Evening journal., 1903-03-24
DEFENSE SCORES HEAVILY
Succeeds in lmpeaehing the Testimony
Of Aged Henry Niblit.
Staff Correspondent Evening journal.
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Of Aged Henry Niblit.
Staff Correspondent Evening journal
Georgetown, March 24.-The defense
of Elmer Collins, charged with wife
murder, scored heavily in two in
stances yesterday afternoon, when
they succeeded in impeaching the tes-
timony of Henry Niblett. the old man
who swore the other day that he heard
Collins praying in the loft of his car
riage house for forgiveness for the
murder of his wife. A regular avail
anche Of testimony was introduced on
this point.
Six witnesses. the limit allowed to
testify on this point said that they
would not believe Harrison Wrotten,
the man who swore that he heard and
saw Collins praying in his wagon on
the public road. These men not only
said that they would not believe him
on his oath, but that his reputation for
truth and veracity in the community in
which he lived was bad. To add force
to this evidence the witnesses gave the
names Of numerous persons whom they
had heard say they would not believe
either OF the two men. The men who
said this about Wrotten were some OF
the best citizens Of Dorchester county,
Nd. They also testified to the fact
that he had been put in Jail, broke out,
was recaptured and sent to the peni-
tentiary for two years. This testimony
in regard to the two chief witnesses
for the prosecution was a hard blow to
Attorney General Ward and his dep
uty, Robert II. Richards, who put in
such a strong case. Taking Wrotten
and Niblet out Of the case there is but
one strong witness left, May Rhoads,
who swore Collins was I'm love with
her.
Did Not Connect Negro.
The attempt on the part Of the de-
tense to put the crime on someone
else, a negro who was seen in the vi
cinity of the Collins home on the even
ing before the murder. fell fiat. Tes-
timony was given that a strange negro
on bicl cle was seen that afternoon,
but the witness said that she saw a
number OF colored men and that there
was nothing peculiar about a colored
man riding on the wheel and nothing
to cause her to attach particular at
tention to it. Several witnesses were
put on the stand to show that there
We're foot prints In the branch, but
they also said that there had been
much tramping around all over the
branch and field by the crowd OF
curious people. Two small boys who
were supposed to have seen a man
running across the branch in the after
noon several hours after the murder
was committed were called. One OF
these boys admitted under crOss-ex-
animation that he had seen men in the
branch before and after he saw the
supposed fugitive.
A brother and sister of the murdered
woman both testified that Collins and
his wife always got along happily to-
gether. Lastly, several men who live
in the vicinity of Laurel, and know
Collins, testified to his good character.
The defense has nearly completed it's
case. and former Attorney General
Robert c. White said he would be
through today.
Witnesses in Rebuttal.
The State will have a number of
Witnesses in rebuttal. Should the evil
dence on both sides be all in by We'd
nesday night, it is not thought that
the end would be before Saturday.
Lawyers say that nearly a day would
be spent in hearing the prayers and
argument on the law. The argument
before the jury will last for another
day. 1t is thought that the jury will
consider the evidence for day before
bringing in verdict. When court con-
vened at o'clock yesterday afternoon
the defense started TO attack the
States witnesses.
| NJ1HIJ Ma
Matthew L. Gore, deputy sheriff OF
Dorchester county. Nd. was called and
testified that w. II. Wrotten, who tes-
titled to hearing Collins praying for
forgiveness ON the road, said his repu-
tation for truth and veracity was bad
He said that knowing him as he did
he would not believe him on his oath
The witness said Wrotten had been in
the penitentiary in 1896.
Charles Lake. clerk OF the Circuit
Court in Dorchester county, Nd, said
The had known Wrotten since he was a
boy. His reputation for truth and We
racity was bad, and that he would not
believe him on his oath. In cross-ex-
animation, he said he had not known
Wrotten for the last seven years.
Otto Nivvy, of Cambridge, dry
goods merchant in Dorchester county
Md, was another who said Wrotter
had bad reputation. In 1896 he broke
out OF Jail. He was sent back ther,
several times since.
Robert T. Christopher. an under.
taker said be would not believe Wrot.
ten on his oath.
William II. Simmons, of Cambridge
said he would not believe Wrotten OF
his oath. Joseph w. Simmons testified
to the same effect.
Said Nibit Lied.
Handy Culver. a DeImar farmer
said the reputation for truth and We
. racity of Henry Niblit was bad. HI