Multiple choice

A lights a matchstick and applies it to the lay stock of B with a view to setting fire to it. However, A tries to extinguish the fire of his own accord and in fact, succeeds in doing so before he is caught by B. Will A be guilty?

  1. A will be guilty of mischief if he had, by setting the fire, caused some damage to B.

  2. A is not guilty of mischief.

  3. A is not guilty of mischief in any case.

  4. A is guilty of mischief as well as trespassing.

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

A, with an intention to cause damage to the stock of B, lights the matchstick. If a lighted matchstick causes loss to B, then A will be liable for mischief. To fulfil the essentials of mischief, an act of accused must cause loss to the prosecution. As in the above case, before setting the fire to the stock of B, A was caught by B and no loss was caused to B, so no offence of mischief is committed.

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