Watt v. State

Warner, Chief Justice.

The defendant was indicted for the offense of “ arson,” and charged with having wilfully and maliciously burned a certain house dedicated to the worship of God, the property of a congregation of persons known as a Locust Hill Colored Missionary Baptist church,” the same not being in a city, town, or village, and upon the trial therefor, was found guilty. The defendant made a motion in arrest of judgment, on the ground that the facts alleged in the indictment do not constitute any violation of the laws of this state. The 4379th section of the Code declares that the wilful…