Evening journal., 1902-10-17
COLLINS BEHIND
BARS ACCUSED
WITH MURDER
Slain Woman's Husband
Must Answer for Sussex
County Crime
FIRST DEGREE MURDER CHARGED

Grand Jury Finds True Bill and the
Defendant Surrenders Himself to
Sheriff Hart and Is Locked Up.
Trial IN January
Special to the Evening Journal
Georgetown, Oct. II.
Squatting en- store steps and hanging
on the fence around the Court House,
& men from all over Sussex county waited
yesterday for the verdict of the
Grand Jury,which for three days heard
evidence against Elmer Collins, who
. was arrested for killing his wife. Many
\ of them were his neighbOrs and former
associates, and some of them were wit
4 nesses against him. They discussed
the case in all its details and specu-
lated ON the result of the deliberations
4 Of the Grand Jury.
Collins Indicted
1t was 5.35 o'clock before the Jury
a returned, and the foreman announced
\ that true bill had been found against
Il Collins.
After a few moments of painful si-
lence the door opened, and in walked
4 former AttOrney-General White, prin-
cipal counsel for Collins, with the de
q fendant. Collins was, as before, we'll
dressed and stepped quickly and reso-
4 lutely.
There was death-like silence as AT
tOrney-General Ward arose and said:
"a true bill having been found
. 1 K, -
be placed in the custody of the sheriff
Have Mr.. Collins called" said the
4 Chief Justice. rs the surety here to
surrender him"
Il appear for the surety, your honor,
and do now surrender him. said Mr..
4 White Sheriff Hart took Collins into
his custody and placed him in cell at
the county prison.
The court, by arrangement at previ-
tous consultation, fixed Monday, Janu-
airy II, 1908, as the day for trial.
Had Crowd Guessing
Oua member of this body created
somewhat of a sensation when he an
nounced yesterday morning that they,
the jurors, had arrived at a conclusion
but wanted to hear more evidence. He
did not say what his conclusion was
however, and he had the crowd guess
ing.
Few People in Room
During the greater part Of the after.
noon there were few people in tie
courtroom.
Eighty-seven year old II. G. Niblit
who said he heard the Collins prayer
sat propped up in a window just outside
the Grand Jury room. He wears long
white whiskers and he was pointed oui
to every newcomer in the court room
1t is said of Niblit that he is as active
as a man of only half his age. OF
good mornings, he walks from his
home about fifteen miles away Il
Georgetown. He has weight with tn,
country people because he is a prom
inent church member, and has a repu
tation for truth and veracity like unto
that of the illustrlous George Washing
ton.
Girl Prominent Figure
Another prominent figure in tn,
court room was the girl who told thl
story about Collins writing letters t,
a friend Of hers, proposing an elope
ment. She came in for her share o
4 attention, and did not appear embar
rassed by the attention being paid her
She sat on the last bench alone, bu
often chatted with friends who sa
near. The Herrings, who were the frs
to arrive on the scene of the murde
after Collins gave the alarm. wer,
present and although their story ha
been told over and over again, wer'
asked TO repeat it to those who hat
not heard it from their lips
Miller Smith. whose flour mill is
short distance from the Collins home
was present with his wife.
Detectives Watched
Detectives Francis and Ratledg
came in fer their share OF attention
The city detectives were pointed out +
strangers and wonderful stories tol
of possible moves the officers Of tn
law might make Collins attorney
Robert @. White, was present in tn
court all day, waiting for the Gran
Jury to return.
The streets alongside and in tn
rear of the Court House were crowde
with carriages of all descriptions
When the papers arrived at noon wit
the story that Governor HUM had dt
cided to call the Legislature togethei
a Collins and the murder of which h
is accused seemed to be forgotten for
time.
Case Will Be Hard Fought
Lawyers in Georgetown say that tn
case win be a hard fought one. TIL
circumstantial evidence, it is said,
s. net as strong as that against Cord,
81 the wifemurderer,who was hanged se'
eral years ago. The links, it is salt
arc not so we'll welded.
1t is said, however that the dsts
tives have succeeded in getting in
IN portant statements regarding the Gas