Commonwealth v. Shuman

This is an appeal (1) from Shuman’s convictions on June 24, 1982, in a jury-waived trial in the Superior Court of (a) arson of a building (G. L. c. 266, § 2) and (b) burning the same building with intent to defraud the insurer (G. L. c. 266, § 10), and (2) from the denial of his motion for a new trial. The fire was reported to the fire department about 11:35 p.m. on March 24, 1981. There was strong evidence that it had been set on the vacant third floor of a commercial building at 32 Hampden Street, Springfield (the locus) owned by Dr. Harvey Grant. Shuman, a tenant, maintained a hairdressing…