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y, March 2b, 1982Investigators Note Fatal Fire’s OriginBy ALBERT DARBY Newt Stofl WriterThree fire investigatorsrailed as state witnessesyesterday afternoon inAllegany County Circuit Court in the murder and arson trial of Mrs. Cynthia Diane Morrissey, 30, of Cumberland, ali testified that the fire which took the lives of her son and ex-husband was of incendiary originA revision in scheduling for the trial resulted in a four hour session yesterday afternoon which did not end until about 5:30 o’clock Michael Kenneth Morrissey. 30, and their son. Matthew Joseph, six, died in the firerarlv on the morning of Mav28Chief Judge James S Getty, who is hearing the case in the absence of a jury, indicated in mid morning yesterday that the trial would be recessed until 9 15 a m today.During the recess of the trial. Judge Getty, the op-possing attorneys and Mrs Morrissey visited the gutted house at 722 Leiper StreetTestifying during the afternoon session were James Martin, an investigator for the State Fire Marshal's office; Lt. Carvel Harding, a fire investigator for Montgomery County, and Billy Hedgepeth ofHughes said no one really knows how much the changes in federal tax laws will cost the state in lostrevenues.However figures prepared by the Reagan a d-mmistration place the loss at more than $400 million over the next five years The Reagan changes in federal tax laws are intended to stimulate growthRichmond, Va , a licensed private fire investigatorMartin, who was on the stand when the mid-morning recess was called, was back or the stand for more than an hour in the afternoon Noting that a number of the witnessesduring the opening day of the trial Wednesday testified about the bright orange color of the flames. Martin said that was typical of pet roleum based firesLt Harding offered an expert opinion from his investigation of the house on June 6, nine days after the fire, that there actuallywere three separate anddistinct firesUnder questioning by State’s Attorney Lawrence V Kelly, Lt Harding cited the three locations of fires He said they were at the bottom of the steps leading to the second floor, near the refrigerator in the kitchen and in the master bedroomHe described the fire scene while identifying slides made from photographs he had taken in the two-story frame house June 6.Hedgepeth explained that he was not assigned to investigate the house fire until July 2. which was five weeks after the fatal blaze oc curredHe called the fire one of incendiary origin and notedthe evidence of irregular burning he found in the house in earlv July These irregular shapes are in dications of the use of an aceellerant, Hedgepeth saidHedgepeth said he was sure the fire originated in the main hallway in the center of the house He said it was probable that a second fire had started in the master bedroom However, he was unsure about a fire originating in the kitchen although there was considerable damage thereJames F McCadden of Towson, and Robert O Kazary of Cumberland, Mrs Morrissey’s attorneys,/ ini iaW / In E o 1 O I
Newspaper Details
Cumberland News
Cumberland, Maryland, US
Fri, Mar 26, 1982
Page 28
Full Page
Clipped by
Julie W.
USA 14 Jun 2020
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