Evening journal., 1903-01-10
Novel Feature VIII Be
thel Pittingsof Robert
II. Richards Against
His Father EC.} r.
Richards
Defense viii Try to
Prove That Mrs. Col
Iins Was Killed by
Negro William Waite
for Money
From . STAR Correspondent.

From 3 Stan Correspondent
Georgetown, Jan. 10--Charged with
the murder Of his wife. Elmer Collins.
young farmer living near Laurel, will
be placed on trial in the Court House
here on Monday The crime WAS one
of the most brutal in the history Of the
State. and attracted more attention than
any offense committed in Sussex coun-
ty since the Gordy murder several years
ago.
Unlike the Gordy murder the State
has had great trouble in finding mo-
tive The evidence is all oircumstan-
tial, but Attorney General H. H. Ward
and his deputy, Robert H. Richards,
say that they have evidence strong
enough to warrant the jury in arriving
at a verdict of guilty. They admit that
to do this they will have TO forge the
chain carefully link lJy link To do thial
4 the State has had summoned forty wit
nesses. The defense will contest every
& step and to halter down the evidence
d of the prosecution have had sixty wit
nesses summoned Although it is prob
able that all OF the 100 will not be oall-
ed, the trial will last over a week.
Father Against Son
Former Attorney-General Robert G
White and c. f. Richards. two Of the
best lawyers in the State, win represent
Collins. A peculiar thing about the case
is that r. II. Richards. the deputy at
N torney- general, will be pitted against
his father, one Of the counsel for Col
lins.
The counsel for the defense are
STRONG believers in their clients limo
cence. MIR. White said last night that
IA the State would allow him to try
Waite for the murder he would pay
the costs OF the prosecution IL he did
not convict him.
All Ready for Trial
Everything is in readiness for the
trial. The witnesses have all been sum-
moned and the jury panel Whl he on
hand. As nearly every one IN the
county has expressed an opinion one
way or the other regarding the case
some trouble is anticipated In getting
he twelve men. There is a provision
n the statute, however. that If man
has expressed an opinion but is will
nR to swsar that he will be governed
ny the testimony produced from the
witness stand despite his opinion, he
am serve. Both sides will have the
light to challenge him, however
What State Will Contend
The State will proceed on the theory,
nd try to prove to the satisfaction OF
he Jury that Collins killed his wife ON
he night before she was found dead In
he stable, and not by some person
While Collins and his children were in
he field. The latter is the contention
f Collins. TO substantiate this the
tate will try to prove that contrary
b the usual custom Collins dressed his
wo children, Hazel, aged five years,
nd Catherine, aged two years, before
reakfast and before he took the chill
ren to the field with him The prose
uting officers will try TO show that II
as customary for the mother OF the
hildren to dress them.
Motive for Crime
1t has not been clearly stated what
ie State will try to show as a motive
is said that they will attempt &c
rove. however that Collins was tired
his wife and wanted to elope with
nj, May Rhoads. The State will alse
tempt to show that he had QUICK
bid violent temper. "a bloody bar ol
ON and blood covered clothes Will o'
troduced as evidence as will pieces
boards on which there are blood,
# lger marks.
The Defense
The attorneys for the defense, Rober
White, and c. f. Richards, viii
lake a general denial to the charges
at Collins murdered the woman. Oh
~ rtain points the evidence of the Stat
ID defense will be corroborative. TIT
fense will contend that Mrs. Collin
as murdered on The morning of Apri
W by William Waite colored, wh'
as arrested for the crime. and mad
s.. u veral confessions weeks after tn