The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-03-06
Mother Insists Bluecoat
Must Have Been Goaded
to Desperation.
PRISONER SHOWS
NO SIGN OF REGRET
Is Unmoved When Taken Into the
Morgue-Fist of Victim Is
Found Clenched.

With his mother declaring that
he must have been nagged and per
secuted to desperation, and his act
ing superior officer asserting that he
is guilty Of cold-blooded murder,
Policeman John w. Collier today is
awaiting the action of the grand
! jury on charge of murder.
! He was bound over as the result
of the coroners inquest held this
morning.
Collier last light shot and killed
Capt. William, H. Mathews, of the
Fifth police precinct, TO which he
was attached.
According TO Lieut.. J. l.
Sprinkle's testimony at the inquest
today, Collier, within a minute after
he had entered the private Office Of
Captain Mathews had fired five
shots, all of which struck some part
Of the captains body. There was
no opportunity for an argument,
declared Lieutenant Sprinkle.
/ Mathews Dies Quickly.
I Captain Mathews died almost within
a few minutes after Collier had entered
( the room The latter was overpowersd
by Lieutenant Sprinkle and Pelioemen
Moran and CuIlinsn, who were attract
&c by the shooting.
1T is dune A1d that's ali Insrs IA to
tt Collier is alleged 10 have said. WHEN
taxed by his feuow-oficers far som
rnitting the terrible deed Nothing 81
the inquest this morning Hfted the vel
F of mystery THAI surrounds tss motive
! for Golfers action.
DR.. Monatt, Of the Casualty Hospital
who was called to the polics station and
/ pronounced Captain Mathews dean.
/ Lieutenant Sprinkle. Policemen Moran
and Cullinau. ard Deputy Coroner Or
/ GIazebrook, testified at the inquest.
+ CuIlinap and Moran substantiated ~,
essential detail the account Of the
( shooting given ~ Lieutenant Sprinkle
( CuHinan stated, however, that the door
I Of the room was open and he had rush
+ ed IN ahead OF Lieutenant Sprinkle.
I whereas the latter stated he had had
T to force open the door and was the first
f on the scene.
+ The lieutenant said he saw Collier de
+ uberateIy fre three shots into the head
Of the PROSTATE man and CuIlinan said
I he saw him fire the last one.
Collier Is UnmoTed
Throughout All this damaging testi-
Inony, Collier sat apparently Unnoyed
J He is a cIeaE-cuts tail. good-looking fel-
low. apparently not more tian twenty
. three or twenty-fOUr years old. His
+ face was impassive- Through his Law
+ yer, he declined 10 make any statement
at the inquest, and walked into the wit
ness room almost indiferently, shak-
ing hands with a friend. as he passed
{ In
I The testimony OF Lieutenant Sprinkle.
/ DR.. Noffatt. al Dr. Glazeb-ook told
the whole story. The last named had
/ just examined the clothing and body cf
Captain Mathews. He said there was
. no evidence of any struggle Captain
/ Mathews fist was clinched. he said. as
[ if he had prepared to strike either be
fore or after the pistol was drawn upon
/ him.
The other wounds which he described
were in the head two on the right side.
near the ear, and one on the LEFT @sse.
where the bullet entered under the law
bone and passed out through the back
( Of the head.
Five Bullet Wounds.
DR.. IT. Watson Moffitt, OF the Cas-
ualty Hospital. was the first witne-.
called to the stand, when the Inquest
convened at II o'clock this morning. Dr-
AIoffitt said he received a phone mes
sage at the hospital to come to the Fifth
precinct station He responded IN TIE
ambulance, and found Captain Mathews
lying on his right side in his office.
There were four bullet wounds in his
head and one flesh vound in his neck.
! Captain Mathews had been dead several
minutes. Or. Aiofhtt said, Shan he ar
rived.
Lieut.. J. L. Sprinkle, OF the Fifth pre-