14 ANNUAL REPORT OF 



FORM OF CRIMINAL COMPLAINT, JUSTICE'S COURT, UNDER FIRE 

 WARDEN LAW. 



\ STATE OF MINNESOTA, 



Circular No. 24 y office of forestry commissioner, 

 j St. Paul, Minn., March 16, 1906. 



The following form, with explanations, may assist fire wardens 

 and justices of the peace in criminal prosecutions: 



STATE OF MINNESOTA, \ 



> ss. 



County of ) , , being first 



duly sworn, makes complaint and says that 



did, on the day of 



A. D. 190. ., at the town of in said County 



and State, kindle a fire near to forest (or prairie, if such was the 

 fact) land and left it unquenched (if the kindling the fire was 

 by some one acting under his direction, allege "caused to be 

 kindled a fire") contrary to the form of the statute in such case 

 made and provided, and against the peace and dignity of the State 



of Minnesota; and prays that the said 



may be arrested and dealt with according to law. 



Subscribed and sworn to before j 



me this .... day of .... A. D. 190 . . j 



Justice of the Peace. 

 STATE OF MINNESOTA, J Approved: 



OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL, L C. S. JELLEY, 



St. Paul, March 16, 1906. J Asst. Att'y General. 



Note. — The above form of complaint is under Section 1787, 

 Revised Laws of Minnesota, 1905. The evidence must show that 

 the defendant set the fire or caused it to be set. The testimony 

 of a credible witness that he saw the defendant set the fire is the 

 best kind of evidence; but it is sufficient to convict if circumstances 

 are proved which show beyond a reasonable doubt that the fire 

 was set by him. 



It is best to avoid any allegations in a complaint that are un- 

 necessary; such, for example, as that the fire was set on a par- 

 ticular section of land. It is unnecessary to allege or prove intent to 



