Category Archives: #courts

Gail Russell–in memoriam

Posted on July 5, 2007 by lmharnisch

Photographs by the Los Angeles Times Sgt. C.H. Specht examines damage to Jan’s Restaurant, 8424 Beverly Blvd., caused by Gail Russell’s convertible.  Below right, Russell fails a test for intoxication administered by Specht. July 6, 1957 Los Angeles You poor … Continue reading →

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Faith journey

Posted on July 2, 2007 by lmharnisch

  July 2, 1957 Los Angeles I wonder what the preacher told worshipers at Mount Tabor Missionary Baptist Church in Miami about his faith journey. Did he talk about his years with the San Diego Chargers and the Chicago Bears? … Continue reading →

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June bride

Posted on June 30, 2007 by lmharnisch

June 30, 1957 Milwaukee Mary and Leeland met while taking summer courses at Harvard and are so in love that they want to get married. But while Leeland loves Mary, his parents hate her. She “shot holes through our heart,” … Continue reading →

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Child beater

Posted on June 28, 2007 by lmharnisch

June 29, 1957 Los Angeles Here’s a formula for disaster: Take an unemployed 19-year-old who was booted out of the Marines after going AWOL and slashed his wrists when he was caught. Hook him up with a 21-year-old girlfriend who’s … Continue reading →

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Orchestra wives

Posted on June 27, 2007 by lmharnisch

June 28, 1957 Los Angeles It’s a tough life for orchestra wives. Consider the case of Joy Windsor, bandleader Charlie Barnet’s 10th wife. In May, Barnet had assured her that his days of touring were over. “I was on the … Continue reading →

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Lawyer drowns in pool

Posted on June 26, 2007 by lmharnisch

June 26, 1957 Los Angeles The lawyer drove up to the cabin in Tick Canyon, north of Saugus, in his Cadillac. He should have been home in Beverly Hills by now, but he phoned his wife, Mary, that he was … Continue reading →

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Melchior robbers caught

Posted on June 22, 2007 by lmharnisch

June 22, 1957 Los Angeles  Wayne Burke, Richard McFall and Alfred J. Pope fled into the night in what they thought was a clean getaway. McFall said: “Burke and I got in my car and J. [Pope] took furs and … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1957, LAPD, Robberies, San Fernando Valley | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

William Parker, Part 5

Posted on June 21, 2007 by lmharnisch

  June 21, 1957Los Angeles William Parker, below left, and Jack Webb. Note that Parker says he would have never given permission for "Dragnet," which was initially approved in the Clemence "C.B." Horrall administration. On July 16, 1966, Parker suffered … Continue reading →

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Battling movie stars

Posted on June 20, 2007 by lmharnisch

  June 20, 1957 Los Angeles For battling Hollywood celebrities, it’s hard to surpass Shelley Winters and Anthony Franciosa. They were only married a few years, but they made up for it in brawls between themselves, other actors (like Ava … Continue reading →

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William Parker, Part 4

Posted on June 20, 2007 by lmharnisch

June 20, 1957Los Angeles Classic moments in Los Angeles history: The Sammy Rummel shooting, the "two Tonys murder" and "Bloody Christmas." Part 1 Part 2

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William Parker, Part 3

Posted on June 19, 2007 by lmharnisch

June 19, 1957 Los Angeles This will be fascinating reading to anyone interested in the LAPD in the 1930s and ’40s, but never forget that it is told from the viewpoint of one man: William H. Parker. I wish I … Continue reading →

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Paul V. Coates–Confidential File

Posted on June 18, 2007 by lmharnisch

June 18, 1957 Los Angeles By oath and by tradition, policemen and probation officers are on the same side of the law. Yet I know of no two groups so closely associated and so united in cause which are so … Continue reading →

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William Parker, Part 2

Posted on June 18, 2007 by lmharnisch

June 18, 1957 Los Angeles Part 2 of Paul Weeks’ series on William H. Parker. Page 1 Page 2 Daniel Webster’s speech is here (search for Captain Joseph White). The Bible passage is a little more problematic. It echoes Psalms … Continue reading →

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Reds freed!

Posted on June 17, 2007 by lmharnisch

Note the suicide of Stanford scientist William K. Sherwood. Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

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William Parker, Part 1

Posted on June 17, 2007 by lmharnisch

  June 17, 1957 Los Angeles I’m extremely pleased to be able to present Paul Weeks’ series on Los Angeles Police Chief William H. Parker.  Weeks did a first-rate job with a subject who wasn’t especially cooperative. Although Parker realized … Continue reading →

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Sex slaying suspect

Posted on June 12, 2007 by lmharnisch

June 12, 1957 Los Angeles An illegal U-turn at Sunset Boulevard and Virgil Avenue at 1 a.m. led to the arrest of Charles Lawrence Dahlquist, a 6-foot-5, 211-pound fugitive from Chicago wanted for questioning in the sex slayings of three … Continue reading →

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Paul V. Coates–Confidential File

Posted on June 11, 2007 by lmharnisch

June 11, 1957 Our national concern for the plight of soldier William Girard has, from the start, struck me as oddly misplaced. As well as I can understand it, we’re upset because the United States has failed to stand behind … Continue reading →

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Suicide note

Posted on June 9, 2007 by lmharnisch

  June 9, 1957 Los Angeles James R. Shepard decided it was better to kill himself than be prosecuted for a crime so shameful that it could not be published in The Times. A few hours after  the 32-year-old insurance … Continue reading →

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Paul V. Coates–Confidential File

Posted on June 8, 2007 by lmharnisch

June 8, 1957 Maxwell Spencer knows more drunks, habitual and occasional, than most men know sober people. But he is a man of strong constitution. So far, he hasn’t permitted his associations to drag him down the neck of a … Continue reading →

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Cop molests girl

Posted on June 6, 2007 by lmharnisch

  June 6, 1957 Los Angeles Former vice squad Detective Sgt. Philip Barnes was convicted of molesting a 13-year-old girl, according to The Times. Barnes, of 3811 W. Avenue 41, presented an unusual challenge to prosecutors. Because he waived his … Continue reading →

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