The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-01-26
TRIAL OF CAPT. H0DGD0N
TIE TESTIMONY GIVEN BIZ FRED.
ERICK COOK.

tail His Attempt on December aS-Ex-
animation of Cook VIII be Resumed
This Morning.
The trial Of Captain George r. Hodg-
don. proprietor OF the fremont hotel III
this city and Of the Haines hotel ia
Springfield. Mass. charged with at
tempting on two occasions to burn the
Tontine hotel in this city, was begun
yesterday afternoon in the superior
court before Judge Roraback and
jury. The forenoon was occupied Ii,
drawing the jury and It was not until
court convened in the afternoon at 2:15
that the trial proper began. At that
time Drs. Bacon, Baldwin and Stearns,
three experts on insanity. were in the
court room, DR.. Bacon appearing for
the state. Attorney Prentice w. Chase,
associated with Attorney Joseph L. Bar
bour of Hartford for the defense, offer
ed motion to have Frederick Cook,
who has already pleaded guilty to ar
y
son, and who is the chief witness Of
the state against Captain Hodgdon,
taken out and examined as to his sani-
ty by the experts. Mr.. Chase argued
in favor of his motion and State Attor-
ney Williams argued against the grant
ing of the motion. The court finally de-
MED the motion and the state then put
on its first witness, Benjamin Ess, an
insurance agent in this city. Mr.. Ess
testified that one night during last Au-
gust he met Captain Hodgdon on Chap
ell street and Lad a twenty minutes con
versation, in the course Of which Wit
ness testified that Captain Hodgdon
was very angry on that occasion Be-
cause George White had secured the
lease Of the Tontine hotel. the captain
charging thai Mr.. White had taken
the lease away from him in an under-
handed manner and saying that Re
would like to see the hotel 60 UP somA
day.
Frederick Cook was the next witness
put on. He said that he came to-
this country in 1882, had since been
employed as a painter, and whiIe
working at his trade in New
Haven he knew George White Has
said that he had been working at ties
Haines house and there met Captain
Hodgdon. One day in the course Of a
conversation with him Captain Hodg-
don remarked that there was ss4-sl
--- in New Haven, against whom he
had a grudge and asked IL he would dol
a job for him. Cook said that he hest
tated before answering and then Cap
| tain Hodgdon said that the job was to
burn the Tontine hotel. That was in July.
last, and a few days afterwards Cook
| came to New Haven. While he was IN
New Haven a fire broke out in the Tom
| tine hotel, but he had nothing to do
| with it. He returned to Springfield, and
| Captain Hodgdon remarked to him that
| it was strange that a fire should have
| broken out in the hotel while Cook waa
in New Haven, although he had MOTH
| ing to do with it. Cook went to Hud-
| son, Mass, then and on December AZ
returned to Springfield to see Captain
Hodgdon. Cook said the captain again
| spoke to him about firing the Tontine8
hotel and they decided to do it. They
| went up to the top floor Of the HaineSI
house and found there two empty oil
cans Captain Hodgdon then gave Cook
| 50 and he went out and bought Ave
gallon can Of oil, paying $1.45 for IT..
They filled the two small cans with
kerosene and turpentine. and corked
| them.
| Cook then said Captain Hodgdon told
| him to come to New Haven and get. q
| cheap room, same as he had done be-
fore, and to start little fire If he could
get up in the attic, as he could start It
there easier. Witness said he then left
| for New Haven.
State Attorney Williams-"Was any
thing else talked of between you and
Captain Hodgdon before you left?"
Cook-"I don't remember. left the
Haines hotel by the ladies' enhance.
| Mr. Williams--"Why?
| Cook-"Because 1t was safer. 4
would not be SO apt to be seem"
Mr. Williams-"Did Captain Hodgdon
tell you to go out that door?"
Cook-"No. 1t was safer and I went
that way as matter of course"
Mr.. Williams-"What time did you
| arrive in New Haven?"
Cook-"Between II and 12 o'clock.
| Mr.. Williams-"What did you bring
with you?"
Cook-"My valise."
/ Mr.. Williams-"What time did you
| say you arrived In New Haven?"
/ Cook-"Between II and IL O'clock"
Mr.. Williams-"What did you do
them"
4 Cook-"I went to the Tontine hotel
| and asked for cheap room and got ona
| and paid 81 for 1t and went up stairs
Mr.. williams-"Did you register"
Cook-"Yes."
Mr.. Williams-"Un6er what name?"
Cook-"Harry Locke"
Mr.. Williams-"What then did you
do?"
Cook-"I was taken up to my room. :
Cook then said in response to ques-
tions that he was taken to room No. 1s
by bell boy, that his room was at the
head of the stairs. He thought that 1t
was a quarter to twelve when he went
to his room. He left his valise there
and went to the cafe. where he had q
glass of lager beer. He then went back
to his room and went to bed. He said
that ne rose between and 5 o'clock and
went up stairs to the floor above the
one on which his room was located. He
found room which was empty and
set down his cans Of oil. Cook then at
! Mr.. Williams request explained how he