State v. Slocinski

I. A church society owned the property burned, subject to mortgages on it amounting to $4,620. The defendant had extensive control over the finances of the society, and was “accountable only in equity for any default.” The property carried $9,000 of fire insurance. The defendant was personally in debt to a substantial amount. The State claimed that he set the fire to obtain part of the insurance money, and was allowed to introduce evidence that he made a payment towards the unpaid premiums for the insurance the day before the fire.

The evidence was competent on the issue of motive. It tended…