The Mena weekly star., 1908-12-31
HOCH HFREESCOLL|NS
GOVERNOR PARpoNs THE KAN. SAN CONVICTED OF SHAVING
 HIS FATHER.
SAYS IHlT HE BELIEVES MN INNOCENT
Collins Receives the News in s Quiet Manner at the Lansing Prison--Had Been There Ten Years--Evidence on Which He Was Convicted Cir cumstantiaI--Wii Go to Topeka.

cumstantiaI-Wii Go to Topeka
 Topeka, Kan, Der 24 Gov. Hoch Tuesday afternoon commuted the sentence of John Collins effective Wednesday morning from life im- prisonment Absolute belief. in Col lins innocence, wss Gov, Hoch's req 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 a Christmas gift. In his public statement, given out with the pardon. the governor says he feels that Collins was m. justly convicted The governor has re. peatedly said he does not believe in holiday pardons.
 The pardoning of Collins. unlike that of Emmet Dalton, was devoid of all dramatic incidents. In the later case Dalton was called 10 the govern ors 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 Dal. ton. In the case of Collins, however, there was none of this. IL 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 you?" he said with laugh.
 shortly after 4 o'clock the govern. or's son. Homer. who is his private secretary came from the executive of flee and announced that Collins had been paracned, his freedom to begin Wednesday. To the reporters he hand. ed typewritten statement by the governor giving the reason for elem ency.
 Miss Grace Collins, the prisoners sister, was not there, and Collins lawyers were not present. In fact no one was there who had Ut any time taken any special interest in the case The entire matter lasted not more than ten seconds.
 Win Miss Grace Collins be given the pardon papers to take to her broth CT in Lansing9" the son was asked
 No she doesn't know of the pardon yet. The papers will go over by mail just as any other pardon would go"
 Leavenworth. Kan. Dec. 24.--In his characteristically quiet. almost spathe- tic manner. John Collins received the information of the pardon granted by Gov. Hoch. He accepted the news cheerfully but with reserve. main. talned by little apparent effort at selfcontrol.
 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 newsg" asked the official who without waiting for a reply hastened 10 tell the prisoner of his good fortune
 T am surely glad to hear it." said Collins, shaking the hand of the deputy warden.
 T had rather thought that the gov. trnor would do something. but had rot received any information in regard 10 action in the matter" said the prisoner
 My sister and mother are responst ble to great extent for the efforts tc secure my pardon"
 Collins expects to leave the prisor Wednesday morning.