The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-12-14
ARREST OF JOHN C0LLIGAN
Continued from First Page.)

Squir9S and it is said that he has acted
Guspiciously Of late. This fact together
with his being so close to the buildings
that have been fired of late has caused
some suspicion in the mind of War;
den Thompson and since the latter was
elected he ordered a close watch kept
on Colligan. Warden Thompsons' act
proved just right as the arrest of last
night will show. The two policemen,
Loomis and French, each took night
in watching in the neighborhood of
Colligan's place and last night, which
was French's night, Colligan was seen
strolling around the corner of Main
street and Savin avenue by the officer
on duty French kept a watch on the
man and he was seen to go in the rear
Of the parsonage, which is next door to
Mrs. Beardsley's place.
The officer waited about ten minutes
and Colligan did not come from the
place as expected, so he decided to in
vestigate. French proceeded between
the new parsonage and Mrs Boards
leys' place and turning toward the d.
rection of the barn he saw a blaze.
diately an alarm was sent in from Box
IL, located at the corner of Campbell
avenue and Main street The depart
ment responded very quickly and the
fire was put out after having done but
little damage. While the men were
working at the fire, officer French
started straight for Colligan's house
and found him in his bedroom.
He was Immediately placed under ar
rest and taken to the town Jail, where
he was locked up for the night and up
to late hour last night he was still
there, not being able to work the game
that his son worked about month ago
when he took key from his stocking
after having been arrested and walked
home to his bed again.
The fire last night was started in the
of the stable and this was piled
full of cotton and other inf1ammable
stuff and it was so arranged that when
lighted it could easily be ignited to the
woodwork nearby, which was very dry.
If the fire had got little more head
way the barn would have no doubt
gone, as 1t Is old and dry When Col
ligan was arrested there was consid-
cradle cotton on his clothes similar to
that found in the barn. When asked
to explain how it got there Colligan
said that he did not know, but that he
thought it came from bed that he
threw his coat on while at work during
the day. But where the bed was the
Did man was unable to explain. Fur !
her than that Colligan refused to talk |
about the fire. The officer tried to get |
aim to make some statement, but he |
iidnt care to say anything.
The hour of the fire being so early
he citizens of the borough had plenty
If time to talk the subject over, after
hey had found out that an arrest had
oeen made. 1t was thought by some
If them that Colligan or his son, Fran
lis s., who is now in Jail waiting to be
ried for arson in the superior court. is
for the fire in the Hall
,arn, the two fires in the barn of the
he barn of the old Sutton place at the
orner of Campbell avenue and Elm
street. While this may not be so it is
lard to believe that some other people
lave played the part of the fire-bug.
specially as the evidence in all the
asses in which the Coligans have been
onnected has been so strong. At the
ime of the arrest of Frank Colligan
will be remembered that oil was the
link and in this case oil is
INSTITUTED for cotton.
John Colligan, the man arrested last
light, is about sixty-five years of age
nd has been employed by the people
{ the borough in doing odd Jobs for
hem. He has always been regarded as
ather queer but was good worker
nd was generally respected. He has
cen employed about the places of the
lajority of West Ravens citizens and
no time had there been any Suspi-
ion that he was at all crooked
Colligan viii be heard in the West
-aven court this morning before Judge ,
ryant and doubtless the court room
i'll be filled as no question in recent
ears has stirred up the citizens so
luch of late as the mysterious fires I
nd of the possible chance of catching
lie fire-bug or bugs. The trial will be
atched with great interest.