A Quarter-Mile Away

A man owned a building that was insured for more than it was worth. Inside, he set up combustible materials so they could be lit. A candle was placed so that, once lit, it would burn down and set fire to a pan of turpentine. He offered an employee money to go and light it. The employee refused. The owner then drove toward the building himself. About a quarter of a mile away he changed his mind and turned back. He was charged with attempting to burn the building to cheat the insurers.