Evening journal., 1902-04-16
COLLINS HOME
NOW DESERTED
Both White and COIOr0d Shun
the Farm
ACCUSED REFUSES TO TALK
Is Probable That He Soon Will be
Released on HabeaS Corpus
Proceedings
ACCUSED REFUSES TO TALK

Stan Correspondence Evening journal.
Laurel, April 16.-Elmer Collins. the
alleged wife murderer, is still locked up
in the county Jail at Georgetown. He
waived a preliminary hearing yesterday
on the advice of his counsel, Robert O.
White The prisoner was taken from
the Jail and arraigned before Magistrate
Purnell. Of Georgetown. As soon as this
step had been taken, Mr.. White appeared
before the judges who are sitting in that
town and gave notice that he would bring
habeas corpus proceedings TO try to have
his client released.
The judges announced that they would
consider the matter. Attorney General
Ward will be in Georgetown tonight and
the hearing may take place at that time.
Mr. White will ask for the release of
Collins ON the ground that there is no
evidence to hold him.
Collins is obeying the parting admoni-
tion given him by DR.. Hitch ON the
evening of his arrest in Laurel Don't
talk about this case 10 anyone" His
counsel and one or two friends called on
him. Collins did not talk of the case to
these friends, but simply gave some in
structiOns about the care of his children
and his farm. He is bearing up we'll un-
der the terrible charge.
1t is admitted by all those who have
followed the case that no jury would con-
vict the man on the evidence so far pro
duced The mystery is still as great as
ever and the detectives have no easy
task before them. They have not given
mp hope, however, and feel confident that
they will be able TO forge a strong chain
of evidence if they are given time
A search is still being made for the
knife with which the wOman's throat
was cut. The absence of any motive is
one point that is giving the officials the
most concern.
Deserted and lonely appeared the Col
lns homestead today. On Monday the
wife and mother was carried TO her grave
and on that night the father was car
ried of to Georgetown on the charge Of
murder. Two little children, who since
ne death of the mother, more than ever
needed the strong protecting arm Of the
father were left with other relatives.
They are too young to fully realize what
the death Of a mother meant. They
knew that she was gone but could not fully
realize that she will never come back
Today they wandered about the house
and bare fields asking for Papa, ""When
will he come homeY" was the question
uppermost in their minds and the one
that their aunts were called upon to an
swer. They could not answer it. They
do not know. Last night the little tots
went to bed crying for papa and with the
first waking breath asked for him today
Today the place was deserted. The
curiosity Of the people of this section has
been satisfied. They have returned TO the
routine work of life and the sorrowing
family or what remains Of it, was left to
greve alone. Work in the fields which
promised to yield profitable harvest has
been abandoned.
Housewives Are Afraid
The rural community besides being
shocked has been frightened. House
wives are afraid to remain in their homes
while their husbands go out in the fields.
In every corner and behind every out
building or in some dark corner they see
n murderer. Husbands who were in the
habit Of going to Laurel at night are kept
at home by their frightened families.
Colored Folks Fear Ghosts
The superstitious colored people cannot
be hired to pass the Collins farm after
dark. They are afraid Of 'spOoks." At
night they lock all the doors and in sub
hutu voices discuss lne crime. luey tel
each other horrible ghost stories until
they are too frightened to go to bed.
During all the excitement not one col
ored person was seen around the Collins
place. The negro settlement on the out
skirts of Laurel was interested, however
and people coming from the scene Of the
murder were held up and asked for in
formation. Many of them cannot read
and have to gain their knowledge from
the lips of someone.
Excitement in Georgetown
The excitement in Georgetown wa:
almost as great as that in Laurel
Word Of Collins arrest reached ther,
early in the evening. When the de
tectives and constable arrived with tn,
prisoner a large crowd had collected il
front of the JAIL
The hotels were both open, as werl
most Of the stores. The people did no
go to bed until long after the prisone
had been lodged in Jail.