Hardy v. State

Appellant was convicted of arson. The evidence is wholly circumstantial. The court granted to the state two instructions and only two. These instructions are in the following language:

“The court instructs the jury for the State that if you believe from the evidence in this case, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the defendant did wilfully, unlawfully, feloniously, and maliciously, set fire to and burn the dwelling house of Mrs. Claud Hardy, in which she resided, as testified about, and in the manner and form as charged in the indictment, then it is your sworn duty to find the defendant guilty…