St Andrews Church Newspapers 1942

Churches - Bevendean History Project

Newspaper Articles for St Andrews Church 1942

MOULSECOMBE CHURCH HALL FIRE
Lorry Driver Charged

An astonishing statement, alleged to have been made by a young man when questioned about fires at two church halls at Moulsecombe, was repeated before the Brighton Magistrates on Tuesday.
In the dock was Maurice Lee, aged 19, a lorry driver, living in Hollingbury Park-avenue, who was accused of maliciously setting fire to St. Francis’s Hall, Moulsecombe-way.
Detective Inspector Collyer said there were many inquiries to be made and asked for a remand.
Detective Sergeant Plank said that in company with Detective Leggett, he saw the prisoner on the previous day and told him he was investigating fires which had occurred at St. Francis’s Hall and St. Andrew’s Hall, Moulsecombe. Witness said: “I understand that you are alleged to have discovered the fire at St. Francis’s Hall, and that you were present within a minute of the discovery of the St Andrew’s Hall fire.”
Lee at first denied all knowledge of these matters, and then said: “All right, I will tell you the truth.” Referring to the fire at St Francis’s Hall, he said: “I got in through the French windows and set fire to the stuff under the stairs. I did it for publicity.”
Witness said he then cautioned Lee and took him into custody. Later witness took from the accused a statement in writing. On being charged Lee replied, “Yes, that’s right”.
On this evidence the Bench ordered a remand in custody until Thursday of next week.
The Vicar of Moulsecombe (the Rev. Bransby A. H. Jones) was present during the brief proceedings.
Brighton & Hove Herald – 1 August 1942

YOUTH FIRES TWO CHURCH HALLS “FOR PRAISE”
“Congratulated” - Then Committed for Trial

An astonishing story of fires at Moulsecombe’s two church halls on successive nights in July, alleged to have been caused by a youth who “wanted publicity,” and who actually received praise for “saving” the first hall, was related to the Brighton Magistrates yesterday (Friday).
In the dock was Maurice Lee, a tall, well-built youth of 19, employed as a lorry-driver, living in Hollingbury Park-avenue, and stated to be a member of the Moulsecombe Youth Fellowship; he was charged with maliciously setting fire to St. Francis Church Hall on Friday, July 24, and St. Andrew’s Hall on the following day.
He pleaded guilty, through his advocate, Mr J. Raymond Barry, and was committed for trial.
This was the remarkable story outlined by Mr H. S. R. Rogers for the prosecution:
At 11.45 p.m. on the Friday Lee called a fire - watcher at the premises where they were both employed, and said that fire had broken out St. Francis’. While the fire party, and later the Fire Brigade, were at work on the fire, which had broken out under the stairs at the back of the hall, Lee went in, seized an iron bar, and smashed a number of windows right at the front of the building — “for no reason whatever, just wholesale destruction.”
Eventually the fire was got under control; it was found to have been caused by paper streamers and hats and hymn books piled under the stairs after the building was locked up.
Hysterical and Excited
On the Saturday, continued Mr Rogers, St. Andrew’s Hall was locked up at 9.30 p.m., but at 11.15 a fire was seen and reported by a schoolboy named Ian Keith Kilner. It had broken out underneath the stage, and was caused by the burning of a mattress and an oil-lamp. Lee also came quickly to the scene of that fire. It struck a friend, Norman Peter Brooker, with whom he been out walking, as rather peculiar that in the smoke and confusion Lee went straight to the stage of the hall.
In his evidence Brooker said that Lee seemed hysterical and excited when he told him there was smoke coming from St. Andrew’s.
The Vicar of Moulsecombe (the Rev. Bransby A. H. Jones) said the damage at St. Francis’ Hall totalled £200 and that at St Andrew’s £25.
Mr H. A. Stanislas, divisional officer of the National Fire Service for Brighton, was another witness.
Detective Sergeant Plank said that when he questioned Lee the youth at first denied all knowledge of the occurrences, but on the way to the police station he said: To tell you the truth, I wanted to get publicity. I wanted people to get proud of me!
“Something Came Over Me”
Lee, said Sergeant Plank, later made and signed this extraordinary statement:
On the Friday I went to a meeting at St. Francis’ Hall. I went away before, the meeting ended, went to the Bevendean Hotel, had a game of billiards and a few drinks. After leaving the hotel I had conversation with several people from the hall.
“Something came over me and I walked towards the hall. I went in and walked found. I felt I wanted to do something so that I would get in the news, so I thought I would start a fire under the stairs. I got some paper streamers and fancy paper hats and some hymn books, and set fire to them with my lighter. When it flared up I became frightened and ran for help.”
“On the Saturday night I went to a dance at St Francis’ Hall. Several people were congratulating me as they thought I had saved the hall the previous night.
This was exactly the type of publicity I wanted. I went to St. Andrew’s Hall, took in a mattress and a paraffin oil lamp which I found, and set light to them with my lighten I then went back to the dance at St. Francis’”.
“All I can say is I did it to get praise. It was a sudden impulse. I am sorry it happened now, and it won’t happen again.”
On this evidence Lee was committed for trial at the December Sussex Assizes. He was allowed ball, himself in £20 and one or two sureties to a similar amount.
While bail was being discussed Mr Barry said that the boy had absolutely no means and his relatives were unable and entirely unwilling to assist him.
At this stage the Magistrates refused an application for a defence certificate, but the chairman (Mr R. N. Southall) told Lee that he could apply to the Judge for a dock brief.
Brighton & Hove Herald – 15 August 1942

EVIL NOTORIETY
Young Man Who Set Fire to Church Halls

“The hunt for notoriety leads people into all sorts of follies.”
So said Mr Justice Croom-Johnson at the Sussex Assizes on Thursday to Maurice Lee, aged 20, a motor driver, who admitted setting fire to two church halls at Moulsecombe on successive night in July. After his arrest he said his motive was “publicity.”
Mr Geoffrey Lawrence, who appeared for the defence, said he supposed Lee’s acts were due to some kind of “sensational exhibitionism.”
Evidence was given by the prison chaplain (the Rev. Evan Griffiths), who had taken a special interest in Lee since he had been in prison. Mr Griffiths said he had noticed a gradual change in Lee. He had become quieter and rather more ready to discuss matters from a wise point of view.
Mr A. H. Austin (Brighton Probation Officer), who had interviewed Lee on the direction of the Judge, said that there had been a complete change in Lee’s outlook on life. “His one aim is to live down what he deeply regrets doing. He is anxious to help his widowed grandmother, and his grandmother is very anxious to have him back.”
Taking into consideration that Lee had already been in prison awaiting trial for four months, the Judge decided to bind him over for twelve months.
Brighton & Hove Herald – 5 December 1942