Evening journal., 1902-05-05

committing this crime. You have
taken the case at every turn and have
given the news in a straightforward
and fearless manner.
It IS disgusting to fair minded men
to see a newspaper that has failed to
give the news OF the affair until it is
three weeks old. to then step in and
tell the Sussex County citizens that
they have no sense, and try to dis
credit newspaper that has been
put to great trouble and expense to
keen its readers well informed, as to
what is being done in the case.
Your defense of the poor, dementel
negro suspect and the complete man
ner in which you have proved an alibi,
which. in his weak mental condition,
he was unable to do himself. has met
with the approval of the fair-minded
citizens of the town of Laurel. and has
no doubt prevented a terrible mis-
take
Taking up the account appearing in
the Every Evening:
The first inaccuracy is in the date
of the murder. 1t says that it was
two weeks ago, when in fact. 1t was
three weeks ago. It was committed
on April 12.
1t is admitted that there was very
little evidence produced against Mr.
Collins. but to say that there was not
a scintilla is absurd and is a reflection
on the court. If there had been no
evidence. Mr.. Collins would not have
been held in $500 bail.
AS to the damaging admissions,
Pratt. the crazy colored man. from
whom the Pinkerton men sweated
confession. we can pass that by as
result Of his dementia, for there was
no doubt in the minds of the people
Of the State that he is the crazy BIZ
cycle rider seen in Smyrna on April II
and II by the police and a score Of
other people
II was at the hearing of the Collins
case. in Georgetown courtroom, and
there was no evidence produced there
to show that any negro had been seen
leaving the Collins farm.
Mr. Kenny, a neighbor of Collins.
said on the witness stand, that he saw
footprints near the house and that
some boys saw man running through
the branch.
As TO the idle gossipers and hotel
loungers being the source of news
printed in your paper and others. I
know to be a lie. for have noted that
YOU have printed interviews with Mr..
Collins. his friends. the detectives
the child. the coroner. the sheriff, the
demented negro, the undertaken, the
people who saw the negro in Smyrna.
and an account of the trial and in
quest. Another thing l have noticed
is that you have given your authorities
in almost every instance.
Taking up again, the account in the
Every Evening.
Collins stated that from the very
first that when he discovered the limp
form of his wife in the stable, that he
picked her up and carried her into the
house and placed her on couch It'll
would not be possible for him to have
done this without getting blood upon
his clothing"
This is gross misrepresentation !
and is unfair to Mr.. Collins. 1t is put !
ting hdm in The light of a falsifier. Hel
did not pick his wife up and take herl
in the house. He said that he picked
her up, kissed her and laid her down
again.
The neighbors testified that Collins
had no hand in carrying his wife's !
body in the house
Another inaccuracy is in the num-
bor of arrests. The Every Evening, |
in its haste to discredit, forgot to |
mention the colored preacher who was
arrested by the Pinkertons. and who
may sue for damages.
Whether there is any blood on the
clothing worn by the crazy colored
man remains to be seen. James An
derson. who was assaulted by the
colored fellow. saw none while he had
HIM in charge.
The State chemist will determine
the blood question and then it must
be shown. suppose, how he got it on
him. If it is there.
The State detectives have been
hampered by Pinkerton men and pri-
vate citizens
1 would suggest that you Send more
Of your papers here. for, on occasions
the demand is greater than the supply.
frft|f-or