Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-04-24
WER COLLINS RELEASED
MOged Wife-murderer Held in Five
dred Dollars Bail for His
III Appearance at Court.
MSY TESTIMONY IS PRODUCED
fsathef and Father-in-laW
Ba2saiFne BondSmen.
RtAlG At the HEARING FRIDAY

IL eeIhl Correspondence OF Gazette and Journal
i, Georgetown, April 10. There was
Z, rge crowd here yesterday. being at
4 ncted by the habeas corpus proceed
|, tRa in the case of Elmer Collins, sus-
!, ted OF numbering his wife, Aida
Mins, at their home, near Laurel,
q kSt Saturday, and the application for
. iiew trial for Nehemiah Harmon,
! onyicted of numbering William II.
1 iitchell with an axe in a woods near
i rankford.
q The habeas corpus proceedings began
t2. 30 O'Clock, and few minutes be-
pre- that time Collins was brought into
hecourtroom. He proceeded to the
lace reserved for lawyers, and took a
atAbeside his counsel, former Attor-
leyA5eneral Robert G. White.
puring the hearing, Collins seldom
peke to his attorney, but his interests
we're looked after by DR.. Fowler of
.anrel, who gave the counsel informa-
ionIon several matters.
The proceedings were before Chief
hisSlce Lore, and Judges Spruance
n Aftorney Whites application for the
EaAAe of Collins was based on section
Bphapter 81, of the Revised Code |:
q pital offence shall not be baila-
N NlaTbut the Court of General sessions
n n the Peace and Jail Delivery when in
s}pn, or any judge thereof in vaca-
II sbiay admit to bail q person accused
Hach offence before Indictment is
nSisAd, if upon full inquiry it appears
J. atAthere is good grounds to doubt the
y Is1th}pf the accusation. "
uSJ Jq&eph kenney, George w. Henry and
MM Goslee, neighbors of Collins,
!, Ridl M being summoned to Collins
u 5as4 the morning of the tragedy, and
5t9 9{a8N}ng the body of Mrs Collins in
nv 81&ble; OF finding the iron bar and
= toHet, both of which had blood stains
eFeon, doubtless two of the instru-
HMta that had caused the wounds.
J. antlny said Mrs Collins head was
:, yered with some sharp instrument,
g hibelieved, and not with such dull
,s etehet as was found near her body.
3efective Francis showed the clothes
/ ll1ns wore the day the murder was
.hnItted. There were blood stains
u the arron, the leg and the shirt
g EAxga Collins had said he got the
,, a4 pn his clothes when he found his
q dead in the stable and picked her
% 4Ad kissed her. The iron bar which
ISL WauHposed to figure in the crime was
y gbbwn in court. Francis said he
spent much time on the casa.
q H5lhn4 had said when his wife did not
3 s11l& the tomato seed to the field that
went to ascertain the reason, but
Q aneip said he had made thorough
s 7eSt5gation of the premises and had
found any seed. 1t being believed
7t MS Collins throat was cut with
Wfnlfe, Francis said he asked Collins
hi5 Collins penkhife, and Collins
dshe never had penknife.
al Ewo witnesses testified that they had
y collins with a penknife, one of
gam Haying he had seen the knife as
n Ste as last February.
n vk'adfnus l.. Phillips, constable, was
vt ith Francis most OF the time. Phillips
atiGesl tLat Collins said on the Sun
Q tySnight following the murder that he
o as n strouble, but WIS innocent. The
IS tIest was made the following night.
EIhe court fixed the bail in The case
nT&b0Q and Jacob A. Collins and James
qollins were accepted as bondsman.
hey are father and father law, re-
5eetiyely, of Elmer Collins.
:, GQllins left Georgetown with his
ther Immediately after his release was
Cured
i The application for new trial for
4 Earnlun followed. Tho five reasons
: hY Attorney White asked for 4 new
+ lial bave been published Attorney
a general Ward opposed the application.