Collins - Hiram - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Collins - Hiram

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 4 August 1899

Hiram Collins, late of Sugar Creek Township, is under arrest at Monticello for murder. Collins is a son-in-law of Perry McMananma, of Darlington, and a nephew of John McCain, of the same place. He has been in the insane hospital several times. The following telegram from Logansport tells of his crime:

“Joseph Ward, seventy years old, a prominent farmer near Chalmers, was shot by Hiram Collins last evening about 4 o’clock, dying at noon today. Ward had bought Collin’s farm at sheriff’s sale, and when he called to collect rent there was a dispute, and Collins shot him through the heart, using a revolver.

Mr. Collins was placed under arrest. He has been treated in the insane hospital. Several years ago he caused a sensation by writing threatening letters to the governor of the state.”

A later report is that Collins shot Ward wholly unprovoked. Gov. Matthews once had Collins arrested for threatening to kill him and the fellow is generally regarded as a lunatic. It is said that eighteen years ago he killed a young man in Kentucky and that a reward of $100 is offered for him in that state

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal 11 Aug 1899

In detailing the shooting at Chalmers of Mr. Ward by Hi Collins, late of this county, the Monticello Journal says: “The tragedy occurred about three o’clock at Collins’ farm, west of Chalmers. Ward owns the piece of land which Collins formerly owned, but lost through the foreclosure of a mortgage, and which has been the source of all of Collins’ troubles. Oats threshing was in progress at the farm yesterday and Ward went down from his home in Reynolds to look after his share of the grain.

Collins greeted Mr. Ward cordially on his arrival and the division of the crop was adjusted without any friction. Ward turned from the separator and started to step off some land to ascertain where his property line ended. This seemed to anger Collins for he ran in front of him and fired five shots at him. The second shot took effect, striking Ward in the stomach on the right side, near the floating ribs. It took a diagonal course and lodged near the surface of the left side of his back.

After Collins emptied his revolver Ward opened fire on his assailant and fired two shots at him. Neither of them took effect, but Collins retreated hurriedly. He came back, however, and told Ward and his nephew that unless they left the farm he would kill them both. The injured man walked about a mile after he was shot.”

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 29 September 1899

The following special from Monon concerns Hiram Collins, a former resident of Sugar Creek Township:

“The jury in the case of Hiram Collins, indicted for the murder of Joseph P. Ward, on the 1^st of August last, which has been on trial at Monticello this week, has returned a verdict of guilty; the punishment, twenty one years’ imprisonment. Collins was an industrious farmer and successfully managed his affairs until about 1891. Then he joined the F. M. B. A. and spent much of his time in reading and talking. He became moody and morose, and often spoke of being controlled by some unseen power. He attributed this influence to an electric battery somewhere in the air, operated by government officials. He was sent to the Longcliffe Insane Hospital in 1893, but was only under treatment four months. Again in 1896 he was sent to the hospital, but he only remained six weeks. Dr. Rogers, the superintendent, testified that Collins was suffering from the same mental trouble as influenced Guiteau and Prendergrast, the slayers of President Garfield and Mayor Harrison. Among the incidents in his career, Collins shot into the windows of the post office at Reynolds until the postmaster resigned. He was also arrested for writing threatening letters to the late Governor Claude Matthews.”