The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-06-18
POISON SUSPECT FACES
 FIGHT FOR LIFE
.continued from Page onea

(Continued from Page One9 ently there had been a number of sud- den deaths among those whose fu- ture maintenance had been provided for. After Mrs Gilligans arrest a number of persons came forward to give their opinion as to the cause of death of relatives. On the other hand, inmates of the home spoke of the excellent care given them and of the comforts of the place.
 Throughout the inquiry conducted by the state police MT. Alcorn main tained extreme reserve. Mrs Gilli- gan had retained Benedict M Holden as her counsel and le secured delay in trial in the winter and spring on the ground that the woman was mentally unbalanced. Physicians agreed that she was not in good health
 Today the state was ready to pro- ceed. Little was known in advance of the evidence to be offered Judge Gardiner Greene of Norwich presides and the first task was to secure a jury from an extra large panel of tales men.
 Arrangements were completed for the trial when court opened No time was lost in disposing of preliminaries Mrs Gilligan entered the court room with her daughter, Mary Archer. aged 19 She looked frail but in good health. She took a seat near MT. Holden. The roll of 100 talesmen was called. At the time there were only a few spectators in the court room, in- cluding two women.
 Mrs. Gilligan will not plead until the jury is completed. Up till 12. noon, three jurors had been accepted. They. were Edward J. Stevens, farmer. Rocky Hill; Henry E. Hart, factory foreman Southington, and Roland D. Barnes, civil engineer, Bristol. These were taken from 10 talesuen. Counsel on both sides asked questions.
 An outline. of the governments case is thought to have been indicated by some of MT. Alcorn's questions. He told talesrnen under examination that Mrs. Gilligan would be charged with the death of Andrew by poison, and that it might appear that she caused the death of one or more other per sons. Talesmen were further asked by MT. Alcorn whether they would be adverse to a verdict of guilty because the defendant was "a woman, or whether they had an opinion on copi- tai punishment. Several were excused because they had opinions, and others were excused because they did not be- lieve in capital punishment.
 Mrs. Gilligan kept her eyes lowered until Stevens was accepted. Then she looked at him instantly. It developed in regard to Stevens that he is mem Der of the home guard in Rocky Hill.
 The talesmen were kept in a separ- ate room until called one. by one and each juror was sent out of the court room.
 Before the noon recess two more jurors had been accepted. They are Albert c. Griswol, insurance agent, Wethersf1eld, and Leonard Dickinson, tobacco farmer, Hartland.
 State Attorney Alcorn once while examining taIesman mentioned the names of Michael w GilIigan, second husband of the accused, Mrs. Alice Dowdy of Hartford, Charles A. Smith of Waterbury and Mrs. Maud Lynch of Lakeville ,as those of persons whose deaths while at the Archer home had been inquired into. After Mrs. Gilli. gan's arrest it was current report that the bodies of these persons had been exhumed, but MT. A1corn would make no statement. State police officers made many trips about the state at the time, looking up records of inter. ment of persons who had been under Mrs. Gil1igan's care.