The Washington times., 1909-12-03

Cd Golfers revolver from his hand as
he stood over the PROSTATE form OF
the dying captain, added n dramatic and
| somewhat spectacular interest to the
trial.
Called upon by the Government to
describe the scene in Captain NISthevs'
office following the shooting, Lieuten-
ant Sprinkle sat in the slain officer
along with the blOOd-stained carpet that
covered the floor of his office the day
OF the tragedy, then described how he
had found his fallen superior with the
enraged Collier standing over him, pis-
tol In hand, and how the slayer had
fired the last shot Just as he (Sprinkle)
rushed into the room. The whole scene
was Illustrated with something like a
spectacular effect. and called forth from
Attorney LipsComb the remark that IN
was some Of the Governments stage
play
No Stage Play.
There viii he no stage play in this
trial" quietly admo1ished Judge Gould
Attorney Lipscomb's opening state
ment to the jury i'm behalf of Collier.
i'm which he outlined his plea OF self
defense. was bitter arraiEnment Of
Police Department methods. as well as
an assault on the rule and methods Of
Captain Mathews. whom the attorn ev
characterized as "a brutal and tvran-
nical despot who ruled with an iron
hand that would cause the most brutal
and caIlous Russian to blush in shame. q"
He declared that Mathews was a
man Of violent temper and quite capa-
bile of most any brutality" on the day
Of the shooting, Bfr Lipscomb said
Captain Mathews called Collier UP on
the telephone, ordered him to report
at the station at once. and told him he
would not give t6! cents for his chance
when he got {. the office"
Mr.. LipscomD's remarks were fire.
quently interrupted by Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Turner, and the two en-
which personalities were exchanged
without stint.
Touches All Details.
Hardly a possible detail Of the shoot
ing was left untouched by District At
torney Bakers exhaustive questioning
of Collier. In preparing for the exam
ination to come. Mr.. Baker drewj from
Collier the information that he. Collier.
is twenty-three years old, five feet elev-
en- inches tan. and now weighs 26
ppuNuS- COilltI Sdlu TIE knew Cdpldlli
Mathews to be tall. athletic man Of
good physique.
collier again recounted the happenings
which bore directly on the shooting, and
brought out more fOrcefullV than he
had on direct examination. that Cap
tain Mathews was in a crouchinty posi-
ton, springing from his chair, when the
first shot which disabled him was fired
Didn't See Weapon.
"Did you see any weapon in his
hand?" asked Mr.. Baker.
I don't knoS, but believed ne had
one"
~ on don't mean That you shot man
when you didn't know whether he was
armed or not. did you2" asked Baker
Yes, it was his custom to carry arms
the same as II was mine. When he
brought his hand forward 1 shot He
had reached his full height when
fired the second shot. After that shot
don't remember anything" replied
Collier
For the next five minutes the district
attorine yattempted TO make Collier &C
knowledge that he remembered every
to very question the defendant replied:
Il don't know
Don't you remember standing there
over his BODY and shooting him 10
DEATH persisted 1Ir. Baker.
II don't remember replied Collier
determinedly.
Illustrates "Gun Play"
When Mr.. Baker reached that point
where he desired Collier 10 illustrate
the gun play in Captain Mathews
office, the defendant himself was en-
tirely willing. but his attorneys object
ed strenuously. While the opposing
counsel wrangled as TO the relevancy
cf this bit Of by-play. Collier stood eE-
pectantly. his back to the jury. again
for the first time since the shooting
CARRIED in The uniform that bad been
The sign Of his office for four wears.
FIo fingered the revolver which was
the instrument of Captain Matthews
death and at last when fl was de-
cided that he should not Te-CnaCt the
part he played in the tragedy Of March
: last Collier thrust the weapon on
the desk in front Of the district at
torney, took Of the pOliceman's coat,
and resumed the stand.