The story of a dramatic series of fires in the market town of Witham in 1828 and 1829. Consternation reigned, and a fatherless sixteen-year old boy, James Cook, was arrested. While he was in prison awaiting trial, the fires continued, but nonetheless he was hanged on the instructions of an eccentric judge. The book relates what happened next, talks about all the people involved, and discusses the happenings in the light of the historical context of the time.

ISBN 0 900360 85 2

Format: paperback.
Pages: 37.
Illustrations: 1 map, 1 engraving, 1 chart.
Includes: notes, bibliography, sources.

Published by: Essex Record Office in 1991. Out of print but the text is reproduced here.