Here we have a purported list of “Black Dahlia Suspects” from Wikipedia. At least as it was of May 20, 2019. Wikipedia, being Wikipedia, this could change at any moment.

This list is allegedly the 25 suspects named by Lt. Frank Jemison of the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office. In reality, Jemison listed 22 suspects in his report of Feb. 20, 1951. Jemison did not list Dr. Adam Fairall, Jacob Edward Fisk or Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel. They are relatively recent and completely bogus additions,  with ardent Wikipedia users (are there any other kind?) altering the total to agree with the number of names.

Comparing every change on the Black Dahlia suspects entry is quite a chore. Like all entries, it’s frequently subject to vandalism (see the prank entry of “Jacob Edward Fisk” April 2009), reversions and random and totally unnecessary repairs, and random tweaking.  In other words, business as usual for the zealous if factually and grammatically challenged editors of Wikipedia.

Let’s go back to the beginning.

On Sept. 30, 2009, a Wikipedia editor, identified only by ISP, added purported Black Dahlia suspect Dr. Adam Fairall. Apparently the editor was attempting to indicate that Fairall was a strip club owner.

But by May 7, 2010….

Wikipedia user Kinston eagle had changed this to two suspects “Dr. Adam Fairall” and “Strip Club Owner.”

Remember: Neither Dr. Adam Fairall nor “Strip Club Owner” appear in Jemison’s report.

About four years later, on May 22, 2014, another Wikipedia editor removed “Strip Club Owner.”

On April 13, 2015, Wikipedia user Tamfang deleted “apparently meaningless numbers.” Dr. Adam Fairall, who occupied No. 17, was just another suspect. Still attributed – erroneously – to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

Is Dr. Adam Fairall listed anywhere in the Los Angeles County district attorney’s files?

No.

Is Dr. Adam Fairall listed in the 1945 directory of California Physicians and Surgeons, Naturopaths, Drugless Practitioners, Chiropodists, Midwives?

No.

Does an Adam Fairall appear in the archives of the Los Angeles Times?

No.

How about Ancestry.com?

One person named Adam Fairall, born about 1980.

In other words, yet another bogus Wikipedia entry.

The perpetrator appears to be someone in South Africa who is interested in Moonwalking, serial killers, Leowakgomo High School and Greek mythology. Well, that’s Wikipedia for you.

And here’s more handiwork…. Yet another Wikipedia vandal.

How long with Dr. Adam Fairall remain in the Wikipedia entry? Well, I exposed Jacob Edward Fisk last week and he’s still there. This may take a while.

If you’re looking for a lengthy biography of Eric Cartman, or an season/episode breakdown of “The Simpsons,” Wikipedia may be for you. Otherwise, it’s rubbish.