Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1892-01-14

Sadie Collins, now came from the
cheerless precincts of the Jail to en-
deavor to impress upon the minds of
the jury how she did not attempt to
burn O Lands township school house.
Sadie is co)ored girl apparently ff-
teen, but evidently it is the intention
of her counsel to play her for an inno-
cent youngster OF something like
seven years. for she came ia the Court
room with a brand new doll in her
arms, and she handled it as If she had
forgotten long since how to play with
one
The story of the states first witness.
Miss Bertha E. Coulter, made it appear
that Sadie Collins had attempted to
commit most serious crime. Miss
Coulter is teacher in the Italian
school building on 6th street Vineland
and she it was who had discovered he
flames
1t was in the morning of the 11th of
November that this fire occurred. Miss
Coulter is teacher in room on the
first floor of the building. While the
usual opening exercises were being
proceeded with Miss Coulter noticed
through window in her room flames
shooting upfrom under the stairway.
The pupils were commanded to keep
their chairs, and the teacher, with the
assistance OF couple of her boys sue
ceeded in extinguishing the flames.
Miss Coulter said that che had seen
Sadie Collins come in the door leading
to the stairway, and she was the only
one who had entered the door up to
that time. Investigation showed that
fire had kindled under the stairway.
On the floor were AN amber bottle, q
small tin box and paper, all of which
had the odor OF oil about them. Some
of the clothing of the children had
been saturated with oil and burned.
Miss Coulter said further that there
were seventy three pupils In the school
at the time the fire occurred. After
the flames had been extinguished the
authorities were notified and Sadie
Collins closely questioned. At first
she deaied any knowledge OF the af-
fair, and finally acknowledged being
responsible for the fire.
Before adjournment, Lawyer Be
rault, representing the defendant, con-
cluded his cross.examination, but
nothing contrary to the examination
in chief was developed.
TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
All yesterday afternoon the Vineland
school burning case dragged wearily
on, wearing the patience of the court,
the officials and the spectators. Prose
cutor Logue had his case we'll fortified,
and uufolded the story connectedIy
and clearly. Lawyer Berault was very
vigorous in his cross-examination of
the States witnesses, but the testi-
mony In substance was not shaken q
particle.
During the progress of the case, the
jury that had gone out in the morning
came in and declared to the court that
they were of the unanimous opinion
that John Harmon was guilty of com.
mitting an assault and battery upon
Lidie Williams, and the first victory
for the State was scored.
Miss r Gascoigue, teacher on the
NY Hnar af
called by Mr.. Logue to testify. She
gave similar testimony to that of the
preceding witness, regarding the fire,
the burned clothing, etc. Miss Gas
coigue told of Sadie Collins coming in
school directly after the devotional
exercises. During the exercises, the
teacher had asked a pupil who was in
the lower hall, and was informed that
Sadie Collins was there. About noon,
some of the school authorities and
Constable Creech made an investiga-
tion, and Sadie Collins acknowledged
setting fire to the building. Sadie said
she had found the bottle of oil in
ditch, and had poured it upon the
clothing and set fire to them with a
match.
During her cross examination, Miss
Gascoigne testified that there had
been a previous fire at the same spot
on the Sd of November. 1t was
thought that the fire was accidental,
but after the second fire Sadie Collins
acknowledged setting fire to the first
one also.
DIR. Bennett, principal of the school,
was the connecting link In the story
of the attempted school burning, as
revealed by Prosecutor Logue. He
told of his being called to the school
upon the date of the second fire, to in
vestigate the matter. He was present
during the hour or more that Sadie
Collins was being questioned, and
heard her admit the burning of the
school building. Her answers to the
questions propounded to her were con-
Trajectory. First denying any knowl-