Category Archives: #courts

The Black Dahlia — Another Good Story Ruined

Posted on January 5, 2011 by lmharnisch

he anniversary of Elizabeth Short’s killing is Jan. 15, so I thought I would try to anticipate the annual rehash of fiction and mistakes with a post commenting on potential sources on the 1947 case.  People often ask me which … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, books, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD | 6 Comments

Paul Coates, Jan. 3, 1961

Posted on January 3, 2011 by lmharnisch

       Jan. 3, 1961: The Los Angeles-Long Beach metropolitan area surpasses Chicago as the second-largest urban area, although Chicago is still ranked the second city, census figures show.  … and Paul Coates writes about his “jail mail,” including … Continue reading →

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On the Frontiers of Fashion

Posted on January 3, 2011 by lmharnisch

        Jan. 3, 1936: Los Angeles County Superior Court judges begin wearing robes  at the suggestion of California Supreme Court Chief Justice William H. Waste. Not all judges like wearing robes and some continue to appear on … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1936, Crime and Courts, Fashion | 1 Comment

Paul Coates, Dec. 30, 1960

Posted on December 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Dec. 30, 1960: Academy Award winners Gale Sondergaard, Albert Maltz and Nedrick Young are among 12 Hollywood figures suing the studios over being blacklisted. The suit was brought by A.L. Wirin under the Sherman Antitrust Act. And Paul … Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock, Dec. 23, 1960

Posted on December 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Deck us all with Boston Charlie,Walla Walla, Washan' Kalamazoo… Nora's freezin' on the trolleySwaller dollar cauliflowerAlleygaroo! Dec. 23, 1960: One of the ugliest moments in the annals of the LAPD — the "Bloody Christmas" of 1951 — … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Matt Weinstock | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo — Updated

Posted on December 12, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo   Update: This is Thelma Todd and Inez Courtney in a photo stamped Nov. 7, 1932.     Jan. 4-11, 1936: If you’re sick of the Thelma Todd case by now, you … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Thelma Todd | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo — Updated II

Posted on December 7, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Photograph by the Los Angeles Times   Update: And here’s a mystery photo!  Update II: This is Zasu Pitts and John E. Woodall. Please congratulate Mary Mallory, Karen and Dennis Gilliam for identifying our mystery couple and … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography, Thelma Todd | 9 Comments

Paul Coates on Adolf Eichmann, Nov. 30, 1960

Posted on November 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

         Nov. 3,  1960: Israel's Atty. Gen. Gideon Hausner tells Paul Coates: "Revenge is not the motive of this trial. What we want to do is, once and for all, set before the world the fully documented … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Columnists, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Paul Coates | 2 Comments

Paul Coates on Adolf Eichmann’s Prison, Nov. 28, 1960

Posted on November 28, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Nov. 28, 1960: Paul Coates reports from Tel Aviv on the secret prison where Adolf Eichmann is being held. “Adolf Eichmann, the Gestapo butcher who engineered the coolly scientific slaughter of 6 million Jews, will be tried … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul Coates on Adolf Eichmann’s Prison, Nov. 28, 1960

November 23, 1960: Eichmann Tells Mass Murders

Posted on November 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

November 23, 1960: After reporting from the Soviet Union, Paul Coates is traveling to his next assignment: going to Israel to cover preparations for the upcoming Adolf Eichmann trial. Stay tuned…. On the jump, Maurice Zolotow has the story of … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood | 2 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Nov. 23, 1940

Posted on November 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Nov. 23, 1940: This is one of the more interesting L.A. corruption stories of the 1940s. Bugsy Siegel was getting out of jail, where he was in custody in the killing of Harry Greenberg, thanks to Dr. Benjamin … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Homicide | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Nov. 23, 1940

Dr. Crippen Is Hanged

Posted on November 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Nov. 23, 1910: Dr. Hawley Crippen is executed in London for killing his wife. “Only a small group of officials attended, and every effort had been made to prevent morbid crowds from gathering in the neighborhood,” The Times … Continue reading →

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Death in Miami

Posted on November 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

One magazine, October 1954 In August 1954, a couple parking at a North Miami “lovers lane” found the body of a 27-year-old man in a pool of blood.  About 500 yards away, police located a 1950 convertible with blood spatters … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, #gays and lesbians, 1954, Crime and Courts, Homicide | 6 Comments

A Victim of ‘Retrocephalitis’

Posted on November 15, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Nov. 15-17, 1910: Benjamin Sheppard was a large, powerful garbage worker, a victim of “retrocephalitis” that turned him into a “animal-man.” At least that’s what The Times reported. And yes, he was African American. "That Sheppard is a … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, health | 2 Comments

Woman’s Mutilated Body Buried in Backyard, 1910

Posted on November 5, 2010 by lmharnisch

              Eva Swan in the San Francisco Call   Sept. 24-Nov. 5, 1910: Newspapers of the era are full of stories about a particularly grotesque case involving San Francisco stenographer Eva Swan, who lingered … Continue reading →

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Death Threats Sent to Grand Jury Investigating Times Bombing

Posted on October 27, 2010 by lmharnisch

            Oct. 27-28, 1910: Threatening letters are sent to five members of the Los Angeles County Grand Jury investigating The Times bombing – or were they? The foreman of the grand jury tells the Herald … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1910 L.A. Times bombing, Fashion | Comments Off on Death Threats Sent to Grand Jury Investigating Times Bombing

Widowed by Hasty Words

Posted on October 25, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Oct. 25, 1910: Jessie Emery wanted her husband, Fred, to go to the store and get a bottle of milk and a loaf of bread for dinner. But he had a hard day and didn’t feel like … Continue reading →

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Victor the Flower Vendor

Posted on October 22, 2010 by lmharnisch

        Oct. 22, 1910: The LAPD cracks down on sidewalk peddlers and beggars outside the Merchants’ National Bank at 3rd and Spring streets. But what to do with Victor, the poor flower vendor?

Posted in #courts, Downtown, Fashion, LAPD | Comments Off on Victor the Flower Vendor

On the Frontiers of Technology

Posted on October 21, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Oct. 21, 1984: Superior Court Judge Lester E. Olson is the first to streamline his courtroom with computer technology! “Olson, who spent $10,000 [$20,382.85 USD 2009] on his computers with no thought of reimbursement, realizes that computerizing every … Continue reading →

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The Story of ‘Stiff-Neck Ben’

Posted on October 9, 2010 by lmharnisch

  I ran across a reference to “Stiff-Neck Ben” Boynton in the transcripts of the Clarence Darrow trial. In 1906, he was running the biggest poker game in town, according to The Times,  at 144 S. Main St. “In the … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Downtown | Comments Off on The Story of ‘Stiff-Neck Ben’