Gilbertson v. State

It is contended by the plaintiff in error, and conceded by the defendant in error, that the reports and notes of investigations made by the state fire marshal or deputy state fire marshals are secret and not open to public inspection. State ex rel. Spencer v. Freedy, 198 Wis. 388, 223 N. W. 861. In that case it was said:

“The manifest purpose of the law is to apprehend and punish those who may be guilty of the crime of arson and to discourage the burning of property for the purpose of recovering the insurance thereon. If the testimony of all persons taken in investigations conducted by the…