Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-05
FIND COLLIER GUILTY
Jury C0nviCtS Ex-P0IiCeman of
MansIaughter.
VERDICT IN FOUR HOURS
Bail Fixed at $4,000 Pending Ac-
tion on Appeal.
EXCITING DAY IN COURT
EXCITING DAY IN COURT
Proceedings Enlivened by Attempted
Fisticuffs Between District At
torney and Lawyer for Defense.

After being out three hours and forty
five minutes the jury in the case of John
W. Collier, on trial for the killing OF
Police Capt. Mathews last March, brought
in verdict of manslaughter at $50
O'Clock last night
Upon the request of Attorney Thomas
Taylor Justice Gould, before whom the
case was tried in Criminal Court No. 1.
set $4,000 as the amount of bail in which
Collier will be held pending action on
appeal.
Owing to slight delay on Attorney
Taylor's part Judge Gould adjourned
court Immediately after the verdict was
announced and before the attorney for
the defendant could make a motion to
have ball accepted at once. The result
was that the matter will go over until
Monday, Collier having been remanded
to await the acceptance of the bail
On hand to furnish bail was James
Cotton, owner of the Empire steam laun-
dry. Mr.. Cotton said he owned sufficient
real estate to qualify as bondsman At
torney Taylor said. however, he would
nave another bondsman. in addition to
Mr. Cotton, by Monday morning.
Jury Out Four Hours.
The case went to the jury at Alp
o'clock yesterday afternoon. About $
O'Clock verdict was reached, but Justice
Gould was at his home and had to be sent
for. He entered the courtroom at S:27
O'Clock. followed by the jury. AT $50
the verdict was announced
Collier stood and watched the Jury
closely as the verdict was read When
the word 'manslaughtea" sounded he
smiled. Mrs. Collier, mother of the de-
fendant. and Miss Collier, his sister, who
sat beside the former policeman every
day during the progress of the trial, were
not IN court when the verdict was an
nounced.
For an hour before the courthouse doors
We're thrown open at o'clock a large
crowd hung around outside awaiting the
return of the jury, and by the time Judge
Gould arrived the courtroom was well
r'ied. There was no demonstration.
Lawyers Fight in Court.
Yesterdays proceedings were the live
liest since the trial opened. Court had
hardly convened before Attorney Andrew
Lipscomb of counsel for the defense said
statement made by District Attorney
Baker was a lie. The district attorney
started at him and Mr.. Lipscomb arose to
meet him.
grabbed his chief, while Collier laid hold
OF Mr.. Lipscomb. Assistant District At
torney Given got between them Each
OF the would-be belligerents struck out
wildly. One of the blows landed on Mr..
Given's head. Nobody was hurt.
Justice Gould fined Mr. Lipscomb $50
for contempt of court and rebuked Dis
trict Attorney Baker.
After the examination of few witnesses
whose testimony wa; offered by the
prosecution in rebuttal yesterday morning
the attorneys began the presentations OF
the case to the jury. Each side was given
two hours. District Attorney Baker
opened for the government He was fol-
lowed by Attorney Taylor and Attorney
Lipscomb for the defense. Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Turner closed for the gov
ernment.
The main point made by Mr. Baker
Mathews, and those which passed
through the chair and imbedded them
selves In the wall, was such as to show
tn.t Mathews had no chance to make any
move toward Collier before he shot. and
the time elapsing between the entrance of
Collier into Mathews office was so short
as to indicate clearly that Collier opened
fire on Mathews the minute he entered
the latterS room.
Points in the Defense.
Mr.. Lipscomb and Mr.. Taylor laid stress
on the absence of any evidence to show
that Collier had any motive whatever
other than self-defense. Mr. Lipscomb
took several shots at the district at
torney's office and the police force during
his speech. He came out fiatfooted for
meek or nothing, death or freedom in
his appeal to the jury. He declared that
If Collier was not guilty of deliberate
murder he should be acquitted on the
ground of self-defense
Mr. Turner pointed to Golfers reticence
Immediately after the shooting as evil
dence of his knowledge of his guilt. II
he had shot Mathews in self-defense, de
clared Mr.. Turner. he would have an
nounced the fact at once. AS it was, Col
lier remained silent until he had consulted
attorneys and then put in plea of self
defense
Justice Goulds charge TO the jury was
an example of the reduction of legal
verbiage to terms direct and simple.
When he had finished describing to the
jury the different degrees of homicide d
child could have understood it.