The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1905-11-17
COLLINS JAILED AGAIN
James Collins Now Faces New
Charges in YanktonI
County
Deceiyes Friend Who Aided Him
When Here-Story OF a
Broken Friendship

Broken Friendship
OF all the prisoners who have been
locked up in the Brown county jail
the one who was entered under the
name of James Collins certainly isone
of the most remarkable. He is in Jail
again in Yankton and it remains to be
seen whether his experience there VIII
duplicate his e%ndeavors in this vlcln-
ity. 1t is not likely, however, for
there is only one O. D. Buchecker and
he is not in jail now. Buchecker also
furnished care and amusement for
several people while he was in the
Brown county Jail and his experiences
with Collins were somewhat out OF
the ordinary.
When Collins and Buchecker met in
the Jail they at once struck up an ac-
quaintance and soon became bosom
friends. After awhile Collins, first
eXacting pledges of secrecy and good
faith, told Buchecker the inside his.
tory of his life, as he, probably,
thought it ought to have been or
something of that sort. Buchecker
undoubtedly believed him and con.
cluded that he was more the victim
Of circumstances than Of any direct
wrong doing. Collins told Buchecker
that he had left Minneapolis to get
away from drink and evil associations.
He declared that he was the son Of a
we'll known real estate dealer in that
city and that his wife was the daugh-
ter of another well-to-do M%inneapoli-
tan and the niece of Minneapolis most
famous railway magnate. All this
Buchecker believed, although he tried
to verify some of the Statements, and
the information he got, while not ex-
act, tended to confirm his belief in
what Collins had told him. While it
may never be known just who Collins
is, 1T is a fact that at least one Aber-
deem man, who knows the man he
claimed to be, thought he was telling
the truth.
at all events, the friendship of
James Collins for O. D. Buchecker
grew warmer and finally they began
TO plan for the gladstone time when
they would be again free to buck IN
against the hard world. Collins claim
ed also to have travelled extensively
He.had undoubtedly been in the bird
egg collecting business for it develop-
ed that he really did have quite a fine
collection of eggs at Worth's farm
down Warner way. The finding Of
the eggs there also tended to confirm
his story. The fact that his trouble
IN Aberdeen came about, according ia
MS SID Of it, through to intimate an
acquaintance with the virtues of
Whlskey, was not without its influence
with Mr.. %Buchecker, for he knew
somewhat too much about the matter
himself. 1t is quite natural, there
lore, That the two should find MANY
tnings OF common interest and their
plahS were. formed for some pretty bip
things, Collins finally persuaded
Buchecker to help him in a 6nanci,,
way and this he did. A first defiant
Collins finally decided to 60 before the
court, plead guilty and take his mod.
cine. This he did in August and he
drew sixty days and a fine of seo
Buchecker advanced him the mono
to pay the fine with and to return ~,
money he obtained through the checn
winch landed him in jail in the fire,
place. When his sentence had ahon,
expired he also advanced him onita T.
sum for clothes and expenses and Col
Inns, as soon as he could. left, for g.
Louis to dispose of his eggs. with IL,
understanding that he was to ioir
Buchecker later on.
He did not get quite to ST. Louis
Even before he got to the state In,
he became ill and sent for money 49,,
got it. Pretty soon he wired Rnchaa
ker for 5000. Buchecker wired ~
reasons. No answer. In a few days ;
letter came saying that he had 49,
SICK but was getting around aeainan.
would Buchecker please send a,on,
the 5000. Mr.. Ruchecker nav I'm
oeen credulous but he ha,