Case ID: ad_243/html/0535-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Eugene J. Shields, Appellant.
   The decision of this court handed down on November 16, 1934 [242 App. Div. 846], is hereby amended to read as follows: Judgment of the County Court of Kings county, convicting defendant of the crime of arson in the second degree, reversed on the law and a new trial ordered. We have examined the record and find no error as to the facts. The indictment, following the language of section 222, subdivision 5, of the Penal Law, charged the defendant, acting jointly and in concert with one Skoblow, with willfully setting fire to a building with intent to prejudice and defraud the insurer thereof. The essence of the charge is, therefore, that the crime was committed with intent to prejudice and defraud the insurer of the building. The charge was not sustained. The case is without evidence that defendant knew the building was insured. Prom the fact, merely, that he was an insurance adjuster and had arranged for a fire in connection with the personal property, the inference cannot be drawn that he knew there was insurance on the building. There is evidence that would justify a finding that defendant intended to defraud the insurer of the personal property, but that is not the crime with which he is charged, nor is that crime included in the Penal Law under the arson provisions. Having no knowledge of the insurance of the building, defendant could not have intended to defraud and injure the insurance company which had insured the building. (People v. Goldberg, 146 App. Div. 335; Commonwealth v. Asherowski, 196 Mass. 342; Martin and Flinn v. State, 28 Ala. 71; Whart. Crim. Law [11th ed.], §§ 1059, 1076.) Lazansky, P. J., Hagarty, Scudder and Davis, JJ., concur; Kapper, J., dissents and votes to affirm.