State v. Paglino

BARRETT, Commissioner.

A jury has found Albert Paglino guilty of a homicide in the perpetration of arson and his punishment has been fixed at life imprisonment. Sections 559.010, 559.030 RSMo 1949, V.A.M.S.

The essence of the crime of arson is an incendiary and therefore wilful burning of property and the burden is upon the state to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the fire was caused by a criminal agency and the identity of , the person charged as responsible for the fire; and upon the state’s failure to prove these -essentials the defendant is entitled as, of course to an acquittal as a…