Category Archives: #courts

Woman Attacks Officer in Court, May 18, 1939

Posted on May 18, 2009 by lmharnisch

I'm conducting an experiment today. Some readers have complained that the page is slow to load. About three weeks ago, we went to Typepad's new, "improved" editor, which changed the way "the platform" handles images. A full newspaper page weighs … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Downtown, Front Pages, LAPD, Transportation | 6 Comments

The Era of Fear and Prophesies of Doom, May 17, 1959

Posted on May 17, 2009 by lmharnisch

Gaaah! What were they thinking? No wonder these were on sale! This Sunday paper is an alarming time capsule with fear and anxiety on every page, plus a little sex here and there. At left, "What We Must Know About … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, books, Comics, Dodgers, Downtown, Film, Freeways, Front Pages, Hollywood, LAPD, Religion, Richard Nixon, Transportation | Comments Off on The Era of Fear and Prophesies of Doom, May 17, 1959

31 Die When Plane Explodes in Midair, May 13, 1959

Posted on May 13, 2009 by lmharnisch

Emergo was a fake skeleton hanging from a wire that was pulled out into the audience. My little hometown theater didn't have it, alas. There's no shortage of interesting items today. A Capital Airlines  plane en route from New York … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Comics, Dodgers, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries, Sports | Comments Off on 31 Die When Plane Explodes in Midair, May 13, 1959

L.A. Orders Two-Man Streetcar Crews, May 11, 1939

Posted on May 11, 2009 by lmharnisch

  These old papers are fantastic; all you have to do is stick a shovel in the dirt and you strike gold. At left and above, Los Angeles struggles to solve its problems with congested traffic. The Times shows work … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD, Obituaries, Sports | Comments Off on L.A. Orders Two-Man Streetcar Crews, May 11, 1939

Bianchi Charged as Hillside Strangler; Nolan Ryan on Baseball, May 10, 1979

Posted on May 10, 2009 by lmharnisch

May 10, 1979: Gas rationing, a SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks) agreement with the Soviets and Dial Torgerson reports from Jerusalem that U.N. troops turn back an Israeli force pursuing Palestinian guerrillas into Lebanon. Former security guard Kenneth Allesio Bianchi, … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Comics, Front Pages, Homicide, LAPD | Comments Off on Bianchi Charged as Hillside Strangler; Nolan Ryan on Baseball, May 10, 1979

Paul V. Coates — Confidential File, May 7, 1959

Posted on May 7, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Confidential File  An Eyewitness Can Be High Executioner There's a man in our society I fear. He's an honest man, conscientious and law-abiding. His intentions are the best. But because of — rather than in spite of — his … Continue reading →

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

Paul V. Coates — Confidential File, May 5, 1959

Posted on May 5, 2009 by lmharnisch

Photograph by John Malmin / Los Angeles Times Elizabeth Ann Duncan crosses her fingers during her murder trial.   CONFIDENTIAL FILE Frank S. Duncan Has Come to Town In a sparsely furnished office on the floor of a modernistic Sunset … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Columnists, Homicide, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates — Confidential File, May 5, 1959

Man Charged With Defrauding Widows, July 20, 1900

Posted on May 5, 2009 by lmharnisch

I came across this story while researching the Arcade Station and think it's too wonderful not to share. var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); try { var pageTracker = … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, LAPD | 1 Comment

Paul V. Coates — Confidential File, May 1, 1959

Posted on May 1, 2009 by lmharnisch

  CONFIDENTIAL FILE Has the Black Hand a Grip on Our City? Without trumpets to announce his arrival or news cameras to record it, a very controversial young man slipped into town yesterday. His name: Alvin H. Goldstein Jr. For … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Columnists, LAPD, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates — Confidential File, May 1, 1959

Israel Raids Egypt, Celtics Beat Lakers, April 30, 1969

Posted on April 30, 2009 by lmharnisch

The 1960s were surely the hair decade. Ask your mom if she ever had a hairdo like this model in a Broadway ad.  President Nixon urges "backbone" against student unrest. Israel strikes Egypt. Nixon plays "Happy Birthday" for Duke Ellington. … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Downtown, Environment, Fashion, Front Pages, Lakers, Richard Nixon, Sports | Comments Off on Israel Raids Egypt, Celtics Beat Lakers, April 30, 1969

