The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1908-04-03
JIMMY COLLINS AGAIN IN TRoUBLE.
The Edgert0n Sprinter Has Hard Time
Keeping Out of Jail

Keeping Out of Jail.
The report that James Collins. a one
time Edgerton boy, had again fallen into
the clutches Of the law and is under ar
rest at Philadelphia, brings to mind that
but few people have more checkered
career since he left his native town.
Collins was born at Edgerton, Wis,
on April 3, 1866. and his only legitimate
occupation has been that of foot-racer
in many quarters of the world. At the
age OF twenty be made his first formal
acquaintance with the officers of the
law, serving a year for larceny in the
county jail at GAINESVILLE. While tending
horse as strusty" he perfected himself
in the art of sprinting and springing. 1t
was, however, on July 4, 1879, that he
ran his first notable race, defeating Pen"
Brown in the 100 yard dash. In 1886 he
trained with Charlie Mitchell, the prize
fighter, Evan Lewis, the stranger"
James Carkeek, the wrestler, and Farm
er Burns, in Beloit. According to the
story he related just before he went to
prison, he was first dubbed THE Cuckoo"
by his admirers when he defeated FL. M.
johnson who had won the Sheffield
handicap in England. After that he
trained the Huron, South Dakota, hose
team and followed the game at Sioux
City, Des Moines. Carney, Neb., and
other places. About this time, under
the name of "Comfort," he threw race
in which he, as representative of the city
of Superior, was pitted against the
champion of Duluth, and narrowly es-
capped with his life from the wrath of
his hackers. At Leadville in July, 1887,
he won race from Splinter backed by
Homer Pennoch, millionaire sportsman.
After Collins has bested Charles Mclver
at Montreal in 1887, Pennoch took him.
to England and backed him to win the
Sheffield handicap. According to his
story he got $500 pounds sterling for
throwing a race on which Pennoch had
wagered 10000 pounds This was on
December "a and g. 1888. On Febru-
airy 16, 1890, he defeated Andrew Jack
son at Harvich, Scotland. In 1892 be
was racing horse with the Barnum &
Bailey circus. subsequently he ran
against Tom Kerr of Cripple Greek and
won from him in 3 seconds. Shortly
thereafter he pulled off crooked race
at Albuquerque. New Mexico, and was
arrested with others for conspiracy. He
obtained his release on this charge and
shipped before the mast for Australia
just about the time the Denver police
had connected him with the bold theft
of tray of diamonds in that city. Re-
! turning to California some years later,
he was arrested in Sacramento and SEN
fenced to term of years in the Canyon
City penitentiary. After year or two
he escaped from the coal mines, closly
| pursued by bloodhounds, and fled to
Liverpool In 1901 be was on steam
ship carrying recruits for the Boer war
| to Capetown and prisoners to st. Helena
and the Bermudas. In 1903 he was back
| in New York and later in Chicago and
s.. Louis.
1t was on Dec. 2, 1904, that he was ar
rested at Smiths hotel in GAINESVILLE for
| forgery. With companion named
| James Logan he had visited Edgerton,
| the city of his nativity, and after ire
| newing acquaintances," had rendered at
! @. H. Babcock's store $500 draft pur-
porting to be drawn by the First Natl
| bank of Butte, Montana, on New York
| banking house, in payment for suit of
| clothes. Mr. Babcock was suspicious
| and took the draft to the bank. 1t was
ascertained by the bank register that
the name of the cashier given there was
not the one appearing on the draft.
Logan begged Babcock to telegraph
Butte at his expense, and while this was
being done he and Cuckoo" took to the
tall timber. President A. j. Davis of
the Butte bank happened to be in Chi
cago when the two men we're arrested at
GAINESVILLE and went there to testify
against them. Seeing that the whole
game was up, they pleaded guilty and
took their punishment.