State v. Lauglin
Supreme Court of North Carolina
53 N.C. 354 (1861)
Relevant factsFree
Lauglin (defendant) intentionally set fire to a stable, and the fire spread to a nearby barn containing corn and peas; the barn burned but was not completely destroyed. Lauglin was indicted for feloniously, willfully, and maliciously setting fire to the barn -- a structure he had not directly targeted -- and was convicted, then appealed, arguing he couldn't be guilty of willfully burning the barn since that was never his original intent.
IssueFree
Whether a defendant who commits an illegal act may be found guilty of any subsequent criminal act that is the natural and probable consequence of committing the first illegal act.