Evening journal., 1903-03-20
Detective Tells of Collins
Reluctance to Answer
Any Questions Put to
Him
Court Decides to Hold
No Session Tomorrow
and to Resume Trial
Monday Noon

stan correspondent Evening JuuIudA-
Georgetown, March 2O.-The feature OF
today's trial of Elmer Collins charged
width the murder of his wife, was theI
testimony of Harrison Wooten a fisher
man, who olaims he was passing the house
on The night preceding the murder and
heard a man say. I'm kill you between
this and morning"
In his arm he CARRIED baby. He trav-
eled 1O7 miles to get here. When called
to the stand he said: Il lived with James
Lewis at the time of the murder. on April
il I passed the house. was going from
the fish ground to the Portsville road.
Garland Fitzgerald and two boys wereI
with me. When opposite the Collins house
1 heard some quarreling. saw a mans
back He was standing on the porch near
the pump. 1 heard the remarks, II win
kill you between this and morning"
along on the middle of the summer II
saw Collins in carriage driving along the
road. He was on his knees. When wei
got close heard him say, Lord forgive mel
for what have DONE When he saw mel
he got up on the seat. said, How do
Mr. Collins. and he waved his hand. I'M
der decentralization the witness said he
Lived in Dorchester county, Maryland.
In cross-examination Mr.. White asked
the witness n Collins was in a fallingI
top carriage. Il don't know what you
mean" was the reply. You must under
stand I have no learning. You have it
ALL" When asked If he went to church he
said: Il don't bother with churches. There
are more in churches now than are doing
right
At 12.l5 o'clock Mr.. Ward announced
that the State rested.
Expert Witness Recalled.
DR.. Alfred Robin the bacteriologist was
recalled this morning and said that a body
does not get cold for ait least six hours
after death. He occupied much time in
delivering testimony. Under cross-exam-
hation he said the body might get cold
I'm three hours.
Detective Francis told of his visit to the
scene OF the murder on the Saturday night
of the murder and of conversation he
had with Collins. The witness said Col
Inns was lothe TO talk with him. The nc
cused finally told him that after breakfast
he stanted for the field to plant tomatoes.
when he got to the stable he called back
to his wife TO bring the tomato seed and
the money. When she did not join him,
he returned and found his murdered wife
in the stable.
Collins said he suspected no one and
never had any trouble with his wife.
Collins said he had trouble with John
Cooper, whom he SAW in Ahe field near his
house.
The detective told of getting the bloody
oVprn1lc o11 o4t fI,nA coli
thought the murder was committed for
the purpose Of robbery.
On Sunday morning Francis examined
the stable and found the blood marks. On
Monday the detective said he questioned
Collins again and he said: Il am tired of
answering your questions and wil not
answer any more"
George Adams was the first witness
Ocalled today. He lived about mile from
Collins home. He said he was at Col
iins, home on the Thursday before Mrs
Collins was found murdered. He said he
walked across Collins field. He was called
to account for footprints found which tho
defense contends were made by the
murderer.
After some discussion this morning the
court decided ito hold but one session to-
morrow morning and to meet at noon on
Monday.
n Attorney General Ward said this morn
ing that the State would in all probabil-
tty close this afternoon. Witnesses may
be called in rebuttal, however.
Detective Ratledge this morning ,lefi
mere on an important erund. It is said
Ahat he is after another important wit
ness. The State win not divulge the
name.