The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-01-03
FRANCIS C0LLIGAN'S PLEA
"NOT GUILTYD HE TOLD JUDGE
TIA YER IN THE SUPERIOR COURT.

West Haven Man Accused of Arson Tried
Yesterday Officer French OH the stand
the Greater Part of the Afternoon HI,
Statements are Conflictimg-NIany
Other Observation-Disclosures of Bor-
oughites Present.
There is considerable interest center
ed in the trial of Francis G. Colligan
on the charge of arson, now being heard
in the superior court before Judge Thay-
er, and yesterday afternoon there were
"a large number of West Haven citizens
| seated about the court ROOM Colligan
was bound over by Judge Bryant, of the
West Haven court to the superior court
be remembered, the testimony given by
the two policemen who figured in the
arrest of Colligan was somewhat con-
f1icting, Colligan is charged in the SUI
49,
barn belonging to Frank M. Hall on the
evening of November Ia and also with
setting fire to the barn of the parson-
age of the Congrega tional church on the
same evening. He was put to plea in
the morning yesterday and pleaded not
guilty to the charges.
The first witness yesterday afternoon
was James w. Sears, the manager of
Woods pharmacy on Campbell avenue,
West Haven, a few doors below the
postoffice. Mr.. Sears said that about
$3.50 o'clock on the evening of Novem-
Der IA he was il his house at 146 Center
street and that on hearing the fire
alarm he went out of his house ana
when on the street he saw blaze in
the Hall barn, which is directly south
from his house. He said that he went
in the direction of the fire, and, seeing
that it was in the Hall barn, he notified
Mr.. Hall and then rang in the alarm.
His testimony was short and after it
was concluded the Rev. Norman j.
Squires was called to the stand. He
told what he knew of the fire in the
barn in the rear of the parsonage and
said that the damage done was not very
great. He said that he had made no
examination as to the cause of the fire.
Rev. Mr. Squires was cross-examined
by Lawyer Thomas. There was nc h
ing of importance in the cross-ques-
tioning either in favor of the state or
for the defense.
The next witness was Frank M. Hall,
the owner of the barn that was fired
early on the evening in question Mr..
Hall said that he thought he smelled
either gasoline or kerosene oil about the
barn in the vicinity of the fire, but
which of the two it was he was not
sure. This was in the direct examtna-
ton. In the cross examination by At
torney Thomas witness said that of the
two he thought that what he smelled
was gasoline.
Policeman French was next called and
after the direct examination by State
Attorney Williams he was put through |
a rigid cross-examination by Attorney
Lynch In the direct examination
French told Of his doings on the even |
ing of the fires. He said that he was
near the power house on Elm street |
when the first alarm rang and that he |
did not pay much attention to it. Wit |
ness then said that when the alarm for !
the parsonage barn fire rang he board
ed a car and went to the scene of the |
fire He said he met Policeman Loomis .
near the town hall, and from that point
he gave an account Of what he did up |
10 the arrest of Colligan in his house on
Elm street. French told of his seeing
picking up bottles Of kero-
sene OIL of seeing vomit near the scene
If the fire and near the entrance of the
own hall, and of finding bottles in the
furnace room of the hall and of many
,ther things that he saw and said he did
N the night of the fires. Some of these
points conceded with his testimony
given at the West Haven trial and 9TH
rs, as were brought out in the cross
examination, did not. Attorney Lynch
discovered many points in the direct
that differed with the
statements formerly given, one of
which was the conversation held in the
Solligan house at the time of the arrest.
There were several things that witness
ould not recall that he made clear in
he first trial, and at o'clock, when in
he middle of the crosse xamina ton, |
curt was adjourned until 10 o'clock
his morning.
The testimony of Policeman French ]
vas somewhat similar in nature to that
which he gave at the trial of the elder I
;olligan in West Haven last Friday
nd it was regarded as inconclusive l
esterday. When the case comes up t
or trial to-day there will be large at !
enhance of West Haven people there.
nd it is likely to last all day One of I
he Interested spectators yesterday was I
ohm Colligan, the father of the accus- i
d. During the recess given the jury I
/ the middle of the afternoon the faith '
r went up and spoke to the son for sew i
raj minutes. /
This will be one of the most important ! V
asses of the term and it's result is I
-atched with added interest when it is V
OF forgotten that since young Coli q
ans arrest and confinement in Jail the II
lcendiary fires continued to be discov-
ed in the borough. 7
1T
TN TI-,TT ~ MINT