The New York herald., 1922-02-25

Special Dispatch to THE New York HERALD.
HARTF ORD, Feb. 24.--The seven fires
that within the last fortnight have
almost demoralized Trinity College
still continue to make mystery. George
Mulligan, the Trinity freshman ar
rested last night after the seventh fire
was discovered in his room in the col
lege dormitories, was out on $1,000
bail.
The case against young Mulligan is
so circumstantial that the prosecuting
attorney, Nathan A. Schatz refused
to consider a charge that would di-
rectly accuse the boy of arson. He is
charged with breach of the peace. al
though the police admit they have
nothing to sustain even this rela-
lively slight accusation.
! Despite the fact that Mulligan. who
| is Is and normal lad in appearance
and manner, stoutly maintained igno-
rance of the fires, he agreed to-day
! quite readily to subject himself to ex-
|
animation tomorrow by two alienists
DR.. Paul Waterman and DR.. A. NJ
Outerson. Mulligan's father, James
+. Mulligan. tax collector for Bergen
field, N. j.. is here with the boy, and
he too agrees to have the doctors ex-
anime George.
''It is quite all right" said the father
TO Frederick J. Corbett, his sons law
yer. Let them do anything they de-
! sire. 1t Is inconceivable that the boy
is guilty. Yet If we were to balk al
anything some would say we fear the
test"
The test will take place tomorrow
morning. George stood the long police
examination with ali the fortitude of q
strong youth. but left court after the
bond was posted shaking from the reac-
ton.
The Hartford police were more or less
an arrest that would end the mystery
Tonight they are not so sure. They
admit that they are on the defensive.
In the meantime Trinity College is
awaiting its next fire. Outside of a
few the 250 students are with Multi
gan. lie has been in college cnly since
September, and has not aged to
achieve general popularity, although he
made the d. X. Il. fraternity in Decem-
Der.
The student body, having done moth
ing in particular except talk about the
arrest since it occurred. has come to the
decision that the police will have to
look farther and perhaps higher if they
desire to catch the incendiary.
Only Grfnds in Classes.
Only the most conscientious of the
grinds attended classes to-day. The
majority OF the students passed the
necessary time packing trunks and bags
and moving them nearest the windows
overlooking the campus. That done
they assembled in the quadrangle dis
cussing and creating theories.
Robert T. Hurley, Superintendent of
the State Police and also state Fire
Marshal. freely confess that they see no
excuse for bothering Mullgan.
There are at least two students that
Hurley has had before him several times.
but lDeys IKE MulilgdIl, nave DteT We
hement and fearless in their denials.
Moreover, again like Mulligan, they have
produced excellent and verified alibis
There is no case against Mulligan, but
there are circumstances. remote in con-
nection. IL is true, that the police be-
lieved sufficient to warrant taking him.
First of all Mulligan gave the alarm
when fire was discovered in Seabury
Hail. This fire was relatively trifiing.
How did you discover this fire."
the prosecutor asked Mulligan.
IL had been in the cafeteria and went
to the telephone in the hall to ring UP
a girl" replied the boy.
What girl?'
The youth instantly gave most un-
usual name
so" said schatz tossing telephone
book TO Muligan, "show me that name
In this book
Mullgan promptly showed him.
Discovery of the Fire.
Then the almost uncanny ciroum-
stances surrounding last nights hre
caused the police much worry. Mulligan
was in his own room with three or four
other students. Sticks OF dry wood were
in the clothes press in Mulligan's room.
But the same sort OF inflammable stuff
is to be found in other closets in other
dprinitoiy rooms. There are open fire.
places IN many rooms and the students
burn charcoal therein
Mulligau and his classmates left the
room to go TO dinner.
wait for me just q second" said
Mulligan as the boys reached the ground
door. ITS raining and chilly. ] want
nv ovcrcoat." All these lads were ques-
toned by the police to-day and they
agree that Mulligan was gone no more
than six or eight minutes.
Maybe II seemed like six or eight
minutes to them" was the boys solu-
ton TO this part of the riddle. They
were mighty hungry and il seems like
a long time when you're hungry
When Mulligan did appear the party
started off and were passed before they
had gone ten steps by another student,
&c. O. Way. who mounted the stairs
and discovered smoke issuing from the
locked door Of Mulligan's room. II Is
certain that Mulligan had not started
a fire while his classmates were in the
room with him.
Such was the condition OF the clothes
press when the fire was subdued that
il is not conceivable that all that dam
age could have been done between tn
time Mulliean went back TO his room
and when Wuy dis ONercd the smoke.