Category Archives: Caryl Chessman

December 9, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on December 9, 2009 by lmharnisch

Dialing Chessman Francois de Montfort, correspondent for Ici Paris, is in Hollywood having a look at the movie making.  As he arrived on the set of “Strangers When We Meet” to interview Kim Novak the other day, he told publicist … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1959, art and artists, broadcasting, Caryl Chessman, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock, Television | Comments Off on December 9, 1959: Matt Weinstock

November 30, 1959: Paul Coates – Confidential File

Posted on November 30, 2009 by lmharnisch

Nothing, but Nothing Is Sacred Any More It’s every reporter’s dream to lay aside his battered old felt hat, shred his press card into confetti, turn his World War II surplus trench coat over to the Salvation Army, take his … Continue reading →

Posted in 1959, Animals, books, Caryl Chessman, Columnists, Paul Coates | Comments Off on November 30, 1959: Paul Coates – Confidential File

Delay for Caryl Chessman

Posted on October 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

Oct. 22, 1959: President Eisenhower transfers German rocket scientists led by Wernher von Braun from Army jurisdiction to NASA. Luau anyone? The Dodgers submitted a map for their Chavez Ravine ballpark and some of the features were downright headline grabbers. … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Caryl Chessman, City Hall, Dodgers, Downtown, Politics | 2 Comments

As Undercover Agent, Housewife Spied on Communists

Posted on October 21, 2009 by lmharnisch

Oct. 21, 1959: Moiselle Clinger describes spying on Communists for the FBI. Truck driver Gordon Powell says he robbed a bank after losing work because of the steel strike. A new appeal seeks to block the execution of Caryl Chessman. … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Caryl Chessman, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Politics, Sports | 1 Comment

Quints Born in Texas

Posted on October 20, 2009 by lmharnisch

Oct. 20, 1959: Former Secretary of State and Defense Gen. George C. Marshall is buried at Arlington. Former President Truman says: "I sincerely hope that when it comes my time to cross the great river, Gen. Marshall will place me … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Caryl Chessman, Front Pages | Comments Off on Quints Born in Texas

President Asks Court to Halt Steel Strike

Posted on October 20, 2009 by lmharnisch

Oct. 20, 1959: No clemency for Caryl Chessman, governor says … Calling it a sad day for America, President Eisenhower tells the Justice Department to seek a federal injunction to halt a strike by the United Steelworkers of America.    … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Caryl Chessman, City Hall, Dodgers, Downtown, Fashion | Comments Off on President Asks Court to Halt Steel Strike

October 15, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on October 15, 2009 by lmharnisch

The Chessman Case How, under the law, can a man be left dangling between life an death for 11 years?  That’s what people are asking in the strange case of Caryl Chessman, due to be gassed in San Quentin Oct. … Continue reading →

Posted in Caryl Chessman, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on October 15, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Time Running Out for Caryl Chessman

Posted on October 13, 2009 by lmharnisch

Eleanor Roosevelt urges clemency for Caryl Chessman. An evocative story by the late Paul Weeks about a teenager who died in a spectacular car crash while running from the police.   Eleanor Roosevelt, Aldous Huxley, Ray Bradbury, Steve Allen and … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Caryl Chessman, Environment, Front Pages | Comments Off on Time Running Out for Caryl Chessman

October 2, 1959: Paul V. Coates &ndash

Posted on October 2, 2009 by lmharnisch

October 2, 1959: Paul Coates says of Caryl Chessman: “Justice tripped over her own skirts in her hurry to get rid of him when he asked for his day in court.”

Posted in Caryl Chessman, Columnists, Paul Coates | Comments Off on October 2, 1959: Paul V. Coates &ndash

September 17, 1959: Paul V. Coates — Confidential File

Posted on September 17, 2009 by lmharnisch
Posted in #courts, Caryl Chessman, Columnists, Paul Coates | Comments Off on September 17, 1959: Paul V. Coates — Confidential File

Killers die in gas chamber, December 3, 1938

Posted on December 3, 2008 by lmharnisch

"There’s nothing to it." — Robert Lee Cannon "So long." — Albert Kessel "That was the most terrible thing I’ve ever seen. I’ve witnessed 52 hangings. I could find nothing humane about it and I never want to watch anything … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Caryl Chessman, Front Pages, Homicide, Sports | 1 Comment

March 26, 1958

Posted on March 26, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, one movie that is not on Netflix (although "Bitter Victory" is available) … Below, The Times’ editorial page pays tribute to attorney Joseph Scott … and notes the fifth anniversary of Jonas Salk’s announcement that he had discovered a polio … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Caryl Chessman, Film, health, Hollywood, Religion, Science | Tagged , , | Comments Off on March 26, 1958

March 1, 1958

Posted on March 1, 2008 by lmharnisch

Granted, President Eisenhower’s health was an important issue by 1958, but it’s hard to picture anyone pitching a story about his dental work for Page 1 … An atomic-powered rocket to the moon … And a major setback for Caryl … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Caryl Chessman, Front Pages | Tagged , , | Comments Off on March 1, 1958

Caryl Chessman

Posted on November 26, 2007 by lmharnisch

Nov. 26, 1957Los Angeles Here’s an update on two stories we have been following…. After 98 witnesses and eight weeks of testimony, the prosecution is about to rest in the murder trial of L. Ewing Scott. Throughout the trial, the … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Caryl Chessman, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Court beat

Posted on October 10, 2007 by lmharnisch

Oct. 10, 1957Los Angeles Oh for the life of a court beat reporter in 1957: Confidential magazine, an appeal by convicted killer Caryl Chessman and the murder trial of L. Ewing Scott, not to mention the daily grind of the … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Caryl Chessman, Downtown, Homicide | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Court beat

Architectural ramblings

Posted on October 3, 2007 by lmharnisch

Every day, I visit a friend who is recovering from cancer surgery at Glendale Memorial Hospital, so I took a short detour and visited the boyhood home of Caryl Chessman, the "Red Light Bandit."   Photograph by Larry Harnisch / … Continue reading →

Posted in Caryl Chessman, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Mystery photo solved

Posted on October 1, 2007 by lmharnisch

The correct answer is Caryl Whittier Chessman. A very impressive showing by Duane Laible. I didn’t expect anyone to guess so quickly.    Meet the boy bandit gang, which terrorized Los Angeles with a string of robberies and shootings in … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Caryl Chessman, LAPD, Robberies | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Mystery photo solved

Paul V. Coates–Confidential File

Posted on September 18, 2007 by lmharnisch

Sept. 18, 1957 There are times when justice gets in its own way. By trying to hustle along a little too fast, it trips over its own ethical skirts. And a living example of what can happen when it does … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Caryl Chessman, Columnists, Homicide, Paul Coates | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Tough prosecutor

Posted on May 16, 2007 by lmharnisch

  May 16, 1957 Los Angeles While L. Ewing Scott uses every possible ploy to delay his extradition from Michigan, the district attorney’s office has appointed top prosecutor J. Miller Leavy to handle the case. Leavy has just finished the … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Caryl Chessman, Homicide | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Tough prosecutor

The bad dream

Posted on April 23, 2007 by lmharnisch

April 23, 1957 Los Angeles "It’s like a bad dream," he said. "You keep thinking you’ll awaken and find it’s a bad dream." Edward Simon Wein, given five death sentences under California’s "Little Lindbergh Law" for a series of kidnappings … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Caryl Chessman, Homicide, Long Beach, San Fernando Valley, Venice Division | 3 Comments