The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1904-06-10


nullified the pathos by remarking dryly:
81 am here to answer the statements
made by my brother, l shall not under
take to answer the 'boohoo, as l have
left my onion at home" Roars of laugh
ter followed this statement.
RIDICULED DIR. CLARK.
| When he resumed his argument We'd
nesday morning, Mr. Chapman ridiculed
the statement of DR.. Clark, defense's ex-
pert, that Georges death was due to
gastritis. This disease, DIR. Clark
Thought was superinduced by drinking
hot liquids, eating hot bread, or taking
too much cheese and beer. All this Mr..
Chapman declared was foolish.
The speaker characterized Mrs. Col
Inns as woman of great nerve, unfiinch-
ing determination and as relentless as
death. George could not disobey her
orders; he was tied to her apron strings,
and knew no will but hers.
During the argument the woman's at
titude was that of calm indifference, but
this was belied by an occasional quick
tapping of her foot when the attorney
bore down heavily on some significant
fact. Sometimes she yawned, and more
often she sat with bent head, her elbow
resting on the table and her hand across
her eyes,
Mr.. Chapman finished his argument
at 12:45. At 80 court reconvened and
JudgelSmith began his charge to the
| jury. He completed it in 40 minutes,
the case going to the jury at 2:15 We'd
! nesday afternoon.
FOUND GUILTY.
Mrs. Caroline Collins, of New 10th
rop, was on Wednesday evening con-
| victed of murder in the first degree, and
| will on Monday, unless something un-
forseen intervenes, be sentenced to pris-
on for life for the crime. The action of
the jury leaves Judge Smith no alterna-
tive but to impose this sentence.
The jury went out at 2:15 o'clock in
the afternoon and had reached a decis-
ion at o'clock-less than four hours.
On motion of John T. McCurdy, attor-
ney for the defense, stay of execution
was granted until Monday, when it is
expected that sentence will be passed.
The early verdict was somewhat of
surprise and it was the general opinion
that it would be acquittal. When it be-
came known that the twelve men were
ready to come in the news that decis-
ion had been reached spread like wild
fire and jam of people surround
ed the courthouse when Mrs. Collins
was brought in by Sheriff Gerow, to
hear the verdict. Then came heart
breaking wait of ten minutes before the
jury arrived.
| Mrs. Collins, who sat beside her at
torney, evidently feared the worst, for
| she was deathly pale and trembled vi
| olently.
When County Clerk John Y. Martin
asked the customary question, Gentle
men of the jury, have you agreed upon
| a yerdict?" Foreman John G.. Ding
man, of Owosso, arose and replied, 1--WE
| have"
| "What is it?"
Guilty, as charged"
THAT won't do" interposed Judge
Smith quickly, els she guilty of murder
in the first degree?'
All the jurymen replied, "She is"
Mrs. Collins bowed her head in her
hands and wept quietly but bitterly.
In making his plea for stay of proceed
ings Attorney McCurdy declared that
he wished to present matters in con-
nection with the case which had come
to his ears within an hour.
1t is understood that he referred to
| one of the Collins jurors, who express
ed an opinion before the case was called
| declaring he believed the woman guilty
He may move for a new trial.
Credit for the victory rests with AS
sistant Prosecuting Attorney w. j.
Parker who insisted that Leachman's
stomach be saved after the post norton
for analysis and with Odell Chapman,
who had prepared his case thoroughly,
and argued most convlncingly. Sheriff
Gerow and Deputy William Thompson
collected much valuable evidence.
The crime for which Mrs. Collins was
convicted was the murder, by arsenical
poisoning, of her hired man and alleged
lover, George Leachman, who died in
terrible agony on Oct. 90, 1908. The
motive, according to the prosecution,
were the facts that she owed him about
$400 and that he stood in the way of
union with Col. Northwood.
Circuit Court.
The divorce case of Nellie VS.. Loren
May, of Owosso, has been filed by Wat