The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-06-24
MURDERS WIFE,
KILLS HIhsEl
Robert Collins jealousy Leads 4
Awful Tragedy-ssnds Seven II
lets Into Woman's Body.

In accordance with an oft-repeafn
threat, Robert Collins, 81 years al
shot and killed his wife. Eliza. with
revolver in their home, No. $40 Eerx
ave east. at Q O'Clock, Thuro0o<
night. then turned the weapon ON hln
self with fatal results. Insane teo16
ousy on the husbands part IL deciarol
to have been responsible for TIL
crime.
The tragedy occurred In the bath
room, following quarrel that haG5
lasted all evening. The bodies wer11
found lying side by side. The mus1io|
of the revolver was between Collinrt|
lips, showing that he had shot hinse,4!
through the mouth, the bullet enterinm|
the brain. His left arm was about M
wife's neck. A note found on. III;
person by Coroner's Clerk DeLaur1o<|
proved that his act was premeditate6x
| 1t read:
Notify my son. Arthur Collins,
No. zoos Forest-ave. east, OF this d
business. Robert Collins.
Collins fired seven bullets into hi
wife's body. but the first one prot
ably killed her. IL entered the fore
head and penetrated the brain. Arr
emptying his revolver he reloaded on1
fired two more bullets into her heart
to make death certain Then he lar
down by her side, placed her ufalono
head on his arm, and with his froo
hand released the bullet that snulfed
out his own life.
In the house at the time of the
tragedy were Emma and Ruth Meyer1k
aged s and years, respectively, wh6
had been living there with their
mother, Mrs. Stella Meyers, q dauglu4
ter OF Mr.. and Mrs. Collins, since early
In May. When their grandmother
stepped into the bathroom just befop0
the shooting, to ger away from her
husband, the children started to foI-
low, but were pushed aside by the
tnfuriated Collins, who entered the
bathroom and closed the door behind
him. Immediately afterwards the
shooting began. Emma grabbed her
younger sister and, In their haste "a
leave the house, the two slid down the
railing OF the front stairway. The
shots and the cries of the children
quickly attracted the neighborn.
Patrolman Max Wendtland hurried
over from his home at No. 335 Ferry.
ave. east, and was on his way an
stairs In the Collins home when thu
last shot was fired. Collins was stt1|
breathing when the officer threw opon
the bathroom door. but he expired
within few minutes. Coroner Bur
CESS took charge of the case and had
the bodies removed to the county
morgue.
Mrs. Meyers, mother OF the chill
dren. left the house about a half hour
before the tragedy, fearing to remain
any longer, and spent the night with
friends down town. 1t was not until
her return. Friday morning. that she
learned OF the tragedy. The children
we're cared for in the home Of 4
neighbor, j. II. Hafner.
The shooting was the outcome ,ol
domestic trouble OF long standing, due
entirely to the husbands jealousy.
which appears to have been ground
less. Some time ago Collins made
serious charges against his wife and
an inspector for the board of health,
who had called at the house becausa
of the illness OF the two grandchiI-
dren with scarlet fever. Since then
the breach between the couple had
been wider than ever, pnd on May 8
Collins filed a dill for divorce. They
had lived apart since then, but Col
Inns came frequently 10 the house ana
sought to effect reconciliation.
Mrs. Collins. however, refused 20
live with him again. When Collins
led A,,~ ia =
the wife preparing TO move. He
pleaded with her 10 take him back.
and when she refused. threatened e
kill the whole family, it Is said. Fear
full that he would carry cut his threat,
the daughter. Mrs. Meyers. reported
the matter to Patrolman Wendtland
early in the evening. Wendtland
called up police headquarters and an
officer was dispatched to the house on
motorcycle. Collins met him outside
and assured him that there would b
no further trouble. An hour later the
shooting occurred.
/ The neighbors all speak well OF
Mrs. Collins. AS an instance of the
husbands jealousy they relate that
whenever the couple passed the fir0
engine house at Ferry-ave. and Russell
ST., on their way TO the car. Collins
kept close watch on the 1remen TO
see II they attempted TO fiirt with his
wife. He would even stand on the
back of the car until IL had passed
the engine house to keep his eye on
the firemen. It is said.
Mrs. Collins was AZ years old. Be
sides the children mentioned. thero
is one other, Mrs. Melissa Smith. 0f
Chicago, who has been notified OF the
: tragedy. Mr.. and Mrs. Collins came
10 Detroit from Grand Junction. Van
Buren, county, year and a half ago.
Collins was a machinist in the employ
of the Cadillac Motor Car Co.
Mrs Meyers believes that. II she
had been In the house AT the time OF
the tragedy. she. too. would have been
n victim.
my father blamed me for much %
his trouble" she says. He used to
refer to me as my mothers advisor
and seemed TO think was putting her