Commonwealth v. Conner

MacPHAIL, P. J.,

This case has a long history in this court. Defendant was arrested and indicted on charges of arson and burning with intent to defraud insurer. The charges arose out of a fire at the unoccupied residential dwelling owned by defendant and his wife in Franklin Township, Adams County, Pa. The fire occurred October 11, 1966.

At the first trial in 1967, the court declared a mistrial by reason of a prejudicial statement made by a witness for the prosecution during the presentation of the Commonwealth’s case. The second trial *49occurred in 1967, resulting in a jury verdict of guilty on…