Category Archives: #courts

September 29, 1919: Omaha Mob Burns Courthouse, Tries to Kill Mayor Before Lynching Black

Posted on September 29, 2009 by lmharnisch

September 29, 1919: A mob in Omaha sets fire to the courthouse after trying to lynch Mayor Mayor Ed P. Smith when he appealed for law and order. Rioters finally lynch William Brown, an African American accused of raping a … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Countdown to Watts, Front Pages | 2 Comments

Man Haunted by Jesuit Spies

Posted on September 29, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 29, 1909: Billie Burke in "Love Watches." Ernest Ritter's mind may be unbalanced over a sad love affair, doctors say.

Posted in #courts, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Stage | Comments Off on Man Haunted by Jesuit Spies

Egghead Prof. Doesn’t Want Babies, Wife Sobs

Posted on September 28, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 28, 1909: Prof. Zorn doesn't want babies! The secret life of John Fitzgerald is finally revealed.

Posted in #courts, Obituaries | 1 Comment

Polanski Case Revisited

Posted on September 27, 2009 by lmharnisch

April 16, 1977: Roman Polanski says he's not guilty of raping an underage girl. March 13, 1977: The unidentified victim told police she was given drugs and raped. March 25, 1977: Polanski is indicted on sex charges. May 1, 1977: … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Car Thief in Short Pants Is the ‘Human Eel’

Posted on September 27, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 27, 1919: Don Clauser is a car thief in short pants … and the Los Angeles Ostrich Farm seeks to dissolve the corporation. March 15, 1921: Don Clauser, the “Human Eel,” escapes from the Whittier school with the superintendent’s … Continue reading →

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Death in a Small Cafe

Posted on September 27, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 27, 1909: A tale of murder in a San Fernando Street cafe. And imagine: "A ranch on Adams Street west of the city limits."

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‘Cut Wife Into Little Pieces!’

Posted on September 26, 2009 by lmharnisch

All was not well in the De Barbadillo household. Sept. 26, 1919: Rabbi Isidore Myers leads the People’s Synagogue in celebrating the new year.

Posted in #courts, Religion | Comments Off on ‘Cut Wife Into Little Pieces!’

George ‘Evil Genius’ Hodel Rides Again III

Posted on September 25, 2009 by lmharnisch

Above, Page 79, “Most Evil,” by Steve Hodel So far, the majority of votes are against dissecting the problems in “Most Evil,” which is fine with me because it would be almost as much work as debunking John Gilmore’s “Severed,” which … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, books, Homicide, LAPD | 8 Comments

The Tax Man Comes for Mickey Cohen; Covering the Mets

Posted on September 25, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 25, 1969: A typical screamer headline we put on the late final edition, which was for street sales. The front page of the home delivery edition didn't look like this. The National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, Comics, Education, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Jack Smith, Mickey Cohen, Sports | 1 Comment

Husband Accused of Abandoning Family

Posted on September 25, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 25, 1909: What the well-dressed woman has on her head. Husky, young W.F. Stratton admits that he left his wife "in a delicate condition" because he didn't like her mother.

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Black Dahlia Revisited

Posted on September 24, 2009 by lmharnisch

I need to make a few points about the coverage of the Black Dahlia case before I move on. The killing and the subsequent investigation are incredibly complicated and the false claims, ridiculous "true crime" books and crackpot websites have … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, Front Pages, Homicide, LAPD | 1 Comment

September 23, 1959: Paul V. Coates — Confidential File

Posted on September 23, 2009 by lmharnisch

September 23, 1959: In Iowa, a host tells Nikita Khrushchev: “We have a saying — the Lord helps those who help themselves.” Khrushchev replies: “God is helping us too, because we are developing quicker, and God therefore is on our … Continue reading →

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Naked Men Found in Women’s Spa

Posted on September 23, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 23, 1919: “Movie of a Man Holding the Wire,” by Clare Briggs. How to get rid of that summer tan. There’s a small problem with Kate Carpenter’s bath and massage emporium for women: Authorities keep finding naked men there. … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, Comics, Fashion, Food and Drink | Comments Off on Naked Men Found in Women’s Spa

Circus Performer Charged With Animal Cruelty

Posted on September 23, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 23, 1909: Cartoonist Edmund Waller "Ted" Gale draws W.D. Deeble. Now wait a minute. We had a story yesterday about two women hobos who were arrested because they dressed like men. Here we have Albert Hodgini, who dresses up … Continue reading →

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Bullet Claims an Innocent Victim

Posted on September 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 22, 1919: "The Vigilantes" is playing at the Victory Theater, 838 S. Broadway. Sept. 22, 1909: Nicolas Rodriguez is killed when a bullet ricochets several times and strikes him as he rides his bicycle near 3rd Street and Traction … Continue reading →

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Women Arrested for Dressing as Men

Posted on September 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

Being a hobo is one thing, but dressing up as a man is something else! Sept. 22, 1909: As there are laws prohibiting women from masquerading in men's clothes and he recognized Mrs. Gunn has having been taken in custody … Continue reading →

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Sex Killer Harvey Glatman Executed

Posted on September 18, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 18, 1959: Attorney Jerry Giesler (d. 1962) has a heart attack. Harvey M. Glatman is executed in the sex killings of Judy Ann Dull, Ruth Mercado and Shirley Ann Bridgeford. The Mirror said that 45 minutes before the execution, … Continue reading →

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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

Why Cars Don’t Have Running Boards Anymore

Posted on September 13, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 13, 1919: "That Guiltiest Feeling" by Clare Briggs.   Mr. Huber was spending lots of time on the phone, so his wife decided to investigate, especially since he began talking about it in his sleep.  Mr. Huber told his … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, Comics, Downtown, Transportation | Comments Off on Why Cars Don’t Have Running Boards Anymore

Cabdriver Accused of Attempted Rape

Posted on September 12, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 12, 1919: Why risk buying a poor hat? "When a Feller Needs a Friend," by Clare Briggs. Cabdriver R.M. Kennedy is accused of trying to rape Sara Revalee, 16. Yes, we identified sexual assault victims back then. And look: … Continue reading →

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