The evening Republican., 1902-04-14
THE MURDER
NEAR LAUREL.

LduleI, Dcl., pm II. --AVloutI
Marsh empannelled jury here yes
terday to investigate the death o
Mrs. Aida Collins, who was fount
murdered on Saturday morning. Thu
country people tlocked into Laurel tt
learn of the details. The jury re
turned the following verdict.
Resolved, That Mrs. Aida Collin!
came to her death from severe injur
les inflicted by a person unknown.
The first witness was Mr.. Collins,
who was ushered in by e. B. Riggin.
Collins said he took his children,
Hazel, aged four, and Catharine,
aged two years, with him in the wagon
to the field, half u mile distant, to
plant tomato seed. Ills wife was, to
join him as soon as she attended the
chickens.
The last he saw Of her was at the
barn-yard gate. She, from the porch
asked him where lie had placed the
thirty dollars she intended to take.
Collins said he told her it was in II
box, the location of which he describ-
ed. lie SAYS he went to a field, fin.
ished plowing, and after waiting a
.halfhour, heand his children return
ed to the house to ascertain the
cause of Mrs. Collin Is failure to bring
the seed. When | got back to the
house | called for Aida, he said. II
got no answer. Then | went into
the carriage house and called. took
two steps and saw her covered with
blood in the stable. l picked her up
called her and kissed her, and my God.
she was dead, l thought my colt had
had killed her, but when l saw the
cut on her throat | knew he didn't.
My little girls were with me when l
found her, Collins here went into
paroxysm of grief, and after few
minutes told how he apprised George
II. Henry, farmcr living 200 yards
away, Of the crime. Collins said the
$50 was taken from the box. His wife
usually carried money in a stocking,
but the money was missing. lie
noticed her stocking torn near the
top when he examined it. Collins
said the last time he had used the
iron bolt with which she was batter
ed, was about three weeks ago. lie
had used the hatchct on Tuesday TO
repair hog pen. 1t was the custom
to take the children to the fields.
Mrs. George Henry informed the
jury that when Collins came to her
house he excaimed: Somebody has
murdered my wife, Mr.. Henry said
Collins conveyed the same message.
Henry was the first person to arrive
at Collins home. Collins cried: 'l'm
ruined. somebody has killed my wife.
He, with several men carried tho body
into the house
lie was working within 200 yards
of Collins home. While lie saw the
latter's team coming from the field
before the body was found, he saw
no persons about Collin 5 house during
the morning.
Jacob T. Kenney and. Sidney p.
Goslce were among the first arrivals.
They said they found tracks leading
across the field from Collins property
into the woods, where they were lost.
They led in the direction of the field
in which Collins worked, but a per-
son making them could not be seen
from the field.
Mr.. Goslee found a bloody bolt and
behind crates that were used
for hens nests. Mr. Kenney ;testif-
ed that four boys declared they saw
a man running in the woods and
George Henry's daughter told him she
recalled seeing the stranger crossing
Collins field.
The fences surrounding the farm
have been torn down and a great part
Of them carried awayas souvenirs.
Aside from footprints which lead
from the barn where The body was
found, and which are lost in a nearby
wood, no clue has been found except
that two boys who were fishing in
pond near the house Yesterday morn
ing saw a man running through the
woods shortly after the hour the
crime was committed. They say he
wore Il brown coat, white felt hat and
light trousers. Detective Frances
arrived in town last night and, with
the Coroner and Dr. James Chipman.
1t Georgetown, made an Investigation
If the premises and tn, wounds
The funeral of the murdered woman
lakes place this afternoon. Rev. f.
z. Cochran will conduct the services.
Detective Frances has blood STAIN |
ID overalls. worn by Elmer Collins
yesterday, but the owner explains
they were besmeared by him picking
10 the body ofhis wife. The apparel
If Mrs. Collins was placed in a tub
)f water, but who did this the autholi
les have been unable to learn.
Hundreds of persons went to the |
Collins's home during the day to view |
he grucSome scene. Overhead the |
,uzzards scared to the horror Of some
upcrstitious country folks
1t is reported that Mrs. Collins
ifc was insured in her husbands |
aver for $4,000.
A woman in q country town in Illinois
( or trying many advert ed ''Onic,' in