Arson

the willful and malicious burning of a house or building belonging to another. If the death of an inmate be caused by such malicious action, the perpetrator is guilty of murder, and may be punished for taking life. Malicious setting fire to a house or building in which there is a human being at the time, is arson of the first degree. The state of New York, whose laws have been adopted in many states, punishes arson in the first degree by any term of imprisonment up to forty years; in the second degree by a term of not exceeding twenty-five years; and for the third degree by a term not exceeding fifteen years. An attempt to set a fire, providing it goes so far as to char or consume the slightest portion, is arson.