The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-13
WILL NOT HEAR IT
Governor Doesn't Expect to Open
Collins Case.
Promised Condemned Mans Sis
fer to Read Evidence.
BEEN MODEL PRISONER
Friends Hoped to Get Consider
alton Now.
Seven Years Ago Today Crime
Was Committed.
BEEN MODEL PRISONER

Today, the seventh anniversary Of
the murder of James S. Collins, finds
his son, John Henry Collins, no nearer
a pardon from the penitentiary for the
crime of which he was convicted De-
cember "a. 1898. than he was the day
he entered the penitentiary
Governor Hoch indicated today that
he would not reopen the case and give
John Collins a hearing, as he did the
case of William B. Sell. He said:
Il have set no date for the hearing
of the Collins case. All I have done
is to promise the boys sister that I
timOny in the case
will you set a date for hearing
the presentation of the case %
I hardly think shall" replied the
governor.
This can be taken as almost conclu-
sive evidence that during Governor
Hoch's term of office, at least, John
Collins viii remain an inmate of
states prison.
Grace Collins, the sad-faced sister of
the condemned boy, is his staunchest
friend and defender and it is due en-
tirely to her efforts that the case has
been brought up before Governor Hoch,
in the hope that he would exercise ex-
ecutive clemency. Her intense devotion
to her brothers cause has attracted
much attention. Again and again che
has called at the office of Governor
HOch, to bring him bunch of flowers,
and plead with him for a hearing.
Not only that, but Grace Collins has
written letters to many of her friends
in Topeka asking fEam to write leJtea
to Governor Hoch and urge him to re-
open the Collins case and give theyoUng
man a pardon. A good many people
have responded to this request, but
some have not. One Topeka man said
recently:
Il received one of the letters which I
understand Grace Collins is writing to
her friends, and while I would like to
do something for Grace, couldn't con-
scienuOusly ask the governor to pardon
john. He may not be guilty, but the
evidence showed that he was. and evil
dence is all we<Eave to judge by"
Friday, May 13 1893 the day upon
which James s. Collins was murdered,
was in weather conditions almost like
today.
The murder was committed about 5
o'clock in the morning. It was cloudy
and misty. Not nuca rain fell in the
forenoon, however, though there were
intermittent showers. There were no
tracks found in the vicinity of the house
which looked as though they had been
made by any one escaping through a
window. The doors were all locked.
Suspicion pointed from the first at John
Collins the son, who had come down
school, the night before the murder. This
suspicion became stronger when it was
found tifit the boy had been leading a
gay life at one Of the fraternttieS. James
s. Collins had a big life insurance: Sl4,-
$50 in favor of Mrs. Collins, and So, 80
for each of his two children. The day
before the funeral, Chief of Police
Steele found, concealed in blanket on
the shelf Of a closet up stairs, revolver
which had been taken from under the
L.
slept. The evidence was so strong that
Chief Steele attempted to place John
Collins under arrest on Monday at the
cemetery, after the body of James s.
Collins had been placed in the grave
Sheriff Cook interfered with this ar
rangement, and told John Collins he
might go to his home though he was
at once placed in Jail Subsequently,
Detective Del Harbaugh was employed
to work on the case, and he Gnearthed
the sensational evidence OF John Collins
connection with Jess Harper and John
son Jordan, the two Lawrence negroes
who according to their own story,
young Collins had tried to hire to kill
his father with a dynamite bomb.
John Collins was then formally placed
under arrest and locked in the county jail
Since that time he has never been free
man He was bound over on his 2relim-
mary examinat ton and his trial in the
district court lasted four full weeks. 1t
was concluded the day before Christmas,
the jury returning q FeIulGL OIL guilty. NO4-
Inns was sentenced to be hanged and has
been in the penitentiary since that time
technically waiting for the governor to
sign the death warrant
John Collins has been q model Dris-
oner at the Denitentiary He has held
various clerical positions and is well liked
by the prison officials. many of whom be-
lieve that he is innocent of the crime.
Governor Hoch's apparent attitude Of
/ friendship for Willie Sell, his rehearing of
that case and his remarks made at its
conclusion all gave the friends of John
Collins much hope that at last there was
/ a prospect of securing the release of the
( Topeka boy.
For some days, however, the impression
has been gaining general credence that the
governor will not pardon Willie Sell, in
spite of his evident desire to rectify any
wrong that may nave been done. In speak
ing of the Sell case yesterday he said
IF I had been a member Of that jury I
would not have convicted Willie Sell, or if
I had been the Judge I would not have
/ been for his conviction, but my position is
/ different Where a juror or judge needed
only a doubt in regard to the guilt of the
/ prisoner, I need absolute proof AS a
1 juror I could have held that his guilt had
/ not been proven, but as q governor I must
! be shown that he is absolutely innocent. 30