Category Archives: #courts

November 16, 1959: Paul V. Coates – Confidential File

Posted on November 16, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 16, 1959: Erle Stanley Gardner tells Paul Coates: “The basic problem facing law enforcement today is one of public relations.” Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, books, Columnists, Paul Coates | 1 Comment

November 16, 1958: I Want to Live — The Barbara Graham murder case

Posted on November 16, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 16, 1958: Five years after the execution of Barbara Graham in the Mabel Monahan killing, the story comes to the screen in the Robert Wise film “I Want to Live!” by Nelson Gidding and Don Mankiewicz, starring Susan Hayward in an Oscar-winning performance. Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, San Fernando Valley | Comments Off on November 16, 1958: I Want to Live — The Barbara Graham murder case

November 15, 1909: Finds ‘Husband’ Is Woman

Posted on November 15, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 15, 1909: Dr. Alice Bush of Oakland sues for divorce, charging that her husband, R.K. Morgan, failed to disclose something rather important. Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, #gays and lesbians, Homicide | Comments Off on November 15, 1909: Finds ‘Husband’ Is Woman

Voices — Christine Collins, November 14, 1930

Posted on November 14, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 14, 1930: James Borton writes to the warden about the parole hearing for Christine Collins’ husband, Walter. Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Changeling, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Comments Off on Voices — Christine Collins, November 14, 1930

Voices — Christine Collins, November 12, 1930

Posted on November 12, 2025 by lmharnisch

“Changeling” letters, November 12, 1930: Mrs. James Borton writes to the prison board, seeking leniency for Walter Collins. Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Changeling, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD | Comments Off on Voices — Christine Collins, November 12, 1930

Voices — Christine Collins, November 10, 1930

Posted on November 10, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 10, 1930: Aimee Dunne, Christine Collins’ sister, writes to the prison board about parole for Walter Collins. Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Changeling, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD | Comments Off on Voices — Christine Collins, November 10, 1930

Voices — Christine Collins, November 10, 1930

Posted on November 10, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 10, 1930: The Los Angeles County district attorney lists Walter Collins’ offenses in a letter to the prison board. Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Changeling, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | 2 Comments

Voices — Christine Collins, November 9, 1930

Posted on November 9, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 9, 1930: The woman whose tragedy inspired the movie ‘Changeling’ tells her story in her own words. Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Changeling, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Comments Off on Voices — Christine Collins, November 9, 1930

Voices — Christine Collins, November 6, 1930

Posted on November 6, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 6, 1930: A letter written on behalf of Christine Collins, whose son was killed by Gordon Northcott, as portrayed in the movie Changeling. Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Changeling, Christine Collins, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Comments Off on Voices — Christine Collins, November 6, 1930

October 28, 1938: Mayor investigates honorary LAPD badges

Posted on October 28, 2025 by lmharnisch

October 28, 1938: Mayor Fletcher Bowron calls for an investigation into so-called juice badges given to celebrities and others by the LAPD. This eventually resulted in an overhaul of the badge to its current design. Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, City Hall, Downtown, Front Pages, LAPD, Politics | Comments Off on October 28, 1938: Mayor investigates honorary LAPD badges

October 23, 1957: Matt Weinstock

Posted on October 23, 2025 by lmharnisch

October 23, 1957: An intoxicated woman hails a police car, which provides a ride to jail. She’s freed, but then arrested for a warrant on a traffic ticket on a 1956 car — only she says she never owned a 1956 model, just a 1926 that she sold a year ago. Continue reading →

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October 22, 1958: Mob suspected in bookie’s killing

Posted on October 22, 2025 by lmharnisch

October 22, 1958: Clifford Rue was a man who was ahead of his time when it came to sports results and behind on the payments to his bookie. Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Front Pages, Homicide, LAPD, San Fernando Valley | Comments Off on October 22, 1958: Mob suspected in bookie’s killing

October 19, 1938: Stolen statue — Nuestro Pueblo

Posted on October 19, 2025 by lmharnisch

October 19, 1938: Writer Joe Seewerker and artist Charles Owens visit the statue of a miner at Carthay Center, later stolen and cut up by thieves. And yes, they were caught. By Stephanie Lazarus. Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Architecture, art and artists, LAPD, Nuestro Pueblo | Comments Off on October 19, 1938: Stolen statue — Nuestro Pueblo

October 7, 1909: Jurors Convict Man, Take Up a Collection for Him

Posted on October 7, 2025 by lmharnisch

October 7, 1909: Pedro Vasquez was arrested by Detective Talamantes for stealing two pairs of trousers. After the jurors convicted Vasquez,  they took up a collection so he could buy a shirt since he didn’t have one.  Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Fashion, LAPD, Obituaries | Comments Off on October 7, 1909: Jurors Convict Man, Take Up a Collection for Him

October 1, Paul V. Coates — Confidential File

Posted on October 1, 2025 by lmharnisch

October 1, 1959: Paul Coates writes about Caryl Chessman and his scheduled execution. And Mickey Cohen plans to marry Beverly (Jean) Hills. Continue reading →

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October 1, 1909: Fatal Land Dispute Near El Monte

Posted on October 1, 2025 by lmharnisch

October 1, 1909: High winds ground the aeroplanes of the Wright brothers and Glenn Curtiss…. A property dispute near El Monte ends in a death with racial overtones. Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Transportation | Comments Off on October 1, 1909: Fatal Land Dispute Near El Monte

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

Posted on September 29, 2025 by lmharnisch

Sept. 29, 1919: Trigger Warning: Graphic coverage of a lynching in Omaha, Nebraska. A mob burns the courthouse, tries to lynch the mayor and murders a Black man accused of assaulting a white woman. Many women take part in the lynching, saying the mayor didn’t do enough to guard their virtue Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Countdown to Watts, Front Pages | Comments Off on September 29, 1919: Omaha Mob Burns Courthouse, Tries to Kill Mayor Before Lynching Black

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

Posted on September 23, 2025 by lmharnisch

September 23, 1959: Paul Coates on how not to start a conversation … and Abby’s advice to a widow who wants to meet a good man and get married. Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Columnists, Front Pages, Paul Coates | Comments Off on September 23, 1959: Paul V. Coates — Confidential File

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

Posted on September 17, 2025 by lmharnisch

September 17, 1959: Paul Coates looks at the case of Caryl Chessman, scheduled to be executed in the gas chamber. A letter writer asks Dear Abby if it’s appropriate to ask restaurants for leftovers in a doggy bag. Continue reading →

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

September 7, 1959: Paul V. Coates — Confidential File

Posted on September 7, 2025 by lmharnisch

September 7, 1959: Paul Coates writes about a young woman’s experiences in traffic court. Hint: she wore a tight, revealing dress that she made herself, and has flaming red hair. Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Columnists, Paul Coates | 1 Comment