Evening journal., 1903-01-10
HUNDRED WITNESSES
IN THE COLLINS CASE
Trial of Accused Wife Murderer viii Start On Mon
day and Continue for Nearly Two Weeks.
Great Interest In the Case

murder. The State investigated these
confessions hut did not push the case
against him. He was committed to
TaInhurst OIL the ground that he was
insane. The attorneys for the defense
will claim, and attempt to show, that /
the negro Waite was sleeping in the |
wagon house in the stable and heard |
Collins talk to his wife about the $50 |
in money in the house. After Collins |
went to the field with his children the
defense will attempt 10 prove that Mrs |
Collins went to the stable and there |
met the negro. He jumped from the
wagon and she seeing escape cut off by
the door by which she entered the stable
attempted to make her exit by the
doors leading through the building and
into the pound. Then it was they say
J that Waite delivered the blows with
! the bar. The position in which the
body was found. they say, will prove
this part of their contention.
A Mysterious Witness
The attorneys have a witness whose
name is not given whom they say will
lgive evidence which cannot be im-
ipeached concerning a confession Waite
is said to have made. The confession,
it is claimed, was made before that
given to the private detective aud
Peter Hart, who was sheriff at the
thine.
This witness, IL is said will tell OF a
conversation between himself and the
negro which was about as follows;
waite, they say you killed Alrs. Col
lins."
Waite is said to have replied: What
if I did?"
'SWell, they viii hang you"
"WelA l did kill her and got the
money out OF her stocking. They will
mot hang me, though. will play
crazy. have often gotten out OF
lscrapes in that way 1t is said that
ieeyeral prisoners inethe gail heard these
statements.
The defense says that there is evi-
dence 10 show that the girl May Rhoads
wrote the letter to herself which she al
tleges she received from another girl,
lstating that Collins wanted to elope
with her. The letter is not in evil
ldence. The defense says the girl has a
grievance against the Collins family.
Evidence will also be produced in Col
hns' behalf tending to show that the
lTIenryB, who live ON the adjoining
farm, have had q dispute with Collins
over piece Of land
Collins Has Grown Fat
Since Collins has been in Jail he has
grown much stouter than he was when
ARRESTED. He is not fed on the usual
lprison fare, but is Furnished meals
from Sheriff Steelo's table, for which
he pays extra
He is not confined in one cell, but is
lallowed the freedom of the big cell
room with the other eleven prisoners,
four of whom are negroes. Among
them are street fighters. thieves, bur
glars and one convicted murderer, who
: lis serving a life sentence Although he
talks with them, Collins acts as if he
! felt he was better than they. He does
! mot have amy occupation, but reads,
} lwrites and walks around the jail yard
? He seldom asks for newspapers, but
: often reads his Bible Anyone
who wishes is allowed to see him. His
old father, Jacob Collins. and some
other relatives are frequent visitors.
l He has not seen his two children since
2 he has been locked up. He was visited
3 by his father on Thursday, and yes
: terday the Rev. w. S. H. Williams. of
Georgetown circuit called on him, and
the two engaged in an earnest con-
versation. He wrote to his father yes
terday and made inquiry for my
babies" as he calls his two Children
y They have been sick.
4 Opening OF Court
n although it is usual for court to
D lopen at 10 o'clock, il will not begin on
e Monday until noon. The judges of the
y lcourt, the prosecuting officers, and
s Estate Detectives Francis and Ratledge
), will not arrive until nearly noon. It is
e believed nearly all of Monday after
r noon will be consumed in getting a
r jury and arraigning the prisoner. The
t case will start in earnest on Tuesday
e morning. The following is the panel
from which the jurors will be drawn:
Isaac J. Townsend, of Baltimore
hundred; William ]. Hudson, Jr., Bal
-t timcre; Albert Parker. Baltimore;
e George S. O'Neal, Broad Creek; Thomas
o S. Lambden, Broad Greek; Benjamin
- JOuunOus LII cNAAA -
a Kitchens, Broadkiln; William ]. Darby
. Cedar Creek; George R Clendaniel
K Cedar Greek; John d. Messiclz, Cedar
u Greek; Jeremiah Baltz. Dagsboroi
e George E. West, Dagsiboroi
IS William H. Jester, OF East George
y town; Henry T. Messick, Georgetown
Jesse II. Wells, Jr., Gumboro; Charlie:
E. Hearm, Gumboro; John T. Warning
=. ton; Indian River; CHARLES H. Rust
:, Indian River; Daniel l.. Hazard, Lewe.
= and Rehoboth; George A. Rust, Lewe
Z and .RehcIboth; Isaiah Howard, Lewe'
= and Rehoboth; James H. Dorman, Lit
Z lie Creek: John II. Hastings, Litu
y Creek: Robert Knowles. Little Creek
~ William J. lTyndall, Nanticoke; Lemue
- Swain. Nahicoke; John f. S. Wroten
~ North West Fork. William w. Konwies
he (Continued on Third Page).