The evening Republican., 1902-04-29
The Collins Murder.

Laurel, Del. April 23.-There Is
naugbt but mystery in the murder
OF Mrs. Elmer Collins who as found
slain on April L. at the Collins
farmhouse. about five miles from
here. The con fession made yes
terdav bv half witted negro.
William Waite Prattils rcpudiated.
He himself denies today every word
he uttered yesterday, He says the
confession was wruug from him by
force; that the Pinkerton detectives
gave him the third degree, and that
ip the torture he made the confes.
sian, even going into minute de
tails OF the manner in which he
slew Mrs. Collins.
Stranger still, Pratt went over
the scene Of the murder pointing
out details and pretending to tell
where the bloody iron bar and
clothing and money had been bur
led. But search as they would,
none of this incrimiuating evidence
could be found at any Of the places
indicated by Pratt.
The negro told an entirely differ.
ent tale in the jail at Georgetown to.
day. lie said he had never in his
life seen Mrs. Collins and that he
was many miles from the Collins
farm on the day of the murder. With
the negro's reputation of his comics.
sion comes renewal Of the suspicion
against Elmer Collins, although he
still protests his innocence. The
feeling is so high, indeed that it is
believed that he may be re-arrested
before many days and his $500 bail
bond cancelled.
State Detective James Ratlcdge,
spent all to-day with Collins. They
went over the scene Ct the murder
again, but the detective failed to get
one word from the suspect tlat
might tend to show his guilt.
lIe refused to answer questions,
and positively refused to assist in the
Investigation until his father had
heen brought to his house. Then
the three men went over the ground
thoroughly, butCollins never flnched
lie even asserted that he was sure
the negto Pratt wys the mur derer,
and that the authorities would be
convinced Of it before long.
The State detectives, refuse to take
any stock in the confession forced
from Pratt by the Pinkerton men,
and in this conviction they are
backed by public sentiment. They
admit, however, that they are at Il
loss to discover a motive for Collins
to kill his wife. and this is the miss
ing link for which they are jealous
ly searching tonight. Strangely
enough one of Collins staunchest
champions is his wife's younger Sis
ter, Rose Collins, who stayed much
of her time at the home of her
brother-in-law, prior to the murder
of her sister She left the Collins
home on April II, the day before
the murder was committed. going
on q visit to the home of another
sister at Exmore, Va. She return
ed the next day and at once became
the champion Of Collins, declaring
to him and others her belief in his
innocence.
Since that time Miss Collins has
been frequent visitor at the home
of her brother-i in law. On several
occasions she has carried supplies to
him. and was there to receive him
on the day, a week ago, when he
was released on bail. She had
brought his two children from the
home of her father, three miles
away. Collins remarked to one of
his friends: 1T certainly looks home
like with Rose and the children
here"
The authorities are puzzled by this
cloak that has. been thrown about
Collins by the family of the murder.
ed wife. They say they can get no
assistance in fcrreting out the mistery !
either from this family or that of the !
husband. Certain it is
that Collins is under surveillance. His |
every move is watched by detectives.
His house Is under their eyes, and
any move on his part to escape will
his re.arrest.
The Magistrate said to day that as
the statement was read over to the
negro he acknowledged that 1t was
,orrcct. His mark was witnessed by |