Mary v. State

The appellant, Mary, was indicted for arson, in the Pulaski circuit court, as follows :

“ The grand jurors, etc., etc., present that Mary, a colored woman, slave for life, the property of Nancy Rider, late of etc., on the 18th day of November, A. D. 1861, at etc., with force and arms, feloniously, wilfully and maliciously, did set fire to a certain dwelling house of William Murray, there situate, with intent thereby then and there to injure the said William Murray, contrary to the form of the statute,” etc., etc.

She was tried upon the plea of not guilty, convicted, and sentenced to receive…