New-York tribune., 1922-02-25
Mental Tests
For Youth il,
Trinity Fires
George Mulligan, College
Student. Accused of Set
ling Z Mysterious Blazes:
Alienists to Examine Him
Friends Come to Rescue
Released in Bail on Minor
Charge Pending Inquiry
by State Authorities
Special Dispatch to The yribnp

--
Special Dispatch to The Tribune
1ARTFO RID. Conn, Feb. 24-GcorRe
Mulligan, the eighteen year old Trinity
college freshman who WAS arrested last
night after a fire in his room in Jarvis
Hall, the seventh at the college in ten
days, was released this afternoon on a
$1,000 bond furnished by his father
James f. Mulligan for fourteen years
tax collector of Bergen Field, n J.
Judge Elsner in the Hartford police
court continued the technical charge of
breach of peace against Mulligan for
one week under bonds Of $1,000 and
appointed Drs. Paul Waterman and A.
NJ. Outerson n committee to inquire
into the boys sanity and report to the
made tonight to have Mulligan ex-
amincd in Or. Watcrmar's office to-
morrow and his counsel, Frederick J.
Corbctt who is United States Commits
sioner for this district, will be present
when the alienists make their tests.
DR.. Waterman said several days ago it
might be necessary. in the event Of the
police failing, to employ phycholog cal
scientific methods which would un-
crringly establish the guilt or inno-
cence of students suspected of pyro-
mania.
The charge of breach Of peace wa,
not objected to by Attorney Corbctt
day, but he will insist on a speedy
hearing next Friday or else institute
habeas corpus proceedings on behalf
of Muligan, who is tonight the object
of considerable sympathy at the col
y, ,-l l,n e
not the frebug despite the circum-
stances, which Mullgan himself ad-
mts ''look bad for me-
Cool Under Cross Examination
When he WAS questioned early to-
day by tho police court prosecutor,
Nathan Schatz, he responded promptly,
and some Of his answers to innocent
appearing catch questions checked up
so neatly as to disconccrt his lnqulsl-
tors.
On one occasion he was explaining
his presence near the Seabury Hall tire
of ten days ago by saying he was about
to telephone to a girl. Asked to name
the young y<nan. he gave rather
odd name, such as Rut: May or Ida
Rose, involving two possible Christian
names. When telephone book WAS
tossed to him with the challenge to find
such name he readily did so, to the
discontinue of the police, who thought
they had him finally enmeshcd in a
contradiction or equivocation.
He was woefully weak and exhausted
after hours of questioning and lack Of
sleep, and his father took him to the
Hotel Gardc for rest. Under orders
from Attorney Corbett, the elder Mul-
ligan tonight declined to comment on
any phase Of the situation, especially
on report that the boy, who was al
tending Trinity on scholarship, had
failed in his mid-year examinations tc
maintain the required standing. and
was fearful that he might not get the
necessary money to make up the diff
ference in tuition and thus remain at
Trinity. TO which he had become greatly
attached.
Mean time the college is on the verge
of demoraization, with the students
ready for an eighth fire Many of them
have not been to bed for several days
more of them haven't been near a class
room and all Of them have their clothes
and furniture packed
State Probe Continues
Robert T. Hurley, Superintendent of
State Police and State Fire Marshal, who
was again at the college with his as
sistant Edward J. Hickey, seems to
ignore the arrest of Mulligan by the
Hartford detectives, who several days
ago We're told by President Remsen B.
Ogilby that their presence was not de-
sired. Hurley said tonight he was
probing as State Fire Marshal, and that
when he was finished he would have a
complete report to submit. He would
not enumerate the students he ques-
toned to-day or those on his list for
tomorrow. Hurley had nothing to say
about the probability that some highly
inhammable chemical was used in or
der to hasten the spread Of the fires.
The arrest of MuIlgan aroused as
tonished comment in Bergentield and
at the HackensaRk High School, from
which he was graduated last June. The
young man bore an excellent reputation
in Bergenfield
Principal E. T. Marlatt, of the Hack
cnsack High School, sent the follow
ing letter to Dr.. r. B. Ogilby, dean
of Trinity:
~ am writing in behalf of one OF
your pupils by name of George Multi
gan. have known George Mulligan
for the last four and one,half years.
He did all Of his high school work in
this high school since / came here as
principal. His conduct while a student
under me was always very satisfactory
! cannot for n moment associate him
with anything of the serious nature in
question.
"As a student in this high school he
not only behaved himself, but lent his
influence in positive way toward good
citizenship. I hope this letter might
have some influence in clearing him
of any suspicion that may at this time
attach itself to him.
II shall be very glad to communicate
with you further concerning Mulligan
if it is necessary