Hitler Reviews Nazi Troops, Hollywood Celebrates Barrymore’s Birthday, April 28, 1939

Posted on April 28, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sending photos in the old days: By ship. At left, you're wondering what a statue of a naked babe has to do with freedom of the press? According to news accounts, it represented "the unadorned truth." It was part of … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Sports | 1 Comment

Masked Mob Seizes Black Rape Suspect From Mississippi Jail, April 26, 1959

Posted on April 26, 2009 by lmharnisch

The Times takes a look at the 1910 Aviation Week at Dominguez Hills. Here's a post from last year about J.S. Zerbe.   Gunmen wearing masks and gloves raided the jail in Poplarville, Miss., and seized Mack Charles Parker, 23, … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, books, Comics, Countdown to Watts, Dodgers, Film, health, Hollywood, Homicide, Music, Politics, Richard Nixon, Science, Stage, Transportation | Comments Off on Masked Mob Seizes Black Rape Suspect From Mississippi Jail, April 26, 1959

Minister, Wife Charged With Sex Crimes, April 1939

Posted on April 25, 2009 by lmharnisch

  I came across several 1939 stories about the Rev. Joseph Jeffers and his wife, Zella, who were charged with committing an "unnatural act" that was so scandalous The Times couldn't even describe it. In fact, this act was so … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Religion | 1 Comment

Honor Farm Opens to Ease Jail Crowding, April 25, 1939

Posted on April 25, 2009 by lmharnisch

Corrections and rehabilitation as practiced in 1939. The honor farm will house 600 men who would otherwise be held in jail.   At left, Werner Philipp's portrait of Katherine Dunham, which was found in a Ventura antique store. Read more … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, Comics, Film, Food and Drink, Hollywood, Religion | Comments Off on Honor Farm Opens to Ease Jail Crowding, April 25, 1939

Court Upholds Deal on Chavez Ravine; Moratorium on Death Penalty Fails, April 22, 1959

Posted on April 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

Photograph by John Malmin / Los Angeles Times People cluster between homes on Malvina Avenue in Chavez Ravine for word on being evicted. The battle over Chavez Ravine reads like the same story after a while — a long court fight … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, City Hall, Comics, Dodgers, Downtown, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Minister Vows to Fight Morals Charge, April 22, 1939

Posted on April 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

April 19, 1939: Joseph Jeffers and his wife, Zella Joy, are accused of committing "unnatural acts" in the privacy of their home. The Los Angeles County district attorney's office used a hidden dictograph to get evidence.

Posted in #courts, Religion | Comments Off on Minister Vows to Fight Morals Charge, April 22, 1939

Police Raid Venice ‘Love-In’; Lakers Win Western Division, April 21, 1969

Posted on April 21, 2009 by lmharnisch

April 21, 1969: A "love-in" on Venice Beach turns into brawl when the crowd of 7,000 starts throwing rocks and bottles after police arrest several people. Assemblyman John Burton is elected head of the California Democratic Council, which backs student … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Comics, LAPD, Music, Richard Nixon | Comments Off on Police Raid Venice ‘Love-In’; Lakers Win Western Division, April 21, 1969

Minister, Wife Held on Morals Charge, April 19, 1939

Posted on April 19, 2009 by lmharnisch

April 19, 1939: Joseph Jeffers and his wife, Zella Joy, were accused of engaging  in an illegal act in the privacy of their own home that was so obscene The Times couldn't say what it was. Even their private discussions … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Religion | Comments Off on Minister, Wife Held on Morals Charge, April 19, 1939

SLA Pipe Bombs Revisited

Posted on April 14, 2009 by lmharnisch

Aug. 23, 1975: Bombs are found under two LAPD cars. In the last 33 years, The Times has published varying accounts of the August 1975 incident in which the Symbionese Liberation Army planted pipe bombs under two LAPD cars — … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Hollywood, Hollywood Division, LAPD | Comments Off on SLA Pipe Bombs Revisited

Voices — Marilyn Chambers, 1952 — 2009

Posted on April 13, 2009 by lmharnisch

"Marilyn Chambers is no dummy," The Times' Robert Hilburn says in beginning his profile of the former porn star, who was promoting a "disco-flavored" single, "Benihana."   "I'd like to be someone like Sammy Davis Jr., who can sing, dance, … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries | 1 Comment