State v. Traas

— The defendant operated a restaurant and beer tavern in a two-story frame building in the town of Crystal Lake, Hancock County, Iowa. In addition to the rooms occupied by the family, he kept two or three rooms for occasional transients. He owned the stock of merchandise, the furniture, counters and other equipment used in his business, _ and also his household goods. The building and its contents were totally destroyed by fire in the very early morning of June 2, 1940, shortly after he had closed, a little after midnight. lie was charged with willfully and maliciously burning the property.…