Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-12-24
OHNCOLLINS FREE
Gov. HooH PARDoNs THE KAN
SAN CONVICTED or sLAYINo
Hls FATHER.
BELIEVES HIM INNOCENT
collins Receives the News In a Quiet
Manner at the Lansing Prison
Had Been There Ten
Years.

Topeka. Kan, Dec. 23.-Gov. Hoch
Tuesday afternoon committed the
sentence Of John Collins effective
wednesday morning from life I'M
urisonment. Absolute belief. In Col
Inns Innocence" was Gov. Hoch's rea-
son.
The governor also made 1t plain that
the clemency was not granted at this
time because Of the nearness Of Christ
mas and that the pardon must not be
construed In any way as q Christmas
Eift. In his public statement, given
out with the pardon, the governor
says he feels that Collins was I'M
Justly convicted. The governor has re-
peatedly said he does not believe In
holiday pardons.
The pardoning Of Collins, unlike
that OF Emmett Dalton. was devoid OF
Ill dramatic incidents. In the later
case Dalton was called to the govern
or's office and In the presence Of all
the newspaper correspondents he was
handed his pardon, the lights going
out at the moment the governor was
ready to pronounce the news to Dali
ton. In the case Of Collins, however,
there was none Of this. It was quite
prosaic. Late Tuesday afternoon a
rumor went about the state house that
there would "be something doing" In
the Collins case later In the afternoon.
The governor merely smiled when
asked If there was anything in the
reports.
you've had rumors before that have
not materIalized, haven't yodT he
said with laugh.
Shortly after 4 o'clock he govern
or's son, Homer, who is his private
secretary came from the executive Of
nee and announced that Collins had
been pardoned, his freedom to begin
Wednesday. To the reporters he hand
cd a typewriter statement by the
governor giving the reason for elem
sncy.
Miss Grace Collins, the prisoners
sister, was not there, and Collins
lawyers were not present. In fact no
one was there who had at any time
taken any special interest in the case.
The entire matter lasted not more
than ten seconds.
"Wdll Miss Grace Collins be given
the pardon papers to take to her broth
or In Lansing?" the son was asked.
mo she doesn't know Of the pardon
yet. The papers will go over by mail
Just as any other pardon would CO."
Leavenworth, Kan, Dec. 23.-In his
ENTHUSIASTICALLY quiet, almost apathe-
tic manner, John Collins received
the information Of the pardon granted
by Gov. Hoch. He accepted the news
cheerfully but with reserve, main
tanned by little apparent effort at
self-control.
Collins was In his cell house when
deputy Warden Dobson met him with
the tidings that after ten years in the
prison he was to regain his liberty.
John, are you prepared to hear
good news?" asked the official who
without waiting for a reply hastened
to tell the prisoner Of his good fortune.
Il am surely glad to hear It," said
Collins, shaking the hand Of the deputy
warden.
Il had rather thought that the gov
trnor would do something, but l had
not received any information in regard
to actor in the matter" said the
prisoner.
MY sister and mother are RESPONSE
bic to great extent for the efforts to
secure my pardon"
Collins expects to leave the prison
Wednesday morning.
x