People v. Lassiter

Mr. PRESIDING JUSTICE LEIGHTON

delivered the opinion of the court:

In thirteen separate indictments, defendant was charged with arson and murder. He waived trial by jury, was found guilty and sentenced to serve thirteen concurrent sentences of 100 to 150 years.

Defendant admits that in the evening of December 11, 1965, he purchased two gallons of gasoline, poured some on the front entrance and doorway of a tavern in Chicago, lit a match and caused a fire that killed the persons named as murder victims in the indictments. In the trial, his defense was insanity. In this appeal, he urges three…