Evening journal., 1903-03-21
Women Who Prepared
Body for Burial Say
1t Was Warm at the
Time
Court Takes Recess This
Afternoon to Resume
the Trial on Monday at
Noon

INOOH
staf Correspondent Evening Journal.
Georgetown, March 2i.-Elmer Collins,
he alleged murderer of his wife. was onl
he stand this morning undergoing rigid
REORGANIZATION conducted by Attorney
ieneraa Ward. He stood the ordeal well.
The prisoner was worn and tired look
ig when he took the stand. He was not
ceiling well this morning, and ate but
tile breakfast.
1t is feared that the case will result in
feud. Neighbors who have always been
mendly have been called on oppositeI
des Of the case and contradicted each
ther. Already they are calling each
her liars and on the street do not speak
they pass. People who are not interest
regret this very much as there have
cen no feuds in this county for years, the
ain country people living together ike
ne big family.
This morning a delegation Of State wit
asses arrived from Smyrna. The prose
t'tion does not anticipate that the defenseI
Ia be many days in presenting its caseI
I'D want witnesses ito put on stand in re-
ittal. These from Smyrna will prove an
ibi for William Pratt the dementedI
lored man whom the defense will try to
inject with the case. The State will
I'VE other witnesses ito offer in rebuttal.
Collins cross-Examinsd.
When he opened the cross-examination
day, Mr.. Ward questioned the prisoner
osely as to why he wore the overalls
ntaining his wife's blood all day Satur-
y, Saturday night and part Of Sunday.
Dllins said he had no occasion to take OF
e clothes.
lie denied that Niblet ever heard him
aging i'm the loft, but admitted that no
ay have been on the farm during July.
G attended the corn and watermelons,
1t never went in the house.
Collins said he did not see any blood IN
e corncnib. It was his custom. he said.
take his children to the field with him.
stepmother Testifies.
hrs. Hattie Collins, the step-mother Of
prisoner, was the next witness called.
told Of her visit to the house on the
1rning Of the murder. Collins was sit
g in the dining room rocking dhe
4 ungest child, which was in the cradle.
e first thing she did was to clean up the
akfast things.
he could not say how many plates
ere were on the table. There was not
Ich fire in the kitchen stove. She found
ne yeast which looked as If it had been
de in The morning. When she went TO
carriage house, she saw egg shells on
floor which Indicated that the chick
had been attended to that morning. 1t
customary for Collins, she said to
se the children to the field. Tho witt
IS washed the body and found the feet
rm.
Says Blood Was Running.
Irs. James II. Smith said she went -
ilins' farm, about > O'Clock on the day
the murder. She said she took out the
s in Mrs. Collins hair and got her
gers wet with blood. From a hole in
neck blood was running.
he said she found body warm and the
ID woman's arms were timber. Her
cinator was wet with blood. The wilt
IS denied saying to Jacob Morris,
ny not pick up some Niger who has
friends and hang him and let Elmer
,"
n. William ]. Hitch said when he got
the Collins farm the murdered woman
on the lounge. The body was cool,
leg was perfectly timber. Dr. ]. NJ.
ch, cousin of the defendant, who ex-
ined the body said the blood was not
ming from the wounds.
arley Riggin. the undertaken who
ried Mrs. Collins said the body was
rigid when he arrived on tho farm.
limbs were not stiff.
collins' Father Testifies.
lcob A. Collins, the aged father Of the
endant, said he was at the mill when
was informed Of the murder. His tes-
ony did not differ from that of the
er witnesses regarding the finding OF
body.
iss Maud Collins. sister of the murd-
woman. testified to finding the bag OF
which Mrs. Collins was going to take
I# the field with her. After the murder
S. n committed this seed could not be
M nd. IL was found by the witness a
p k after the funeral.
IN le denied the statement made by De-
i've Francis that Collins refused to an.
questions. At / o'clock court ad.
~ med until Monday.
y he chief Justice told the members Of