New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-28
Swift Justice 0vertakeS Man
Who Makes MurderOuS At
tack on Mother of His
Three Little Girls.
WOMAN M0RTALLY HURT
Says He'll Kill and Escape, but
Crashes Down rs Feet When
Trying to Leap from
Six Story Roof to
Another.

Swift justice overlook John Collins,
Of No. 90 West 1OSth street, last night
in the form Of six story fall TO his
death as he was trying 20 escape from
a policeman after fatally beating his
wife with an axe before the eyes OF
their three young children. all OF them
girls, ranging in age from one 10 SIX
years
The tragedy came as the climax to a
ten days quarrel between the husband
and wife. growing out Of her refusal 20
support him any longer in idle
drunkenness. Collins is described by
neighbors as "an ablebodied man
weighing lSj pounds. who seldom
worked while his wife is a frail
woman. weighing but little over a hun
dred pounds.
She is employed as janitress Of the
apartment houses at Nos. 60 and Il
West 1OSth street The family occu-
pied four rooms I'm the basement Of No
90. Collins worked at odd times as
night watchman and spent what he
earned on drink. He forced his wife 20
support him when he was not working
beating her when she did not do as he
ordered
\ week ago Sunday she told him to
leave the house. saying she would have
nothing more 10 do with him. y few
DAYS later he returned and pleaded 10
be taken back. He returned again
last sunday. and upon his promises 10
stop drinking and contribute TO the
family support his wife consented 10
give him another chance.
Wife Obtains Court Summons.
lie did not keep his word however.
and for the last week has been on a
spree with money he got from her.
Exasperated by his conduct, she or
dered him out again last night. say
ing that it was final this time and
showing him a summons for assault
she had obtained in the afternoon IN
the Harlem police court.
Enraged at this he sprang upon her
and began to beat her. and then rushed
into his room and got an axe from
under his bed, which apparently he
had concealed there for the purpose.
and attacked her with that.
His wife's cries and the screams OF
the three children, Katherine, Eliza
beth and Helen. aroused the house.
one Of the neighboring women ran 10
1Ogtb street and Amsterdam avenue.
where she found Policeman Gleason. Of
the West Tooth street station. on fixed
post. She told him that man was
numbering his wife.
Gleason ran to the house. but by this
time crowd Of children had gathered
in the street and Railways. When they
saw Gleason coming they set up cries
of Cheese 1.-THE cop" The policeman
drew his revolver and went down into
the basement but Collins. warned by
the cries. had fed TO the roof.
Gleason found Mrs. Collins lying on
the floor In a dying condition. As he
turned to pursue Collins he heard n
thud I'm the areaway at the back Of
the house. In attempting TO make good
his escape by leaping from the roof OF
No. 50 to No. II Collins had slipped,
falling to instant death on the cement
paving seventy-five feet below.
Said He'd Kill and Escape.
one Of the children told the police
that Collins had told his wife he was
going TO Kill her and then make his
escape. Mrs. Collins was taken to ].
Hood Wright Hospital, where it was
said last night she was I'm a dying con-
dition from a fractured skull and IN
ternai injuries.
The three children were taken IN
charge By Miss Katherine Keegan a
siyteen year-old niece OF Mrs. Collins,
who lived with her.
owing 10 the crowd that gathered IN
the street before the house. which IS in
a crowded neighborhood. the reserves
Of the West tooth street police station
were sent out TO clear the street.