Middletown transcript., 1903-03-28
ELMER COLLINS ACQUITTED
The Man Over Whose Head the Suspicion Of
Murder Has Been Hanging Has Been
Pronounced Innocent

Pronounced Innocent
GEORGETOWN, DEL, Mar. 25-"Mr. Col
Inns you are free to go where you please, ,
said Chief Justice Lore last evening
in discharging Elmer Collins, whom g
jury of his peers had just acquitted on the
charge of wife murder.
Then followed such a scene as has
never before been seen in the old Court
House. Collins brother, DR.. c. E. Col
Inns, of Crisfeld, threw his arms around
his brother and the two brothers stood
locked in each others embrace, ming
ling their tears of JOY.
While they were sobbing out their JOY,
Collins friends and sympathizers were
cheering and applauding the verdict,
which took the frail young farmer from
under the shadow of the gallows. The court
crier shouted: "Order! Order! but no at
tention was paid to his cries.
The two words: mot guilty." made
new man of Collins. For about twenty
minutes he held reception in the court
room.
Verdict Not Expected
When the afternoon session of court ad-
journed last evening, it was nearly z
O'Clock, and the court announced that it
would convene at 10 o'clock to receive
any word that the jury might send in.
1t was fifteen minutes after that stime
when Chief Justice Lore and Associate
Judges Pennewill and Grubb followed by |
the attorneys, filed into the Court House.
Then the court crier pulled the bell |
rope, and the notice was thus sent all |
over town that the court was in session. |
A rush was made for the building, and in
short time the big white-washed room
was filled to overfowing.
Sheriff. bring in the prisoner" said
Chief Justice Lore. For the first time
the assembled multitude knew that the
jury had reached verdict. This intel
ligence was received with surprise, as it
was not expected that verdict would be
rendered until this morning.
Collins Brought In
With the skin of his face drawn and
ashy white, Collins was led into the
room. He sank into the seat in the
dock. He seemed unable to keep his
head up, and leaned it on the railing.
His sunken eyes shone forth like holes
burned in a piece of parchment The
faces of the prosecuting officers, G. T.
Richards, one of the attorneys for the
1efense; the faces of the judges, and in
act everyone in the audience, showed
he nervous strain under which they
we're laboring.
Jury Seemed Troubled
When Collins had been seated, the
rider was given the bailiff to bring in the
ury. With slow step and heads bent,
he twelve men filed into the court room.
serious look was on the face of each.
He is guilty. He is guilty" was whis-
cred around the room. The hand of
he veteran foreman, Henry Tunnel,
'as shaking.
ELMER Collins, stand up" said the
erk of the peace. The prisoner pulled
imself to his feet and faced the jury. :
''How say you, gentlemen of the jury.
o you find Elmer Collins guilty or not 4
llty?' was the question asked the jury.
seemed minutes, but it was hardly
cond before Mr.. Tunnel answered.:
Not guilty." ..
Congratulated Collins
Then Collins brother, DIR. Collins, of
risfeld, ran for the box and threw his
ms around the free man, who a minute
fore had been charged with the mur-
r of his wife. Mr.. Richards pressed
rward and grasped the hand of his
ent. MIR. White was not present. He I
Is taken sick after his speech in the
ternoon. Yells of approval and hand ;
lpping made the old room ring.
When the court discharged Collins he
liked from the dock and sat down out.
le. Attorney General Ward shook
nds with Collins and congratulated
m. Collins thanked him. Among the
st to shake his hand was Deputy Attor-
y-General Richards.