Harry Collins of Hemingray seduced girl and then left town

OVER THE RIVER.

A Sensational Case of Seduction in

Covington.

Kate Kelley a Mother, and Harry Collins, the

Father, Fled.

Another is to be added to the long and dally lengthening list of man's offendings and woman's follies. It is the old, old, almost tedious, ever-harrowing tale of loving professions, trust in their truth, seduction, desertion, illicit motherhood, and probably death.

THE PARTIES.

Kate Kelley, a respectable, good-looking girl, keeping house at 131 Riddle street, Covington, for Mrs. Matilda Sparks, widow of a former landlord of the Clinton Hotel in that city, is the sufferer. Henry L. Collins, better known as Harry Collins, is the accused lover and alleged seducer. He was an employe of the Hemingray Glass Company, and made his home with his father, Henry Collins, No. 242 Madison street. This family, too, is respecta­ble, though unpretending in style.

THE FACTS

In brief, as learned by our representative, are that Harry courted Kate for many years, promised to marry her, overcame her virtue and turned his back upon her, leaving her to become a mother in delirium and agony, and to suffer death as well as shame, while he runs off beyond the reach of the law to escape the consequences of his wickedness.

With a view to obtaining the particulars from the lips of the witnesses, if not the actors themselves, one of our staff called on them all last night.

STATEMENT OF MRS. SPARKS.

Mrs. Sparks said, "I don’t know that it is exactly prudent for me to talk of this matter, but I will tell the Enquirer what I know of it.

"Harry Collins, jun., has been coming to see Kate Kelley for the last seven years. Kate has been living with me as my housekeeper for that length of time. On several occasions when Collins has called on Kate, she has driven him from the house, telling him she did not wish to have any thing to with him. He would go away and stay for several mouths, but as soon as he would hear of any other person visiting the girl he would immediately re­new his suit. Kate would tell me she would allow him to come and see her because she loved him better than any gentleman who visited her. I never suspected any thing wrong with the girl un­til yesterday week, when I thought site was in the family way. I accused her of it, when she admitted it, and told me that Harry Collins was the father, and that he did not deny it. She seemed to be very much affected and worried when she confessed her shame to me. I told her I was old, and a cripple, and would have to get another girl. She then wrote a note to Collins, tell­ing him she wanted him to call and see her in presence of me. On Sunday afternoon Collins called at my house. I answered the door, when he told me of the note he had re­ceived from Kate. I told him he had been acting very imprudently. He said, no more imprudently than the girl, and that he did not love her and had not been coming to see her with the intention of marrying her. Kate then came in and talked with him in my presence. She told him he had prom­ised to marry her. He did not deny it, but talked very rudely to her. He said be would marry Kate if the would give a paper saying she was willing that a divorce should be granted immediately after the marriage. It was agreed that Collins should meet the girl's father at my house on Monday night. He promised me faithfully he would be present, but he did not come. Mr. Kelley, the father of Kate, went to see Collins on Saturday night, but was unable to see him. He saw his sister and told her of Kate’s condition. When Mr. Kelley came Monday evening Kate was very much scared, and threw her hands to her head, saying she had pains all through her body. She suffered excruciatingly, becoming unconscious, and so re­maining, as she is now. This morning about four o'clock she was delivered of a female child. She has been in spasms ever since the child was born. Kate is about twenty-three years of age, and is one of the best girls I ever saw. I was perfectly thunderstruck when I learned of her condition. I have not heard of Collins since Sunday."

WHAT THE DOCTORS SAY.

While our reporter was talking to Mrs. Sparks Drs. Dulaney and Averdick called in to see the un-conscious girl. The Doctors stated that her condi­tion was very precarious, and the chances were she would not recover. They stated the child born was a seven-months’ infant, and that the terrible sufferings of the girl and premature birth of the child was caused oy puerperal convulsions, brought about from great excitement.

GONE TO NEW YORK.

Our reporter next called at the late home of Harry Collins, but Harry was out. His father said he had just heard of the trouble between his son and Kate Kelley last Sunday. Said Mr. Collins: Yesterday morning I sent my son to New York, and for all I know he may be in Canada by this time. I never expect to see him in Covington again. Mr. Kelley called at my house last Sunday and told my daughter if Harry would marry the girl he would pay all the expenses. He said he did not expect them to live together, but wanted a marriage to take place. He said he would even pay the ex­penses of getting a divorce.

Mr. Collins was evidently in much trouble of mind over his son’s waywardness and sin, and Mrs. Sparks tells us that the poor girl’s father and mother are in sad distress.