Sarah
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Taunton Courier. Bristol and Exeter Journal, and Western Advertiser. Wednesday 06 Dec 1899
Page 6 Column 4
BRIDGWATER.
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SUSPECTED INCENDIARISM AT THE MANOR HOUSE, COSSINGTON.
Some exitement has been occasioned at Cossington, near Bridgwater, by the discovery of a second outbreak of fire at Cossington Manor, the residence of Mr. E. G. BRODERIP, J.P., within the past two or three days, whilst the family were in London. It appears that the first discovery was made on Sunday afternoon about four o'clock in one of the bedrooms, where a small fire had been kept burning for the purpose of airing the room; but on that occasion it was believed possile that a spark from the fire had ignited the floor, which was partly burnt, as well as a mattress, &c., before the fire was extinguished. At a very early hour on Monday morning – about four o'clock – another alarm of fire was raised, and on this occasion the flooring of another bedroom (in which no fire had been ignited) was found to be on fire about the centre of the room, as on the former occasion. The attention of the local sergeant of police, who happened to be on duty in close proximity, was aroused by the ringing of a bell, and he hastened to the premises and rendered valuable assistance in extinguishing the fire before it had done much damage, though some injury was occasioned by the large quantity of water used for the purpose. The premises were occupied at the time by four or five servants, and as the result of a close investigation of the circumstances which has been instituted by Superindent VOWLES, of the county constabulary, one of these, a domestic servant, named Elizabeth CREES, aged 19, was arrested and brought up on Tuesday, and remanded.
THE ACCUSED DISCHARGED.
At the County Police-court on Monday, before M. G. B. SULLY and Mr. J. G. HENNIKER, Elizabeth CREES, domestic servant, was brought up in custody, on remand, charged with unlawfully and maliciously setting fire to various articles in the dwelling-house of her master, Mr. Edmund BRODERIP, of Cossington Manor, on November 25th and 26th. - Mr. P. O. H. REED (Reed & Co.) and Mr. T. FOSTER BARHAM appeared for the accused. - Lizzie PARSONS, cook at the Manor House, deposed that prisioner recently gave notice to leave in consequence of unpleasantness arising through the other servants missing valuables and money. Mr. and Mrs. BRODERIP had been away from home, and witness was in charge of the house. At half-past four in the afternoon of Sunday, the 25th, a fire was discovered in Mrs. BRODERIP's bedroom, and witness found four blankets, one bedspread, one sheet, two pillows, one cotton bed-covering, and two mattresses burnt, also an ottoman containing some ladies' clothes. There was no fire in the grate at the time. The fire was safely put out, and the police remained in the house for the night. The next morning another outbreak was disovered about 10 o'clock in the night nursery, a bed being found on the floor partly burnt, also a sheet. There had been no fire in the grate of that room for two months. The only servant upstairs at the time of the fire was the prisoner. - In cross-examination Mr. REED elicited that on each occasion prisoner did everything she could to assist putting out the fire. - Evidence was given by Lottie GRIFFIN, Florence CROSS, and Maud HILL, servants in the house, as to prisoner's movements, all of them stating that neither of them went in either of the rooms on the day each outbreak was discovered. - P.S. COMER proved receiving from the prisoner two boxes of matches in her bedroom, and from her pocket seven matches which had been struck, and which the prisoner said she had picked up in a spare bedroom. - James PERRAM, under-gardener, gave evidence, and Supt. VOWLES put in a statement made by the prisoner to him in which she protested her innocence. - The Bench retired to consider their decision, and, after a short deliberation, announced that the evidence was not sufficient to justify a committal, and they therefore discharged the accused.
<NOTES: James PERRAM is James Anthony PERRAM son of Charles PERRAM and Selina HOLCOM or HOAKCOM or HOLKCOM, married Elizabeth MEAKER>