Crossword Genius

Crime of a king wanting male heir? (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

arson

'crime' is the definition.
(crime of illegally starting a fire)

'a king wanting male heir?' is the wordplay.
'king' becomes 'R' (abbreviation for rex, king in Latin).
'wanting' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'male heir?' becomes 'son' (male child).
'a'+'r'+'son'='ARSON'

'of' is the link.

(Other definitions for arson that I've seen before include "Crime involving fire" , "Fire requiring forensic study" , "matchplay, say?" , "Criminal burning of property" , "Crime of fire-setting (5)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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