People v. Reade

In this arson prosecution, the defendant had confessed to deliberately starting a fire, and the principal question presented is whether the record contains the “ additional proof ” required by statute to warrant his conviction.

The fire, for the setting of which the defendant was indicted, occurred on February 25, 1959 in a three-story rooming house where the defendant was then living as a tenant. On that day, the landlord saw the defendant, who was the only one on the third floor at the time, leave the house at about 8:00 p.m. Very shortly thereafter, he smelled smoke and then saw it coming…