The Topeka state journal., 1908-12-23
JOHN COLLINS FREE.


honestly convicted for the murder OF
his father. which was one of the most
| brutal crimes in the annals Of Kansas
is again a free man through the execu-
tive clemency Of Governor Hoch. And
incidentally it may be said that Mr..
Hoch's administration of the affairs OF
Kansas will be featured in history be-
cause of the prominent criminals, the
men convicted and imprisoned for high
crimes whom he has seen fit to pardon
for one reason or another sufficient to
his own mind.
OF the John Collins case 1t may be
said that all the circumstances devel-
oped at his trial pointed to him as be-
ing guilty of a most dastardly crime.
His trial lasted for four long weeks and
it took the jury just four hours to ar
rive at an unanimous conclusion that
he was guilty of the indictment against
him. Evidently the IL good men and
true did not have much doubt of the
young mans guilt, nor did many 9TH
ers who had followed the trial in all of
his opinion that Collins is innocent.
He may be, for there have been such
things as miscarriages of Justice. But
there has been a general opinion that
this did not prevail in the Collins trial
Governor Hoch's belief in the young
mans innocence is not based on any
new evidence that has been found,
merely on conclusions drawn from the
evidence adduced at the trial and
much of which the governor thinks
was perjured. These conclusions may
be right but perjury is not often COM
mitted in a murder case of this charac-
ter.
Whether or not John Collins has ex-
plated the crime of which he was con-
victed by a service of ten years in
prison is another question. If he is in
nocent a grave, terrible injustice has
been done him. and the justice finally
accorded him has been tardy. But if
he is guilty, as there will be many who
will believe despite Governor Hoch's
protestations to the contrary, it does
not appear that the punishment he has
suffered fits the crime placed at his
door.
The case will always be one of mys-
terry. There will remain as heretofore
two opinions, one of his guilt, the other
of his innocence.
In the nature of the mysterious mur-
der there must ever be a shadow on
Collins until the guilt of some other is
clearly established by new proof or
future confession.
Whatever may be said Of his peculiar
and suspicious relations and associa-
tions with disreputable negroes before
the crime, his conduct since his impris-
onment ten long years ago has been
that of an exemplary convict who
had no incriminating con-
science for an accuser. His displayed
hlial love for the murdered one, the
constant and conspicuous daily pres
ence Of his fathers picture on the
walls of his prison cell will always be
pointed to as deep seated reasons on
the part of those who believe him
untiring, unremitting, tender and de-
voted labors for his release of a sister
who was present in the home on the
tragic night. and whose belief in the
innocence of the brother is convincing
to many.
These things, with the governors
action and expressed belief, betoken a
future life for John Collins freed
largely from bitterness on the part of
the public, and which the world is
likely to find creditab1e and blame
less. That career was opened to him
as the prison doors swung outward to-
day.