The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-12-29
TRIAL OF JOHN COLLIGAN
RESUMED IN WEST HAVEN COURT
 YESTERDAY.
Officer French Was on the stand for Over Two Hours s-His Stories Were ConfIIcting-Severrl Ott CT Witnesses Henrd-TriaI Continued Until Jnnu-
 

The trial of John Colligan on the | charge of arson was resumed but not Haven yesterday. It was generally ex-
 pected that the work in the case would
 be finished some time during the day,
 but owing to the large number of wit nesses that was impossible. Officers Loomis and French, who are supposed to have all the evidence against the
 older Colilgan, were on the stand yes terday and told all they knew in the case. Their stories took up about three
 quarters of the time and eventually re- suited in leaving the court in just about the same place as where it left off on the last day of the trial last week.
 These two officers were cross examined
 by the attorneys for the defence ,Messrs. Lynch and Thomas. Several times Of- ficer French contradicted himself and at other times he was unable to give clear and concise answers to the ques-
 tions put to him by MT. Colligan's att
 torneys. It was the general impression among those who heard the case yes-
 
 elusive and not as unfavorable to the accused as at first expected.
 The court room was crowded with in- terested spectators as early as o'clock yesterday morning and the number in- cluded many ladies. At S:30 Judge Bryant called the court to order and the first witness was Officer Loomis. Officer Loomis was on the stand for about three hours last Saturday and it was then he related the movements of Colligan and of the latter's arrest and in fact all he knew of the case.
 His testimony was a reiteration of that of last Saturday and at it's con- clusion David S. Crane was called to the stand. Mr Crane told of conver- sation he had with Colligan and that during his conversation he (Colligan) had said that the fire could not be blamed on Frank as he was in jail The rest of the conversation was very or dinary and MT. Crane was allowed to go shortly. Officer Futile was called and he also said that he had had a talk with Colligan after the fire and that his actions had aroused his sus- picions. Asked to give a reason for the suspicious, witness said he had no reason. His testimony was unimport- ant and he was taken off the stand without cross examination.
 The next witness called was Officer French, the man who arrested Colligan and who was supposed to have followed the accused during the time up to his arrest Officer French in his direct ex- went over the case from the time he left his house early in the even- ing up to the time that the arrest was made, giving the facts that were hinted at the testimony of Officer Loomis. He told of his approaching the ColH- gan house and waiting around in the expectation of seeing Colligan and of now he was rewarded by seeing Colligan coming from the yard in the rear of his | house towards the house. Suddenly, the l witness said, Collgan started off in the direction of the Beardsley barn and of | course he followed him. Witness said | that he followed him well until he | reached dark spot near the barn, | where he lost sight of him. He SUD- | posed Colligan went inside the barn, but |
 Continued on Sixth Page.)