Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-03-11
Geo. Collins Who Was
TOHaYe Been Hanged
RepreiYed
Though Barely of Age He
Had a Criminal Record
That ClaSSed Him
With James Boys

and murderers, was to have beer
hanged today in the county jail al
Union, but was reprieved this morn
ing until the 2Sth. The specific crime
for which Collins Is to pay the death
penalty was the murder of c. ]. Schu.
macher, a Pinkerton detective, who
was a member Of the posse that sought
to capture Collins and his pal. William
Rudolph, after the daring robbery Of
the Union bank. Rudolph is yet to
be tried for his part in the crime.
To hnd anything like a parallel to
the career Of these two youthful des-
peradoes It Is necessary to turn back
the criminal records OF Missouri to
the days when the James boys and the
Younger brothers terrorizod the state.
Though neither Collins nor Rudolph
is much over twenty-one a long series
Of crimes, including highway robbery
and bank robberies. has been traced
TO them. Their most daring exploit,
however, and the one that led TO their
downfall was the robbery of the bank
Of Union at Union, Mo-, Dec. 27, 1902
On that date the two youths rode in.
to town blew open the safe of the
bank and obtained $4,000. The act
was committed in the open. the out.
laws keeping the citizens at bay by
using their revolvers.
Charles Schumacher. a Pinkerton
detective assigned to the case, learned
OF an unknown stranger who had been
seen in the town on several occasions
prior 70 the burglary and persistent
inquiry developed the fact that at the
time Of his last visit he had been OBJ
served to walk toward stanton. Mo.
Following this clue, Schumacher was
led TO the home OF William Rudolph.
near Stanton. Several years before
Rudolph had disappeared, after tor.
turing and robbing an aged couple, and
had recently returned, bringing with
him a companion introduced as Fred.
erick Lewis. who Schumacher found.
answered the description Of the stran-
ger seen frequently at Union. Both
were reported TO be unusually well
supplied with money.
Rudolph's home was deserted
miners boarding house situated on a
hill commanding a good view Of the
surrounding country So confident
was Schumacher that he had located
the two burglars that he communi-
Gated with the Franklin county author.
tiles, obtained the necessary war.
rants, and on Jan % 1908. accom-.
panied by a posse. planned TO arrest
the suspects and search the Rudolph
premises for the stolen money.
AS the posse neared the house one
OF the doors was suddenly thrown
open boy two men. who afterwards
proved TO be Rudolph and Collins. alias
Lewis, aud who opened FIRE on Schu.
macher. Two shots entered the lie. (.
tectives' head killing him Before the
posse could be reinforced the two
desperadoes escaped from the house /
forced neighboriRg farmer to sup. /
ply horses, saddles. and brides and
rode away.
In the search Of the Rudolph hause
sheet OF paper was found on which
was written several times. Fred
Lewis, George Collins. Hartford
Conn" This led to investigation in
hat city, where after ten days'
search, the Pinkerton men LEARNED
hat one George Collins had resided
here some fve years previous. but 4
lad gone west and not been seen since
ior heard from. Il being surmised
hat he probably would return East
% spend his share OF the money. his
tep-hrothers. who were stlIl residing
a Hartford were kept under survell.
ance by the PinkertOns, who. co.ope,. /
tins with the Hartford police. Kent nm 4
search In that city and lis resorts
which resulted, on Feb. %. 1908 in
he discovery by detectives Of a man
a the streets who answered Rudolphs
description.
With the hope Of also finding Collins 1
nd recovering the stolen money. the =
aspeet was shadowed until the next 4
az when the officers located him q
nd three strangers In a house one 1
these was Collins, who was ar h
'sted as he left the house with two 1
hers Rudolph was arrested in the I
oose amer a desperate encounter A q
'arch Of their room resulted In the '