Evening journal., 1903-03-25
The Richards, Father
and Son, Are Opposing
Counsel in the Famous
Murder Case
1t is Thought That the
Trial VIII Be Ended
by Saturday, But Re
suit is a Mystery

Staff Correspondent Evening Journal
Georgetown, March 25.-It is for the
jury to decide whether Elmer Collins
killed his wife. as has been charged.
His fate is now in the hands of the
twelve men who must Judge of his
guilt or innocence. The State, repre-
sented by Attorney General II. H.
Ward and Deputy Attorney General
Robert II. Richards has done all in its
power to send him to the gallows, and
on the other hand the counsel of the
accused man. Robert c. White and
c. F. Richards, have done what they
could to get the jury to say he is not
guilty, and allow him to walk out
free man.
No stone has been left unturned, and
If the jury decides he committed the
awful deed, it will be because the
strong chain of circumstantial evidence
is believed. Every scrap of evidence,
pro and con, has been put in and all
that remains to be done before the
jury retires to the room to deliberate,
is for the closing addresses Of the law
yers and the charge of the court, which
will be delivered by Chief Justice
Lore.
Dramatically, c. H. Richards. whe
opened for the defense this morning,
and in a voice shaking with emotion,
advanced the theory and said it was
possible that, as Collins picked up the
bleeding form of his wife. her heart
may have been giving its last beats,
and as he pressed her TO his bosom,
she may have recognized him as he
kissed her.
The majority Of the spectators this
morning were women,an as Mr.. Rich
ards proceeded they cried at his dra-
matte recital. Mr.. Richards following
as he did, his son, r. II. Richards, dep
uty attorney general, tried to pick his
theory to pieces. During his speech he
referred to him as "the learned deputy
attorney general" When his father
started to talk. the States Junior
prosecuting officer left the court room.
Mr. Richards said that Harrison
Wrotten. the man who heard the
prayer in the wagon, seemed to know
more about the case than anyone else.
He may have been the man who cross
ed the branch. He seemed to know all
about the premises. IF he is the man
who ran across the branch" Mr.. Rich
ards said, mo wonder he testified about
the prayer"
Mr.. Richards spoke for two hours
and forty-five minutes. In closing he
told the jury not to be governed by
what they had read in the papers, or
heard coming from the mouth of de-
tectives.
Would Go on the Stage.
May Rhoads. the woman in the case,
says she will leave her farm home. To
reporter today she said she had heard
of threats OF violence that had been
made against her by friends of Collins.
She is afraid to remain on her fathers
farm, near Laurel. AS yet she has re-
ceived no offer, but would like to go on
the stage.
Biggest Crowd Yet.
The crowd in Georgetown was larger
yesterday than on any previous day.
It was impossible for any more people
to crowd into the Court House than
have been there every day since the
case has been on. The majority of
those present today, however, were
from distance It was the first time
that many of them have attended the
trial. Whole families came in farm
wagons, bringing their lunches and
carrying bundles of fodder strapped to
lne Ddck or the wagon.
Mothers carried babies in their arms
and braved the crowd in front of the
Court House door and at the risk OF
having their children crushed to death
worked their way into the court room
Several times the infants burst out
crying in the hot room. and made Sc
much noise that at times the questions
or the arguments OF the attorneys
could not be heard. The court and at
torneys were lenient and allowed the
crying babes to remain in the room.
1t is now thought that by Saturday
at least the jury will have come in OF
have been discharged. In case there
is a disagreement and the court offi-
GERS and others attracted to the place
by the trial will have left for home
Georgetown will then get back into its
old ways.
More Witnesses in Rehoboth.
During the noon recess yesterday
Attorney General Ward reconsidered
his determination to call no witnesses
When court met at 2.30 o'clock he
called James Lowe, who lives neal
Laurel He testified as to "A test made
to distinguish how long a nah goinl
toward the branch on the Collins farm
could be seen from the Lowe farm.
Constable c. l.. Phillips said he and
Detective Francis interviewed the two
Psppin and BTittiTgiiafn boys. aboui
what they saw in the branch. He sale