jail at Ures.
Americans all over Sonora feel that
Mrs. Collier has been dealt with very
harshly and unjustly, and they believe
that upon the showing made she should
have been released. They have laid the
matter before United States Consul
Darnall, at Nogales. and Consular
Agent Croker at Guaymas, and asked
their assistance. They also propose en-
ploying counsel and appealing the case
TO the supreme court of the state.
A report of these facts was filed by
your correspondent in the telegraph
office at La Colorado, Friday evening
of last week, but it is today learned
that the telegram was in some way
suppressed by the authorities. The tel
egram was transmitted to Torres,
thence to Hermosulo, where it was held
and reported to the City of Mexico, so
it was stated to your correspondent at
Torres yesterday morning. Today it
was transmitted to Nogales. Sonora,
over the Federal telegraph line, so 1
am informed by good authority, with
instructions to file it in the office there
and transmit no farther.