Drizzt
January 14, 2003, 03:40 PM
Blaze ravages Jefferson home; guns discovered
By Rob Jennings, Daily Record
JEFFERSON -- While police investigate the cause of a fire that destroyed a two-story, single-family home, they also question a cache of weapons discovered while firefighters battled the blaze.
In the process of extinguishing the blaze, firefighters discovered about a dozen firearms in an upstairs bedroom, Police Sgt. John Ottina said. The weapons belonged to homeowner James Cornish, he said.
Cornish produced paperwork documenting that most of the weapons were legally owned, Ottina said.
However, police had questions about two of the weapons -- an Uzi rifle with a folding stock and a Cobray Mach 10 machine pistol. Both were confiscated, along with several high-capacity magazines.
Police Sgt. Eric Wilsusen said officers were trying to determine whether the firearms violate New Jersey's ban on assault weapons. No charges had been filed as of Monday evening.
Although the home was destroyed by fire, homeowners, James and Eleanor Cornish, were unhurt and had escaped the blaze when firefighters arrived about 9:50 p.m., Police Capt. Bruce Sibel said. It took about two hours for firefighters to bring the blaze under control.
Police said the fire, which did not appear to be suspicious, originated in a first-floor bedroom. The fire spread rapidly through the first and second floors, Ottina said.
A cause had not been determined as of Monday evening.
http://www.dailyrecord.com/news/03/01/14/news3-jefffire.htm
By Rob Jennings, Daily Record
JEFFERSON -- While police investigate the cause of a fire that destroyed a two-story, single-family home, they also question a cache of weapons discovered while firefighters battled the blaze.
In the process of extinguishing the blaze, firefighters discovered about a dozen firearms in an upstairs bedroom, Police Sgt. John Ottina said. The weapons belonged to homeowner James Cornish, he said.
Cornish produced paperwork documenting that most of the weapons were legally owned, Ottina said.
However, police had questions about two of the weapons -- an Uzi rifle with a folding stock and a Cobray Mach 10 machine pistol. Both were confiscated, along with several high-capacity magazines.
Police Sgt. Eric Wilsusen said officers were trying to determine whether the firearms violate New Jersey's ban on assault weapons. No charges had been filed as of Monday evening.
Although the home was destroyed by fire, homeowners, James and Eleanor Cornish, were unhurt and had escaped the blaze when firefighters arrived about 9:50 p.m., Police Capt. Bruce Sibel said. It took about two hours for firefighters to bring the blaze under control.
Police said the fire, which did not appear to be suspicious, originated in a first-floor bedroom. The fire spread rapidly through the first and second floors, Ottina said.
A cause had not been determined as of Monday evening.
http://www.dailyrecord.com/news/03/01/14/news3-jefffire.htm