_United States._--The same general principles apply to this crime in American law. In some states by statute the intent to injure or defraud must be shown, e.g. when the property is insured. In New York one who wilfully burns property (including a vessel or its cargo) with intent to defraud or prejudice the insurer thereof, though the offence of arson is not committed, is punishable by imprisonment for not more than five years (N.Y. Pen. Code, ss. 575, 578). There must be an intent to destroy the building (_ibid._ s. 490; California Code, s. 447). An agreement to commit arson is conspiracy (_ibid._ s. 171). Killing a person in committing the crime of arson is murder in the first degree (_ibid._ s. 183); this is so in California, even where the crime is merely an attempt to commit arson (Cal. Pen. Code, s. 189). Explosion of a house by gunpowder or dynamite is arson (Texas Pen. Code, art. 761), but a charge of arson by "burning" will not be sustained by proof of exploding by dynamite, even though part of the building is burnt by the explosion (_Landers_ v. _State_ [Tex.], 47 S.W. 1008). AUTHORITIES.--W.S. Holdsworth, _History of English Law_, vol. iii.; Pollock and Maitland, _History of English Law_; Stephen, _History of Criminal Law_, vol. iii.; Stephen, _Commentaries_; Russell on _Crimes_. ARSONVAL, a village of France in the department of Aube, lies on the right bank of the Aube, about 30 m. east of Troyes. It has a church dating from the 12th century. Pop. 434. ARSOT, the name of a forest in France, in the immediate neighbourhood of Belfort. It has an area of about 1500 acres, is almost encircled by a small stream, the Eloie, and is about 1400 ft. above the sea. On the east it is continued by the forest of Denney, which contains the fortress of Roppe, dominating the road from Colmar into France.