People v. O'DELL

Mme JUSTICE SPOMER

delivered the opinion of the court:

Defendant Harry O’DeU and his wife, Pansy O’DeU, were jointly indicted for arson, attempt arson, solicitation to commit arson, conspiracy to commit arson, and theft by deception over $150. Mr. and Mrs. O’Dell were the owners of two apartment buildings, 1633 and 1637 North 45th Street, in East St. Louis, one of which was destroyed and the other damaged by a gasoline-based fire caused by arson on July 16,1975. As a result of the fire, the O’Dells received a total of $34,357.48 from their insurer, Hartford Insurance Company.

Defendant was…