The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-23

| said Collins with laugh.
| John made a good clerk and could be
| depended on said Deputy Warden
| Dobson who was in the room.
Ohm did my type writing I'll miss
| him to be free
Never Lost a Day.
owe much to you, deputy said
collins. You have always treated me
right. Those who behave are especially
Wei treated here. 1 have never been
SICK and never lost a days work while
confined here. / was convicted on the
testimony of two negroes, but 1 don t
care to talk about my case" was Col
Inns reply when questioned on this line.
he was asked
mo, it came as a pleasant surprise.
III not wait for the making of a new
suit. can be fitted out with some kind
of suit tomorrow"
Col1nS occupied his regular cell last
night. 1t is the one he had for nearly
ten years. 1t is neatly trimmed. A
large picture of his father hangs in the
cen over the door, The. face of his
father was constantly before him. The
officers and others do not believe that
Collins could have kept that picture up
before him for ten long years had he
murdered his father.
L brought my fathers picture with
me and kept it all these years and will
take it along when I co. said Collins
last night. He referred to his father
Win prlue ana certainly does not want
to forget him. Collins was brought to
the penitentiary March q, 1899. He has
never broken the rules and has a clear
record. He is the leader of the peni-
tentiary band. Collins was strict in his
discipline with band members and if a
prisoner did not behave or act right he
would not keep him in the organiza-
ton. In addition to other duties he was
Inns wanted to avoid notoriety but at
the same time to be pleasant and an
sWer the questions of reporters.
What eX-Warden Jewett says.
E. B. Jewett, former warden of the
penitentiary, is in Topeka today and in
reply to an inquiry about the pardon
Of John Collins said:
OF course 1 was very much interest
ed in the news, the institution having
been under my charge as warden dur
ing a part of the time Collins was
there. He was a model prisoner, but
there are many model prisoners. I said
last night when I heard the news in
Lawrence that there are many other
prisoners as deserving of a pardon as
Collins. This can almost always be
said following any pardon. 1 said this
before L knew on just what grounds
the governor had issued the pardon. L
learn today that it was because he be-
lieVeS Collins innocent. OF course an
innocent man ought not to be in the
penitentiary. 1 have no criticism to
offer. 1 appreciate the position of the
governor ana the OIIlCerS OI Lie lIlSt1tu-
tion because I was an officer and am
familiar with the constant pressure
that is brought to bear to secure the
freedom of those in prison. 1t Is al
most a daily procession of weeping wo-
men and imploring wives and sisters
1.-The officers of prison see the pris-
oner apart from his crime and from the
circumstances surrounding 1t. They see
him as he appears under them. Collins
was an intelligent prisoner, a man of
education capable of doing many things
that the ordinary prisoner cannot do
We did not put him in the coal mine,
because he was capable of doing some
thing more than manual labor. His
qualifications made him a valuable man
to the penitentiary. He had clerical
ability, which saved the state money.
He was methodical, wrote a good hand
and was accurate in what he did. He
led the band and kept good discipline
in the band. The officers and guards
of the prison are doubtless glad that
Collins is free. He has conducted him
self before them in a manner to more
or less attach himself to their good
wishes. The character of certain wit
resses in the Collins case was bad; but
that is not unusual
Grace Collins is happy young wo-
man 1 would not say anything to mar
her happiness"
Hayden Is Pleased.
Charles Hayden of Holton is in To-
peka today He was one of the at
torneys who defended John Collins
'I am naturally greatly pleased at !
the pardon of John Collins" said
Hayden and he smiled expansively- |
''I have never believed the young
man guilty and do not now. His con- |
duct since he has been in prison has |
been such as to give me further con- |
hdence in his innocence. am glad |
that he is free at last and believe |
Governor Hoch has done an act which |
will reflect credit upon himself"