The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-03-26
Says on Witness Stand He Shot
Schumacher to Protect His
Own Life.
GEORGE COLLINS TESTIFIES.
Chained to Deputies He Shows
Amazing Goodness, and Many
Girls Cry as He Is Led
From Court.
BY A STAFF CORRESPONDENT.

BY A STAFF CORRESPONDENT.
Union. Mo-, March 2s.-William Rudolph
the Union bank robber, who is on trla
for the murder of Charles ]. Schumacher
a, Pinkerton detective, ruined what
chances he had for n mitigation of his
crime when he took the stand this after.
noon and swore, for the first time. that he
shot at Schumacher to protect his owI
life
This leaves self-defense as the only
| ground upon which Rudolph can resist
the charge of murder brought against
him. Immediately after the adjournment
of the court Judge Davidson revised his
| instructions to the jury. These call for q
verdict of either murder in the. first de.
gree or acquittaI.
Judge Jesse Shaper, Rudolph's counsel
will ask that a paragraph allowing a ver-
dict of murder in the second degree be IN
serted in the instructions. but Judge Da-
wilson tonight practically stated that his
original instructions will not be altered.
Another strong point against Rudolph is
In the fact that the jury is allowed to
weigh the evidence relating to his flight
advanced by the State in the charge that
Schumacher's killing was murder and that
the prisoners. Collins and Rudolph. be-
lieved in their own guilt. When asked
to-day why he left home Immediately aft
er the killing of Schumacher. Rudolph re-
piled:
Because had killed a man."
CoLLINs's GAMENEss.
Any doubt as to the thorough gameness
of George Collins was removed when.
twenty-four hours before his execution.
he took the stand and did his best to rem
der evidence which might save his part
ner from the gallows Collins knew in his
heart that his own fate was sealed but
he had promised Rudolph the night be-
fore that he would go on the stand for
him. and he kept that promise.
AS Collins entered the courtroom shack
led to Deputy Sheriff. he made an i'm
preston that Immediately gained for him
much sympathy. He was neatly dressed
was smooth shaven. and had attended to
every minor detail of his dress. His teeth
slistened like pearls. his nails were mani
cured. and there was a soft expression in
his brown eyes which made one believe
that he could not be guilty Of a crime,
much less murder.
He took the witness stand, still shackled
to the Deputy Sheriff, and as he gave his
testimony he was surrounded by officers,
who were taking no chances against a
possible bold dash for liberty. On Collins's
right sat Sheriff Bruch. and In front OF
him sat Rudolph. who was guarded on
either side and at the rear by Deputy
Sheriffs. On the left of Collins sat the
deputy to whom he was shackled. Every
window was closed and locked, every ave-
nue. OF escape was blocked, and with this
condition prevailing Collins began his
story of the attack by the posse on the
Rudolph home and the subsequent killing
Of Schumacher.
Collins looked frequently at his pal and
smiled. Occasionally he winked at him
good-naturedly. He espied Jailer Dawson
and Fred Dehler. a guard at the Four
Courts, and nodded at them pleasantly.
He surveyed the entire courtroom, and all
the while there was naught in his man.
ner that indicated he had but a day to
live.
A map OF the Rudolph home and prem
ises was introduced by the defense. BY
this map Collins, with one hand free, de-
scribed the approach of the posse. tho
attack and the fight.
TELLS OF THE BATTLE.
In language which was far better than
that of half the witnesses who testified
against Rudolph. Collins told, in q
straightforward manner his version of
the tragedy at the Rudolph home. Col
lins did not state, nor was he asked.
whether Rudolph had shot Schumacher.
James Booth. assisting the prosecution,
concluded not to put this question. be-
cause of an admission that Collins made
that was that both his revolvers were
empty when he started after Ticherer.
Booth decided that this statement was
sufficient to convince the jury that Col
Inns had emptied them in firing at the
posse, and, as five bullets were found
in Schumacher's body, It would be taken
for granted where Collins aim was d.
rected.
In the direct examination Collins said
that he was q years old; that he was born
in New York, and first met Rudolph in
Carthage, Mo-, where the latter was
working in a mine. 1t was there. he said,
that they learned how to use dynamite
ana DllIOSlyCeIlH.
One damaging admission made by Col
Inns was that he knew large amount of
money (the booty from the Union bank
robbery was stored in the Rudolph home.
Several questions Collins refused to an
swer. taking advantage OF his constitu-
tional rights, which give a witness the
privilege of not discriminating himself.
It is thought, however, that the whole
weight of Coilins's testimony was lost
when he answered the last questions of
the State, to the effect that he had been
convicted for the murder of Schumacher
and that he is to be hanged tomorrow for
that offense.
As Collins letr the stand he asked one OF
the reporters for light. He was smoking
a cigar. A hundred young girls were in
the courtroom. and they looked with SYM
pathy at the prisoner as he was being led
away, and many of them cried.
In the rebuttai testimony Judge David
son allowed the State to Introduce the af-
fidavit of Esther Rudolph, made year
ago, in which she gives statements show
ing that Rudolph had confessed to the
robbery of the Union Bank. She repeated
statements made by Rudolph after the
killing. One OF these was:
'T got the man ! was after"
The case win be argued tomorrow
morning and should go to the jury by
noon. STEPHEN B. OGRADY.