Bob Bailey

Daniel's lawyer wanted to know how serious the charges are.

He says Daniel's is pretty upset.

Seems he had some trouble lately with his insurance company.

What's the matter?

You have an accident?

Insurance company doesn't seem to think it was an accident.

Happened two months ago at an apartment house over on South Union.

Yeah.

Burned down.

Thursday, May 10th, 4.30 p.m.

We contacted the fire department's arson squad to find out if the fire at Daniel's apartment house on South Union Avenue two months before was under investigation.

After checking back, they told us investigators from the arson squad had found a large amount of kerosene to be present in some of the burned timbers found in the debris after the fire was put out.

They said that Mr. Daniels had admitted after the fire that the apartment building had been recently redecorated and that kerosene paint and other inflammables had been stored in the attic of the building.

Ed and I contacted the insurance adjuster handling the case, a Snyder Peebles, and he told us there wasn't any doubt in his mind that the fire at Daniels' apartment house two months before was of incendiary origin.

but he said so far the investigators were unable to prove it.

The one thing that seemed to puzzle him was if Daniels planned on burning down the building, why did he go to the trouble and expense of redecorating first?

Well, as soon as it was dark, Ed and I drove out, relieved the men on stakeout at the apartment house on West Pico, where the handyman, Oliver Randall, had his room.

They reported no unusual activity during the day.

7.32 p.m., Randall came out of the apartment house, got in a car and drove off.

We followed him.