http://www.cooganresearchgroup.com/crg/index.htm

15 May 2014

COOGAN story 

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(appearing in "Kingston Daily Freeman" [NY], 16 MAR 1939):

MURDER IN DEATH OF FOUR

BUFFALO, N.Y. ... - John Joseph Coogan, 39, truck-man's helper,...
...children and an elderly man.  Coogan also was charged with first
degree arson and officers re-... ...Erie county district attorney
said, Coogan confessed starting the blaze Saturday in the home of...

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(appearing in "Coshocton Tribune" [OH], 18 JUN 1939, PAGE 1):

ARSONIST FOUND 
GUILTY OF MURDER

John J. Coogan To Get
Life For Firing House
Costing Four Lives

BUFFALO, N.Y. - A supreme court jury last night found John J. Coogan,
[39], guilty of charges that he caused the deaths of four persons by
setting fire to the house in which they slept.  The jury recommended
life inprisonment.

Justice William A. Gold announced the prisoner would be sentenced
next week.

The defendant, convicted on five count, charging arson and murder,
had based his defense in his repudiation of a confession made to
police.  In the confession, Coogan related how he set fire to the
home of William B. Clark, Jr., his former employer, the night of 
March 11 by stuffing a milk box with newspapers and lighting them 
with a match.  Fatally burned in the blaze were two of Clark's 
children, a playmate who was an overnight guest in the home, and
Clark's elderly father.

Coogan's principal defense was his testimony that the confession was
obtained by police thru third degree methods.  Police denied their
prisoner had been ill treated.

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(appearing in "Pittsburgh Press" [PA], 18 JUN 1939, PAGE "9"):

ARSONIST IS GUILTY
IN 4 FIRE DEATHS

By the United Press

BUFFALO, N.Y., June 17 - A Supreme Court jury tonight found John J.
Coogan, 39, guilty of charges that he caused the deaths of four 
persons [by setting] fire to the house in which they slept. The jury
recommended life imprisonment.

The verdict was returned after three and a half hours' deliberation.
Coogan accepted the verdict without display of emotion, while his
mother and a sister sobbed loudly.

Justice William A. Gold announced the prisoner would be sentenced
next week.

The defendant, convicted on five counts charging arson and murder,
had based his defense on his repudiation of a confession made to
police.  In the confession, Coogan related how he set fire to the
home of William B. Clark Jr., his former employer, the night of
March 11 by stuffing a milk box with newspapers and lighting them
with a match.  Fatally burned in the blaze were two of Mr. Clark's
children, a playmate who was an overnight guest in the home, and
Mr. Clark's elderly father. 

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