ALEXANDER KENNEDY v. THE KING.

(1937) 57 Ll.L.Rep. 1

JUDICIAL COMMITTEE OFTHE PRIVY COUNCIL.

Before Lord Roche, Sir John Wallis and Sir George Rankin.

Arson - Appeal against conviction - Explosion and fire in appellant's shop in Colombo - Extensive damage to structure-Contents (boots and shoes and skins suitable for manufacture of shoes) destroyed-Alleged misdirection of jury-Inference to be drawn from circumstances of explosion and fire- Evidence of probable cause-Appellant's financial embarrassment-Doubt as to existence of large stock of skins alleged by appellant to have been destroyed - Composition of jury - Alleged partiality-Appellant's ignorance of the fact that certain jurors were employed by firms in some way connected with the insurance companies on risk-Whether the fact that there might have been material for a successful challenge was sufficient of itself to set aside an adverse verdict.