Evening journal., 1903-03-14
MORE PEOPLE
SUMMONED BY
BOTH SIDES IN
COLLINS CASE
State Will Have Over 100
and the Defence Already
Has II
CASE TO LAST FOR TWO WEEKS

Prisoner Is Confident That Sussex
County Jury Will AOauis Him of
Crime Of Wife Murder-chops Wood
for Exercise.
Stah Correspondent Evening Journal.
Georgetown, March 1S.-With over
500 witnesses to testify against him
and seventy-one In his defense, Elmer
Collins will be placed on trial here in
the old Court House on Monday,
charged with the murder of his wife,
on his farm near Laurel. Although the
State has partly outlined it's case and
the defense has said that its defense
will be that Mrs. Collins was killed by
Wait Pratt the crazy colored man,who
is now an inmate Of the State Hospital
for the Insane. at Farnhurst, both
sides say they will spring some sur
prises OF a sensational nature. What
they will be they will not say.
Not the least interesting feature VIII
be the legal battle to be waged between
father and son. Robert II. Richards
will assist Attorney General H. H.
Ward in the prosecution, and c. +.
Richards the father of the former,
will join with former Attorney
f General Robert c. White in the de-
fense. The four are among the best
men to be found at the State bar, and
every point will be hotly contested.
Although the Richards agree upon al
most every other question they do not
agree on the question OF Collins guilt.
He is not guilty, and we will clear
him" said the father OF the assistant
Attorney General, when asked about
the case.
He is guilty, and we Will convict
him. said the son when he was asked
about the case yesterday. The sentl-
ment in Georgetown and the vicinity
is divided. Some people say there has
been change OF feeling and that now
the majority OF the people who first
thought the prisoner was guilty, be-
lieve him innocent. This belief they
say, is strengthened because Collins
made no attempt to escape when hel
was out under $500 bail. Another rea-
son for this opinion is that Collins has
been model prisoner and was the
first TO give the alarm when a burglar
tried TO fire the Jail. Other people say
there has been no change OF sentiment
Collins Chops Wood.
II Collins is worried he does not
kilOW IL MAltlA Il ItAOAAGA AOI AiAI
Evening Journal saw him yesterday he
was chopping wood in the jail yard.
He expressed the opinion that he would
soon be released. Ever since he has
been in Jail, he was committed in
September. he has predicted that he
would be cleared. The confinement does
not seem to have injured his health in
the least. He is stout and healthy
looking. He complains at times OF a
lack of exercise, and frequently cuts
wood for exercise.
It is said that the defense had an
idea that the State would drop the case
but the announcement made in VII
mington that it would be tried disputes
that idea
More Witnesses Summoned.
There is much speculation as to what
the new witnesses summoned yester-
day will testify 70. The defense only
learned of them a few days ago, and
lost little time in having subpoena
served on them. A mysterious stran-
ger has been circulating around Lau-
rel, Bethel and other small settlements
near the scene OF the murder. The
state officials have received reports
hat he is a Pinkerton employed by the
iefense. 1t is said he furnished the
names Of the new witnesses He will
De called and give what is said to be
sensational evidence.
The Deputy Attorney General is au-
hority for the statement that the
prosecution will have a hundred wit
lesses. They have not all been sum
noned." said Mr.. Richards, because 1t
not necessary. They will be on hand
without that"
II fha naraao NJ all the witnesses
we're made public the defense could
ell almost TO a certainty on what
oundation the State was building its
ase. There is some evidence it does
lot care about having the prosecution
NOW anything about until It is pro-
luced from the stand.
Case Will 5e Long One.
If all the witnesses summoned are
leard the case will not end inside of
wo weeks. 1t will be a harvest for the
lotel keepers and merchants here
should the weather remain pleasant
he crowd will be immense. But a
mall proportion will be able to gain
dmittance to the court room. and the
ourt officers are talking of issuing
ickets of admission. The hotels are
aging in a large stock of provisions.
The telegraph office is making ar
iangements TO handle the great amount
press matter TO be sent on.
Collins relatives have the greatest
aith in him. They all are prepared to
urn everything they have into money
10 get sufficient funds to insure him
citing the best defense possible. They
re even willing TO go into debt If nec-
ssary.