People v. Bragdon

The defendant was convicted of the crime of burning two insured barns on the Bragdon ranch in Trinity County with the intent to defraud the insurer. This appeal is from the judgment of conviction and the order denying a new trial.

The barns are referred to as the “upper barn” and the “lower barn,” each of which was insured against loss by fire in the sum of $1,000. The prosecution did not contend that the defendant personally set fire to the barns, but that he hired Lloyd Clayton Smith to do so. Smith was residing on the ranch with his family at the time of the fire, but the defendant was…