Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-06
Story of the Shooting
as Told at Inquest

At the inquest held at the morgue this
morning there was a large crowd of
spectators, many members of the police
force being present. including Inspector
Cross. Capt. Mulhall and Lieuts. Sprinkle
and Flather. The prisoner was given a
seat with his counsel Attorney J. E.
Archer. Policeman Frank E. Merrill hav-
ing Collier in charge.
Dr. II. Watson Moffitt. resident physi-
clan at the Casualty Hospital, was the
first witness examined. His testimony
fifth precinct station last night about
o'clock. He found Capt Mathews
dead body lying in d pool of blood on the
floor. Witness told Of the several bullet
wounds in the head.
What was the condition of his cloth
ing?' Assistant United States Attorney
Perry asked.
'He was fully dressed, and tore open
his collar and shirt
Witness said he administered first aid,
but life was extinct.
Lieut.. Joshua l.. Sprinkle testified that
the clock in the station pointed to 7:45
when he heard shot. Five seconds later
he heard a second shot but was not
one of the shots he heard and recognized
Capt. Mathews voice. A few seconds
later three more shots were fired. Wit
ness ran to Capt. Mathews Office and
aw' the last of the five shots fired. The
wounded man was lying on his side
on the floor and Collier was standing
over him with the weapon pointed at
him.
Il knocked the pistol from his hand
witness stated About that time several
officers entered through the other door"
Witness conversed with Colner several
times during the evening, but he declined
to state why he had fired the shots.
Admitted the Shooting.
az shot him all right" Collier told him.
land I'm perfectly rational and sober
Collier told him he would later tell why
he shot him. Witness said he considered
Collier was sober and rational. The
shooting was done. he thought, in less
time than one-half minute. He said the
furniture was not disarranged. but the
captains chair was not SO near the desk
as usual. Witness said he thought Capt
Ma theWs reading letter embodying
complaint about street cars at the time
he was shot. There was nothing in the
room to indicate a struggle. No weapon
was found in the captains pocket, his re-
volver having been found in the desk
later In the night.
is this the pistol you found in the
captains room?" the coroner asked eX-
hibiting A revolver.
1T is
Witness examined the records last night
ana round the number recorded CORE
spends with that on the pistol dropped
by Collier. 1t contained five empty car
tridses.
Policeman George II. Moran. fifth pre-
cinct. told the jury he had been in the
precinct four and one-half years.
II had been out of Capt. Mathews CT
flee only about a minute before l heard
the first shot, he said, land l saw Col
lier enter the Office.
Witness said there was pause between
the first and second shots. the three other
shots having been fired in rapid success
sion. He ran to the room. reaching there
just behind Lieut. Sprinkle and Private
Cullinane. Collier, he said, seemed to be
perfectly sober and in good humor when
he was in the room talking to him. There
was nothing found in the room indicating
struggle had taken place. Witness
heard Collier say 81 did it, in response to
a question asked him by Lieut.. Sprinkle
Bicycle Policeman D. ]. CuIllnane testl-
fled that he was in the station at the
time Capt. Mathews was killed. He was
doing reserve duty and was seated in the
front Office reading a paper when Collier
entered.
Did he speak to you?"
Yes. sir.
What did he say?"
''JuSt nodded his head