The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-24
John Collins MarrieS Redland.
CAL, Girl.
Was Convicted i'm 1898 of KILL
ing His Father.
TELLS STORY OF STRUGGLES
Former TOpekan EndeavOrs to
Live Down the Past.
Was PardOned From Peniten-
tiary by Gov. HOch.

Redlands, Cal, March 24.-John Col
Inns, convicted of the murder of his
father in Topeka in 1898 and pardoned
from life sentence in the penitentiary
by Governor Hoch married Miss Grace
Fowler, daughter of the first reader in
the Christian Science church here, re-
Gently.
The people of Redlands knew ntohing
of the past of John Collins when he
came here to live. He was Industrious.
attended church regularly and soon be-
gan to prosper, financially.
Then he fell in love with Miss Fowler.
He told of his trial and conviction in
Kansas, of his years in the penitentiary
and of his struggle to forget the past.
She told her father and he gave his
consent to the marriage. Mrs. Fowler
did not know until Saturday that her
son-fn-law had been in prison. But the
news did not shake her faith in him.
mo, indeed, We won't go back on
John" she said. I'VE realize what a
heroic fight he has made and We'll not
turn him down. He is an ideal young
man; no bad habits, attends strictly to
business, goes to church. wants to sue
coed. He's trying to live down the
past and forget No, we do not con-
happy.
Tells of His Life.
Collins told of his ups and downs
since Governor Hoch gave him free
dom three years ago, and of his I'M
successful flight from the limelight
AT first ! thought I would fight 1t
out and become established n real es-
tate business in Topeka, my home
town., he began. But the curious
eyed disturbed so much that I had to
leave. / thought that if I could come
to California maybe / could find Sc
~ fl~.-A
/ worked In several hotels in Los An
geles and at Winslow, Ariz Then I
was chief clerk at the Arrow Head
Springs hotel From there L came to
RedIands and went into business with
my father-in-law.
Everywhere have gone I have met
people from Kansas and Missouri who
recognized me. There has been more or
less embarrassment all along until got
into Redlands, I had hoped that the
past would not intrude itself on me
here. where I have been ideally situated.
I feared that my identity would have
to come out some time, and although l
regret that this must be, there is some
relief to have it over.
81 have never changed my name or
have made a special effort to withdraw
into seclusion made no effort to sup
press the publication of our marriage
license and we had a church wedding
This is the prettiest spot in California
I hope I won't have to leave. but L
don't know how this is going to affect
NV plans for the future. I will stand
It If I can. Maybe the people will be
charitable to a man, who has made a
hard fight to win and is winning
against odds. 1t seems to me that 1
have earned little bit of happiness.
Is in Good Condition.
Since you are going to publish this
YOU might say to my friends in Kan
sas that the uphill miles have led to
some success at least and that I am in
first class condition morally, physically
and financially. [ have gained ten
pounds since I quit smoking. I really
was getting along fine here I don't
know what the future will be. / may
have to plunge into the unknown, @ut
I'll fight on,
Collins is So years old and his bride
60 In spite of his experiences since
his school days his dress and manner
still suggest the university student. He
had retained his membership in the
fraternity to which he belonged in the
University of Kansas at the time of his
sensational experiences. Many of the
Los Angeles alumni of the university
are his friends and frequently he is in
vited to their dinners.
Fowler is an old resident of Redlands
and his family have been active in
social and church life. One of his
brothers is the manager OF a summer
resort near Redlands, and another
brother is a ranch owner.