Shepherd v. . the People

[EDITORS' NOTE: THIS PAGE CONTAINS HEADNOTES. HEADNOTES ARE NOT AN OFFICIAL PRODUCT OF THE COURT, THEREFORE THEY ARE NOT DISPLAYED.] Although we have come to the conclusion that the conviction in this case ought to be reversed on account of the insufficiency of the evidence to establish the guilt of the plaintiff in error, yet, as a new trial will be ordered, it is necessary that we should determine the questions of law which arose upon the trial, one of which, at least, is of considerable importance. It has been strenuously argued that the offence of arson in the first degree cannot be…