Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-05-10


use pitchfork lying close by on the
farmer. Those who believe that Pratt's
confession is true point to this as proof
of the vicious temperament of the man.
1t is also learned that from the time
he was IL years of age until he was 10,
Pratt made his home with Mrs. Alice
Winder, a colored woman, living near
Delmar, and her opinion of him is not
good. She says some colored people
are ''black" and some are "niggers."
and she doesn't hesitate to class Pratt
among the last named. These things
are. of course. merely incidents in the
mans past. but those who think him
guilty of this murder hold them up as
evidence that he is naturally bad char
acter. and capable of most anything.
BLOOD ON HIS CLOTHING.
On Friday of last week George E.
Smith of Laurel and the Pinkerton men
went to Georgetown and saw Pratt in
his CELL They took with them a suit of
clothes. underclothing. socks and slip
pers and took from HIM all the clothing
he was wearing at the time he was ar
rested and taken to Jail. There was
blood on the coat, on the trousers, on
the shirt and on the shoes. and the lat
ter We're still damp as though the wear
er had walked through water. To those
who believe i'll Pratt's guilt these damp
shoes bear out the story of the two boys
who testify to having seen the negro
cross the branch on the Collins farm the
afternoon of the murder. The clothing
taken from Pratt by Mr. Smith and the
detectives was sealed and labeled, and
taken by Mr.. Smith to the State chemist
at Newark for examination as to the
stains upon them. Whatever evidence
this clothing may offer is now at the
disposal of the attorney-general.
The Pinkerton detectives have the
evidence of reliable persons that VIM.
Pratt was seen in the neighborhood of
the Collins farm the day before the
murder. On the other hand, those who
are trying to make it appear that the ne
gro is innocent claim to be able to prove
that Pratt was in Smyrna the ~-a. -
before the murder.
James Anderson, whom Pi
saulted, is authority for the stat
that Pratt told him while he Wa
work on his farm that he did not m
going to Jail, for he had been ALLOW
his liberty on two different occasiC
by playing crazy" To show h,
evidence against Pratt is met by :.
other side, they say that Anderson
a grudge against the colored man and
would like to see him hanged. And so
it goes.
y DIVISION OF SENTIMENT.
As stated before. Laurel. and in fact
the entire county is divided upon the
question as to who committed the
murder, and there does not seem to be
any lessening of this interst as the days
go by. Those who look upon Elmer
Collins. the husband. as the guilty man
are just as positive i'll their belief. to all
outward appearances at least. as are
those who regard the confession of the
negro Waite as being bonafide, and who
look upon Mr. Collins as being a much
prosecuted man.
And it is surprising. to say the least.
to consider how very little charity is
shown Elmer Collins by many of those
who have known him all his life, and
who never heretof, had aught to say
against him. If there was any real
evidence connecting him with the
murder lack of this spirit of charity
might be expected. but there does not
appear TO be any evidence. One might
think that those who are always ready
to accept every little trifling word or
act which may come to light as more
stead be doing their utmost TO shielt
him from the dark clouds of disgrace
which have overshadowed him this past
two weeks.
fouJ cVtu III spite Ol tite Hltuy dkeu-
cies which are at work TO connect him
with the murder of his wife, Elmer
Collins is long ways from being with
out friends to stand by him in this time
of trouble. He has the very best kind
of friends, too; friends who have spent
time and money. and are still doing so,
to aid in finding the man who commit
ted the awful deed. 1t was these friends
who secured the services of the Pinker-
ton detectives. The enemies of the &C.
cused man say that the detectives were
brought here by Collins relatives IN
order to shield him and place the crime
at some other door. but it is not true
Some of those instrumental in employ
ing the Pinkerton men were relatives Of
Collins. but all of them were not, ant
the detectives were not engaged t0-
shield any one man, but to find the
murderer.
The agencies which endeavored from
the very first to fasten the crime upon
the husband, could see no clue tina
would lead them from the Collins far
Other people saw clues. and there w;
all sorts of rumors. but the State dete
uves confined their suspicious to Elm
Collins from the hour they set foot
the farm the day of the murder. 70,
have been criticised and criticis.f