The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-23
STORY OF THE MURDER.
j. S. Collins Killed in Home at Topeka
Friday. May IS, 1898.

j. S. Collins Killed in Home at Topeka
Friday. May IS. 1898.
]. s. Collins was killed in Topeka
his son, was arrested the day of the
funeral. His preliminary was held
June 25 and he was convicted of the
crime in the Shawnee district court the
following December. He was SEN
fenced March 81, 1899, to serve life
term in the penitentiary for murder in
the first degree.
Mr. Collins carried $2S,O0O in life
and accident insurance of which $13,-
600 was payable to John and Grace.
From letters and the evidence of two
negroes whom it was alleged that he
had tried to hire to kill his father and
from the fact that he had a sweet
heart at Lawrence whom he was
anxious to marry but could not be-
cause of his small allowance, the bur-
den of the evidence was such that
chain of strong circumstantial evil
dence.
The following is the story of the
Collins murder taken from the State
Journal Of May 13, 1898:
Used a Shotgun.
"J s. Collins, the well known real
estate man, was killed at o'clock this
morning by an unknown person. The
weapon used was a shotgun belonging
to Mr.. Collins and two shots were
shot struck Mr.. Collins in the left
shoulder and the second struck the
right hip. Mrs. Collins was slightly
wounded in the back
were fired at close range for in both
cases the entire charge tore its way
into the body. Either would have
produced death.
derous work stood near the foot of the
bed and the first shot was fired as Mr..
Collins rose Up in bed. The second
shot was fired evidently after he fell.
When found he was lying across the
bed and the mattress was blood
soaked.
ing in the south sitting room down
the room on the west was a large
closet in which Mr.. Collins kept his
shotgun and loaded shells. Mrs. Col
Inns says that the gun was never left
loaded.
MRS Collins was awakened by the
roar of the gun. The two shots came
in such quick succession that she
could not distinguish between them.
"'Helen, Helen cried Mr.. Collins,
4 am shot in the back. Get the cam
phor, Helen, quick and rub it on my
back
form of her husband and saw the
blood gushing from the wound in the
shoulder.
'She ran to the head of the stairs
and called John Collins, the son, who
was sleeping in the northeast room.
"'Some one has shot your father,
come down at once said Mrs. Collins.
"John sprang from his bed and ran
downstairs. He was followed by Miss
Grace Collins, the daughter, who slept
over the parlor.
'sWhen John Collins ran into the
room where his father was stretched
out on the bed he was still breathing
=.
"Both the daughter and son ran
across the street and aroused neigh
bors who telephoned for DR.. Tefft. and
John Collins returned to his fathers
bedside in time to see him expire
1.-The shotgun was found in the
front hall with two empty shells in the
chambers but the front door was not
open showing that whoever killed Mr..
Collins did not leave that way. The
folding doors between the parIor and
sitting room in which Mr.. and Mrs.
Collins were sleeping were slightly
ajar, enough so as to admit the pass
age of the body of a man.
80 far as is known not window or
door in the house was tound open a1ter
the shooting. A north dining room
window which IS in the room directly
north of that in which Mr.. Collins was
murdered was not fastened and one
upstairs window was unfastened but
neither were open.
1.-The whole affair is shrouded in the
deepest mystery and Chief of Police
Steele and Sheriff Cook are. greatly
puzzled.
Mrs. Collins Story.
Mrs. Collins told her story to a
State Journal reporter a short time
after the shooting. She said: Il was
sleeping soundly when I was awaken
ed by a terrible crash. 1 jumped up
and Mr.. Collins said, Helen, I am shot
In the back
Are you much hurt Jim?' I asked
Yes said he, go and get the cam
phor and rub my back, 1 am badly
hurt
L ran to the foot of the stairs and
called John and Grace. They both came
down stairs and ran for help. When 1
went back into the room. Mr.. Collins
could not talk
:" It was not burglar, of that am
sure Mr.. Collins trousers with Sc in
silver in the pockets and his gold watch
5n the dresser were not touched. have
not the least idea who did the terrible
deed Mr.. Collins did not have an en-
envy in the world
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