Officer R. B. Tant took a statement from defendant on the afternoon of 23 January 1974 as part of his normal investigation of the fire. Defendant was not a suspect at this time, but was interviewed because he owned the body shop. Defendant told Tant that on the night of the fire he left the building at approximately 7:10 p.m., naming several persons who were at the building when he left. He added that he had two insurance policies on his businessa $20,000 policy on the contents of the building and a $5,000 policy covering up to five vehicles in the building. Defendant admitted, "I can't explain why there was soot on my face when I got back to the fire."