The Clayton news. (Clayton, N.M.) 19??-1954, 1921-04-02
JURY RETURNS A WEIR
DICT OF GUILTY
Case Created Great Interest and was
Hard Fought Legal Battle; De-
fcndant VIII Appeal

The jury M the &. l.. Collins case
Thursday afternoon returned a YER
dict of guilty The trial was started
Saturday of last week, and the clos
ing arguments by the attorneys for
the state and defense were heard
Thursday morning Throughout the
trial there was much interest taken
by the people Of Clayton the court
house being crowded TO its full ca
pacity every day. People seemed to
have lost sight OF their business,
and on the streets Of Clayton and in
every nook and corner where men
gathered Ia talk. this seemed to bel
the only subject. Feeling in the case
was at high pitch. The many friends
Of Mr.. Collins continued to believe
in his innocence, while personal en-
emies were especially delighted at
his apparent misfortune, as is all
ways true in case of this kind.
Others who felt no particular in
terest in the case were slow to ex-
press opinions.
The charges against Collins were
IN the form of an information filed
by the district attorneys office,
charging him with bribery on sew
eral different counts f. f. Hamm,
who is serving a Jail sentence, and
is a self-cOnfessed boObegger of
three states, car thief ami Jail de-
iiVerer. was the chief witness for
the state. He testified for the state
that he had paid Collins money on
different occasions for protection
to the gamblers of Clayton, naming
in particular one instance when he
paid him a certain alleged sum of
money in the "Fruth Farmacy" in
the presence of w. A. Henderson
and other witnesses. Mr.. Hamm also
stated that he had given to Mr.. Col
Inns during the past two years ap-
proximately three thousand dollars
worth Of whiskey; and that he ha0
given him a team of mules, all, as
he alleged, for protection to him-
self and other gamblers of the town
Glenn Blake and Howard (Jockl
Haynes, who are also facing peni-
tentiary sentences under pleas OF
guilty, testified that twenty per
cent of the take-off from the gam
Sling games wns turned over to
hganm for protection, These ap-
B9ared to be the chief witnesses for
the state, but there were several
Others who testified as to what they
heard and what they believed to be
facts.
Mr.. Collins was ably defended by
the law firm of Champion, Phillips
and Darden, and H. A. Kiker, of
Ration. ana o. p EasterwOod, of Clay
ton. Mr. Collins stOutly denied the
charges alleged against him. Mr..
Sutton, who served as sheriff OF
Union county for four years dur
ing the time Collins was assistant
district attorney, was one of the
,chief witnesses for the defense, and
testified that at no time during the
four wears had ne ever called on
Mr.. Collins to perform an official
,duty which he did not express a
Willingness to do. He stated that II
ever any bribery money fIoated
around he knew nothing of it, and
had never seen any signs to indi-
cate it.
d. w. Snyder testified as tC
threats made against c. l.. Collin:
ty w. A. Henderson. Also Dr. w
A. Bristol testified as To threats
made against Mr.. Collins by W. a
Henderson.
Other important features of the
trial developed that T.. f. Hamm haC
been permitted to ride around th'
streets Of Clayton with w. A. Hen
derson and County COMMISSIONS
Jack Zurick, on various occasions
II also developed that Jack Lurlcl
Us "a deputy sheriff,
Other evidence disclosed the fac
that G.. L. Collins had represented
n. b. Hamm on various occasions
as attorney in civil matters
In regard TO the count chargln
Collins with receiving mules fror
Hamm, there was only one wltnes
for the state placed on the stand .
corroboraie the evidence OF Ham1
Mr.. Clay Wilson. Mr.. Wilson wa
a partner Of Hamm in a busines
way at the time Of the transaction
He testified that he had no inter
est in the mules, but acknowledge
having stated to Mr.. Kiker, VIII
represented the defendant, that h
hooks showed That Hamm had give
him credit for his half interest
Che mules Mr. and Mrs G.. H. Co
din. both testified in the case, an
alleged that the mules were dcli'