Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-04-26
Father Signs Bail Bond. Detec-
tives Believe They Have I'm
portant Clue.

Elmer Collins, a slender and frail
young farmer sof near Portsville, five
miles west of Laurel, marched from the
Georgetown Jail Friday afternoon, no I
TO return until October TO face the
charge that he crually murdered his
wife. Aida, on Saturday, April IL. an
account of which crime appeared in our
last issue. He was taken into court
from the Jail Friday afternoon to at
tend the proceedings instituted in his
behalf by his counsel, Robert G. White.
TO secure the release of Collins on bail
Chief Justice Lore and Associate JUS
tees Spruance and Boyce were on the
bench. The little court house was
crowded the entire day.
Large Crowd Present
From all parts of Sussex county per-
sons had driven. Teams lined the pub
lie square, and radiatcd along all the
side streets 1t was IA crowd typical of
Return day" at Georgetown. On all
sides the murder was discussed, and all
manner of sentiments were expressed.
Mr.. White, on behalf of Collins, raised
a question of whether there was suffi-
cient ground for the commitment of the
accused man until the October term of
court without the privilege of being ad-
mitted to bail This was done under a
section i'll the Revised Code. Attorney
General Ward and Deputy Attorney
General Richards represented the State
and produced what they considered was
| sufficient evidence TO warrant the deten-
ton of Collins
Meagre Evidence.
The evidence was meagre and circum-
stantial, consisting of an attempt to
tear flaws in the story of the finding of
the mutilated body. as told by Collins,
the condition of his clothing and few
other circumstances. The bloody iron
bolt and Ratchet found near the body
also was exhibited This was the result
of the endeavors of Detectives Francis
and Ratledge to clear up the murder
mystery. After hearing the evidence,
the judges decided that il was INSULT
to warrant the imprisonment of Collins
without bail on the charge of murder,
and they ordered that he be admitted
to bail. The amount was fixed at
500 and il was provided instantly.
There were dozens of citizens from
Laurel willing to furnish bail i'll any
amount.
Believe in His Innocence.
Collins returned to his home Friday
night with his father, James Collins,
and Jacob Collins, the father of his
murdered wife, both whom stoutly be.
lieve that Elmer is innocent. He still
seems grieved by the death of his wife.
Arm i'll arm, the two bereaved fathers
walked into the court house and there
were no more attentive listeners to the
arguments and earnest pleadings than
these two patriarchs who are standing
by Collins.
Will BE Analysed.
Interest i'll the southern part of the
State is increasing rather than abating
in this murder case The most valuable
find yet, it is said, in the way of evil
dence against the murderer, whoever
he may be, is a large rag soaked in blood
which was unearthed with mass of
blood mixed with manure and plowed
into the ground. This, it is alleged,
was found i'll the field where Collins
worked the morning his wife met her
death. The bundle was sent to Profess
sor Wolf at Delaware College for analy-
cation. 1t was also ascertained that
Mrs. Collins was killed at an early hour,
before she had eaten breakfast. as no
food was found i'll the stomach when
the post mortem was made.