The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-24
COLLINS TRIES
TO SECURE GUN,
Claims he Had Three Fingers on
DePuty's Weapon During
Trial at Union.
BACK IN ST. LOUIS JAIL.
Jailer Dawson Takes Unusual Pre-
cautions-Condemned Man Will
Have Special Food and
No Liberty.

Until he told It himself yesterday morn
ing. no person at Union. where George Col
Inns was convicted of murder. knew that
the desperate prisoner made an attempt,
last week. to get hold Of a Deputy Sher-
ifs revolver.
II had three of my fingers on the dep
uty's gun" said Collins to Guard Robbins
in the city Jail He turned around Just
in time to prevent me from getting a good
hold on the handle of the weapon 1t was
a big A Colts. too, Just the kind l like.
One minute more and I'd have gotten the
gun and then there would have been some
thing doing"
What would you have done with it7'
asked Robbins.
"Oh. / don't care to say what 1 would
have done. but the chances are 1 would
not be here. or they would have me buried
now. That's all"
WILLING TO TAKE CHANCES.
While Collins was in court on trial two
Deputy Sheriffs sat on either side of him.
He explained yesterday to Guard Robbins,
shortly after he was brought back from
Union to the city Jail for safe-keeping that
one of his guards turned his back to him
for few seconds.
II knew he had a big gun in his pocket"
said Collins, and l tried to get it. 1 felt
that there was no chance for me In that
court. 1 knew the jury would be compelled
to convict me, so 1 thought might as well
take a chance getting away.
THE deputy was standing with his back
to me- No person saw me reach my hand
up under his coat. i had three of my fin
gers on the gun handle. Still no person
knew it.
GUARD MOVED; CHANCE GONE.
II had to turn my hand little and knew
1t would be useless TO pull the gun out
with only three fingers. as l would not
have a chance to get a good grip on it be-
fore the other guard could shoot me. So,
when he moved. my chance had gone and
1 had to give it up
Guarded by Sheriff Burch. Deputy Shertffs
Frank Weatherford. Benton Booth and
Mike Mou;ler, Collins was brought back to
St Louis yesterday morning from Union.
and placed in the city Jail for sate-keepins.
Guards and prisoners in the jail. who have
known Collins since he was first put In the
citys prison. could see no change in the
prisoner. He did not display by look or
action that he was In the least affected by
the sentence of death passed upon him for
the murder of Detective Schumacher.
JoKED WITH JAIL GUARDS,
81 see you have covered the skylights with
wire screens" said Collins to guard.
What did they do that for? To keep Ru-
dolph from getting back in?'
The prisoner laughed at his own Joke and
other prisoners who heard him Joined in.
After getting his bath and breakfast. Col
Inns was put in cell No. 46. This cell is gen.
orally used for murderers who have been
condemned to hang.
Jailer Dawson said In explanation of plac-
ing Collins in the death cell:
1T is not because he is under sentence of
death, but because 1t is the most secure
cell we have in Jail. We recognize that no
chances can be taken with Collins. No. As
has eouble screens over the WINDOW and the
outside windows back of it are so screened
that no person frCm the outside can throw
anything into his cell.
CELL CLOSELY GUARDED.
"Then the cell is SO situated that It can
be seen by the guards from nearly every
point in the Jail, and a closer watch can be
kept on him there.
II have given orders that no person but
the guards shall give Collins any food. ALI
he will have to eat from now on will come
better food than other prisoners receive. but
! am not going to take any chances in al
lowing him to eat anything carried by 9TH
er prisoners or sent in from the outside.
NO person will be allowed to see him and
for the present he will be kept In his cell
all the time. If he is allowed to take exer-
else later. it will be under strong guard"