The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-31
Dream or Outside World and
Formulate Plans.
CONVICTS ARE EXCITED
Reports of Pard0ns for the Two
Have Reached Lansing.
Penitentiary Officials Feel Kind
~ Towards the Men.


HOO prisoners as he stepped to the
front of.~the raised platform in the
Kansas penitentiary chapel at 1870
o'clock Sunday morning and played a
baritone solo for the prisoners to
march out and return to the cells. He
played Tramp Tramp, Tramp the
Boys Are Marching" It was played
with variations and Collins seemed to
give it spirit and tone that was I'M
usual for the conclusion of the Sunday
morning chapel service.
The report thaesGovernor Hoch was
considering the granting of a pardon
to Collins was known all over the
prison and there was a keen kindly
interest awakened for him. Especially
was this noticeable on the part of tn
officials and the women visitors in the
chapel.
Immediately after the chapel SER
vices Collins was ushered into the Of
fee Of w. H Haskell, the warden, to
meet a reporter. IT read the article
that the governor is considering my
application for a pardon. but know
nothing beyond that" was the reply
of Collins when asked about his case.
While not excited he was in buoyant
spirits.
wrote to more than 200 men in differ
ent parts of the state asking for
letter to be placed with the governor
for my pardon. She did this without
knowing how ey felt, and there were !
only six who did not send favorable |
letters. l think this shows senti-
ment in favor of my pardon and be-
lief that I am innocent We have
learned that many others sent in let |
tiers. unsolicited, to aid US. A woman
visitor a short time ago told me that
she AMI another woman friend had |
voluntarily circulated a petition in |
tn cir home town and secured many !
subscribers to a petition asking for |
my pardon which was forwarded to I
the governor. This was without our /
knowIedge Until she mentioned 1t.
st want a pardon, but have no !
knowledge 81 to what action the gov |
ernor will take
When asked about his health Col
Inns replied: my eyesight is bad,
much worse than when came here.
I wore glasses before coming IN, but
require stronger ones now.
IT have no definite plans" was Col
lirs' answer when asked what he
would do if pardoned- Continuing he
said: 81 would, live in Topeka Where
most of my friends are. have some
lrnov-Ie1pe of the real estate bGsiness-
acquired in the office with my father
and might work at that L have a
rurnber of busine IS friends in Topeka
who have kindly offered to help me
and they would give me employment
would go to work and try TO. lead a
correct life
Collins is very much pleased with
Icge fraternity, Beta Theta Pi of the
Kansas university manifest In him.
Letters and Christmas membranes
from the member cheer him up in his
drearv life in prison "All the men,
bers of my old society are standing
by me. They write letters to me and
send me a little present each Christ
mas. Many people think that these
college societies are just organizations
OF college boys fer rough sport They
are different and make lasting ties. Ny
friends are standing by ne and they
believe I am innocent.
The visit of his step-mother and sis
ter and letters from the members of
his old college society are the most en-
couraging in Collinss prison lie. HIS
mother visited him the day before
Christmas and brought him a good
dinner In the first few years Of Col
lins,s confinement either his mother or
sister visited him each month Each
one visits him twice year; he re-
ceives a visit from one or the other ev-
cry three months. He has their pic
lures with that of his father he was
convicted of numbering, on the wall OF
his cell.
Collins is now clerk Of cell house.
He is quiet and seldom talks to any
one. He is the leader of the penften-
tiary band. When he took charge Of
the band, it was badly dlSOrganazed- |
He has secured new instruments and
built 1t up until the band is a fine one. Z
Collins has never broken any prison
rule and has the full confidence of the
prison officials Every warden he has
Iinson, Jewett and Haskell, the present
believes him worthy of
trust Most all of the prison officials :
believe Collins innocent of murder. :
Collins was brought to the peniten- !
Eiary in March. 1899, when % years E
DID, He seems to be aging rapidly ana t
his failing eyesight is causing him /
anxiety prison life with its assOcia- t
-fOT1e ia on than 9th ,
ars,' Collins remarked in a rather pa G
-hetfc tone. Some don't care; they c
would just az soon be here as not. To
1ne brought up among cultured peo-
pie. prison life is doubly as hard as to
others who don't care.
Willie B. Sell. another life time :
death prisoner" that the governor !
las under consideration for pardon, a
was SO wrought up over the news that T
ne was in a highly nervous state. His
1Oyish face wore a continual nervous I
smile. He finished twenty years ssol- a
d time" last August. OF his life six t
cen years were spent as a boy on a t
Kansas farm and over twenty behind =
he prison bars in the Kansas peniten-
larry Sell does not come in for the
attention and friendly interest that | =
Collins does. He attaches a deep sig
lificance to every friendly word spok- t
n for him. The receipt of a letter h
rom a stranger telling that the writ s
II believes him innocent and that he =
sell, ought to be free is highly priced -
nd indicates to the mind Of Sell that
expresses universal public senti-
nent. He knows that a state official =,
5 strongly opposing his pardon, but &
Expresses no resentment. He only y
vonSqrs why the man can not see that II
e is Innocent. p
Yes, yes. saw the article about my q
ase," was the reply of Sell when ask
d If he had anything to say II have Fl
tudied on that article since. reading
and can not think Of anything for S
n interview Il ma beO1utelV f0nO-. Lin