The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-03-06

WAS repeated
In about FIVE seconds there were
three more Shots said Sprinkle. az
rushed into the office and was just in
time to see Collier FIRE the last shot.
captain Mathews WAS lying on the floor,
and Collier WaS standing over him with
= smoking revolver in his right hand. I
jumped at him, struck his arm, knocked
me pistol from his hand Three or fO'r
pther officers then came into the room,
but Collier did not offer any resistance.
~ al happened in less than a minute. ="
81 Shot Him, All Right"
Lieutenant Sprinkle said that later in
the evening he had a talk with Col
Tier. and asked him If he realized what
ne had done
I shot him. all right" Sprinkle said
COLLECT told him, and III give my
reasons later on
g I was rational and sober, said Col
aier, and there was nothing the matter
Lieutenant Sprinkle said that Captain
Mathews was gasping when he entered
tho Office, and he apparently breathed
lis last when Collier fired the fifth shot
1ier's hand, he found five empty shells
tn the chamber
Policeman George II. Moran told the
jury that he was coming out Of Cap
tain Mathews Office when Collier en-
tered Collier. he said, spoke 10 him
pleasantly, and he did not notice any
Thing out OF the ordinary in his con-
duct. His attention was attracted BY
the shots, and he reached the Office
Just after Lieutenant Sprinkle He re
cited the same story told by Lieutenant
Sprinkle.
Has Good Disposition.
Mrs. Collier, the mother of John W.
Collier prior to the inquest, asserted
her confidence that when her son told
his story he would go free.
Il do not know why he committed this
awful deed" she said to 4 Times re-
porter. But I am sure he must have
had some great provocatlon He is the
kindest-hearted boy in the world and
would not harm a kitten. He has al
ways had quiet disposition, but even
when he was a little boy looked at
him many times and said to myself
that whoever aroused his temper when
he grew older would have to look out
for themselves.
''He is one OF those quiet boys that
st takes an awful lot to upset. Some
thing must have been said or done
by Captain Mathews or John would
never have killed him. [ know that
John was on duty for long hours He
morning until 3 o'clock Friday morn
ing and only had one hours rest. He
was late once or twice in reporting
and from the little he would say here
nagged-" Mrs Collier lives at 1919
French street northwest, with her
daughter The accused man also
lives there. His father is at present
IN Atlantic Csry, but is expected TO ar
rive IN town some time tonight, hav-
night HD'''eO-S summoned iaS'
Lieutenant Sprinkle ridiculed the
tdeR that Captain Mathews had been
nagging Collier.
His Service Record
L have known Collier during the en-
tire four years that he has been a po-
Gceman.'' said Lieutenant Sprinkle this
morning. He was over at the Second
precinct when I was there, and have
been here all the time he has been here.
But two years have been on the trial
board and up until last October Collier
had been up before that board on minor
charges eight or ten times.
Since last October. when he came TO
station ., he has not been before the
board once SO IL Is evident that there
was no tTcFIble between him and Can
tain Mathews. The only thing that Col
Her might have felt a grievance over
was the fact that Captain Mathews,
not very long ago, changed him from
one post to another.
There was not opportunity for any
quarrel between the two men last
night before Collier fired the fatal
duty Wednesday night and last night
was the first opportunity. so far as I
know that Captain Mathews had to
secure an explanation.
Collier was not in the room more
than a few seconds when I heard the
first shot and then the second and
burst open the door in time to see him
standing over Captain Matthew'S pros
frate body and shooting him in the
head IN my opinion il was a case Of
COld-boOded murder"
Strict Discipiinarian.
Friends of Captain Mathews today
admitted that he was a strict dis
cfplindrian, and that he was not popu-
lar with many OF his men for the reason
that ne insisted upon exact perform
snce of duty. That he was an efficient
officer none denies. but in police cir
cles II is common talk that there was
much objection among the men 10 the
captains methods Of enforcing the po-
lice reguls tons.
Captain Mathews was BORN in New
York Site in 1856 Living in the Coun-
trS' throughout his boyhoOd he went
70 Buffalo, and there enlisted in the
regular army, being assigned 20 the
artillery service He served at Gov
ernor's Island, Key West, several sta
1ionS in the West, and was a guard at
Dry Tortugas for six months He had
tho distinction Of leading the first band
across the Brooklyn bridge. having been
chosen bandmasteT OF the Artillery
Corps Band upon his return to Gov
ernor's Island.
Coming 20 Washington later. on June
x, 1875, ne was appointed a private in
Ihe Metropolitan Police Department
lie moved into class 2, and was mounted
September J. 1890. From the Sixth pre-
cinCt he went 20 Anacostis- for mounted
duty After one year he was trans
ferred to the Eighth precinct On Au-
gust l, 1898, he became acting mounted
sergeant: August Is, full sergeant, july
1. 1901, for active service he became
acting lieutenant: lieutenant in COM
rnand Of the Fourth precinct. November
J. 1902: promoted 10 captain in charge
~ the Fifth precinct in 1906, upon the
death OF Captain McCathren.
Social Connections.
Captain Mathews was a member OF
rho Catholic Church; Keane Council.
knights OF Columbus, and other District
orga nizations. He figured. with Lieu
tenant MUlhau, some three wears ago.
jn charges brought by the Locomotive
F'ircrDeu II was alleged that when 4
locomotive overturned and pInioned two
men under II. the two policemen re
fused 10 let friends 90 through the lines
20 their assistance. After a police hear
ing and an attempt 10 get the matter
info the courts. II was dropped.
Private Collier has been on the force
since 1904 TTr was first assigned 10 the