People v. Bridgeforth

Defendants, William Bridgeforth and Willie Davis, were convicted by a jury in the circuit court of Cook County of the offense of arson and sentenced respectively to not less than 5 nor more than 10 years and not less than 4 nor more than 8 years in the penitentiary. Their separate appeals have been consolidated for consideration and opinion.

The record shows that at approximately 1:30 P.M. on December 14, 1968, a fire occurred in an apartment building located at 609 — 611 East 50th Street in Chicago. Officer Butler of the police bomb and arson unit testified that his investigation revealed…