The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-24

Collins was greeted during the morn
ing by young college student from
Lawrence, a member of the Beta fra
ternity, to which Collins belongs.
THE Betas have always been loyal to
me- said Collins with feeling. They
let me keep my pin and dozens OF them
have visited me at various times. Ihe
college glee club came here in a body
and visited me not long ago and the
football team stopped on their way to
Kansas City"
Given the French Horn.
During the morning Collins got a
pleasant surprise which caused his eyes
to fill with tears. He was presented
with the French horn which he has
played as leader of the band for seven
years. 1t was purchased for him by
the prisoners in the band. He accepted
it with visible show of feellng from
the guard who brought it to him.
Mr.. Rettig, a distant relative of COL
Inns came down from St. Joseph ana
was with Collins for some time. Col
Inns absolutely refused to discuss Miss
Babcock, or any of the circumstances
connected with his case.
Collins spent some time gathering up
his effects in his cell. He tenderly took
down the picture of his father from the
wall. busted it off and after looking at
it intently a moment, laid 1t in his grip
As he stepped out of the cell he turned
and surveyed it a moment IN silence;
Then he turned to the cell house guard
with a CHEEKY. Good morning" and
shaking hands with him, walked out OF
the cell house for the last time
Once again in the corridors, he
talked cheerily with the warden and
other prison officials. and, being re-
minded that he had some money to
his credit with the bookkeeper, he
applied at the wicket and was handed
$14.15.
Nervous as He Left
AS the time for departure APP
preached, Collins showed slight symp-
toms of nervousness and walked up
and down the corridor Just betore
car time he went upstairs, after OBJ
tanning permission from the warden,
and babe farewell to Mrs. Haskell.
When he came downstairs his eyes
were filled with tears. He passed d.
rectly into the warden's office where
he was in private consultation with
the warden for two or three minutes
He then came out into the hall and
announced that he was ready to leave
at any time. The warden came out or
the clerks office with the official doc
ument which committed COLIN SEN
tence.
John" he said. 81 presume you
will be interested in looking at this.
Collins stepped over to his side and
calmly read the paper which bore
the great seal of Kansas. He made no
remarks concerning it. Then the car
was announced and grips were gather
ed up and the party hurried out
through
On the step Collins halted in re-
Spouse to a request from a Journal
reporter that he allow himself to be
photographed He looked inquiring-
" at his .stepbrother who said, "Oh,
come on"
But 1 promised it." said Collins. 81
can't go back on my promise much
as 1 dislike the notoriety. If pictures
of me are to be printed probably it is
best that real ones be used and he
stepped back for a moment while the
shutter was snapped. Then with
CHEEKY "Goodby and a merry Christ
mas" he was off to catch the waiting
car for Kansas City.
The cell which Collins has occupied
for nearly ten years is the second one
in the north cellhouse. 1t Is exactly
the same as all the rest of the cells.
Collins, being clerk, ate at a later
hour than the other prisoners, but ate
the same food. He was always the
last man locked in his cell at night. He
kept a complete record of the cell
house. This means keeping track of
all transfers, new prisoners admitted,
prisoners going out, also record of
the punishments or penalties imposed
for violations of rules and cases of
sickness. He had a perfect record as
a prisoner Warden Haskell and all
the prison officials have always had
the kindliest feeling toward Collins and
were pleased to see him regain his
freedom
Johns release gives a lot of the
long termers new hope said a prison
official "Yet it discourages them
somewhat. too. because they figure
that only a few can be pardoned each
year and consequently each one par
doned lessons their chances for that
year.
Defense of Frances Babcock.
The following editorial appeared in
last evenings Lawrence Journal:
UNFAIR. UNFAIR.
What ghouls we mortals be. A few
years ago young man in Topeka muir
dered his father. He.had kept company
with a Lawrence girl and after the muir
der was discovered sent her an un-
fortunate telegram. The telegram said:
Father is dead. Tell nothing 1t
put the girl in most unfortunate posi-
ton but she was the soul of honor and
did not propose having any aspersion
cast upon her for any supposed infor-
nation she might have of the case. She
did what an honorable girl should have
done She told the truth and the whole
truth. 1t was trying ordeal and this
sensitive, hikh strung girl naturally
suffered agonies in taking the part she
did in the case. But she went through
with it because it was the honora BILE
thing to do. 1t was a distinct public
service that was rendered and was one
of the highest tests of patriotism. This
would have given half her life to stay
out, but she went in and she told the
truth.
Now that pardon has been grant
ed. this girl is again dragged in. In
all her life she has done nothing to
merit such treatment and il shows up
bad for mankind
The writer of this has known the
girl in question since she was a little
girl and knows that she is ideally pure
of life and clean of thought In all
the years we have known her We have
known her as a high-minded girl in
of Wronging anyone, but
going bravely to martyrdom because
she felt It was her duty. And further.
the writer knows her mother, a grand
woman of the old school, a woman of
fine attainmeHts and splendid pride.