State v. Kaster

1 Reported in 300 N.W. 897. Convicted of arson in the third degree, defendant appeals from the order denying his motion for a new trial.

For many years defendant has been a resident of South St. Paul, modestly engaged in general merchandising. In March of 1940, he owned and occupied a store building facing busy Concord street. The front entrance was flanked by large plate-glass windows. The upper half of the door itself was mostly glass. So anybody passing in the nighttime would be likely to see a blaze in the storeroom.

About two-thirds of the way toward the rear, the storeroom was divided by…