State v. Vatter

I. On the fourth day of July, 1885, the dwelling house of one Alexander Spear, situated on his farm in Cedar county, was totally destroyed by fire. The bouse was a large and valuable farm dwelling, and nearly new. No one was in the building when the fire was discovered. Spear and bis family had closed it up, fastened the windows and window shutters, and locked the doors, and gone away to a public picnic about throe miles distant. There is no question but that the fire was incendiary. That fact appears to have been conceded on tbo trial, and it is established by the evidence beyond any…