The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1904-05-13
NO. 8
Tho Collins Murder Case.

court, Tuesday, for the murder OF her
hired man, George Leachman, by poison
last August. A jury was secured on
Tuesday afternoon,
The jury is as follows: Joseph Angus
tine, New Haven; H. J. Cady, Woodhull;
John e. Dingman, Owosso; M. W.
Drake, Sciota Samuel Gellatly, Owosso;
Henry Hneisen, Antrim; Theodore j.
Hicks, Bennington; Everett j. Hutchin-
son, Durand; Bert @. Launstein, Owos-
so township; Daniel Munger, Caledonia;
Lawrence Murphy, Sciota; and Edison
Swarthout, Middlebury.
Odell Chapman, who is assisting the
prosecution, made his opening state
ment Tuesday. He described the Col
Inns house, told how Mrs. Collins and
Leachman lived there alone, of their
evident regard for one another, and fur
nished a motive for the murder by de-
claring that Mrs. Collins wanted to
marry Col. John Northwood, of New
Lothrop, but the hired man was in the
way of such union.
He described Leachman's illness and
death, pointing out how symptoms of
arsenical poisoning were everywhere
evident, and declared that nothing was
given Leachman during his illness ex-
cept by Mrs. Collins, or else after being
prepared by her. One statement made
by Mr. Chapman has not before been
heard except by of the prosecu-
tion. He declared that a neighbor of Mrs.
Collins was present when George was
first taken sick sick, and the doctor had
been called. The doctor, before going
away, said George would soon be all
right. Turning to the other woman,
Mrs. Collins said: George will never
get up; he will die before Sunday"
George died Friday night
WEDNESDAY MORNING.
1t was decided to exclude all witnesses
except the one actually on the stand.
Sheriff Gerow and Col. Northwood
The first witness was Justice James
Fee, of New Lothrop, who told about
his conducting the inquest over
Leachman's body. Nothing new, was
brought out. Dr. Jacob Shoemaker,
who treated Leachman during the hired
mans last illness, was called. At one
time Leachman was well, the doctor
stated, that there was no question as to
his recovery, and no medicine was pre-
scribed for As hours. He advised that
ice be administered. He called latter
land found Leachmans recovery com
pletely checked, and the man in dan
gerous condition. His stomach trouble
had returned more severe than ever.
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.
DR.. Shoemaker testified that he con-
Quoted the post mortem on Leachman's
body, and from the congested condition
of the lungs and the general condition of
the body, concluded that the man had
died of pneumonia. In view ofDr. Com
berg's analysis, DR.. Shoemaker declared
he had no doubt that arsenical poisoning
caused Leachmans death. During the
hired mans last illness, he administered
bismuth in which arsenic is frequently
found.
THURSDAY MORNING.
J. T. McCurdy, attorney for defence,
at Thursday mornings session of the
court, protested that Mrs. Collins was
being dogged by the officers of the law;
that in the court room and out of it, she
could hold conversation with no one un-
less the sheriff or one of his deputies
heard what was said.
Judge Smith took prompt cognizance
of the state of affairs, and said to Mrs.
Collins: 81 will say that you stand here
as an innocent woman, and that condi-
ton remains until twelve men under
oath have decided otherwise. The only
purpose of restriction placed upon you is
to know you are here in the court room.
When you are in this bar you can talk
with whom you please and sit where
you please as long as you conduct your
self in an orderly manner"
The court directed the deputy sheriff
to allow'Mrs Collins more freedom, re-
marking: Don't get close up to her all
the time as if you had her in handouts.
Dr. Moses Gomberg, U. of M. chemist
from Ann Arbor, made the analysis of
Leachman's stomach and contents, and
so testified. He found 2-11 of grain of
metallic arsenic in the stomach. From
1-100 to 1-20 of grain of arsenic, ac-
cording to the patient, may be given
with safety, and no more.
During an intermission, Mrs. Collins
female friends crowded about her. She
kissed several of them, and kissed and
fondled her grandchild,, the infant
daughter of Adolph Weisenberger. Mrs.
Weisenberger died after being nursed
few days by her mother, Mrs. Collins.
Physicians said death was due to blood
poisoning. There was some talk of TAX
ing up the body which, however was
not done.
The jurors in the case are not allowed
to hold conversation with outsiders, and
eat, sleep and take exercise under guard