Category Archives: Crime and Courts

Black Dahlia: 6 Reasons Dr. George Hodel Didn’t Kill Elizabeth Short — No. 1 Not a Prime Suspect

Posted on December 19, 2018 by lmharnisch

Here are six reasons Dr. George Hodel did not kill Elizabeth Short that you will need to know before watching the TNT mini-series “I Am the Night” or listening to the eight-part podcast accompanying the production. Reason No. 1: Dr. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, 1949, 1950, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Dec. 19, 1907: No, None of It Was His Fault

Posted on December 19, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Dec. 19, 1907 Los Angeles What you have to understand first about George White is that he isn’t to blame. Oh he’ll take his prison sentence for robbing the Hot Rivet Saloon, … Continue reading →

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A Walk in L.A., 1951

Posted on December 18, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a video I made in 2005 using clips from a police training film.

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Dec. 18, 1907: County Coroner Dead Drunk at Bordello

Posted on December 18, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Dec. 18, 1907 Los Angeles Los Angeles County Coroner Roy S. Lanterman was arrested on charges of being drunk and disorderly at the Navajo, a bordello run by Ida Hastings, 309 Ord … Continue reading →

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Dec. 17, 1947: Frightening Food From the 1940s — ‘Unusual’ Fruitcake

Posted on December 17, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project..   Bonus factoid: The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upholds a $2,500 fine against Hollywood book dealer Marcell Rodd for selling the obscene book “Call House … Continue reading →

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Dec. 16, 1947: Back Broken and Skull Fractured, Girl, 2 Dies of Abuse; Mother Gets 10 Years in Prison

Posted on December 16, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. Somewhere, there’s 57-year-old man; maybe his name is Steven, or maybe his foster parents changed it. He doesn’t know much about himself except that his birthday … Continue reading →

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L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide

Posted on December 14, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: “Little Shoes,” about the murders of three little girls, may not be everybody’s idea of an appropriate holiday gift, but it is more than a “true crime” book. In “Little Shoes” Pamela Everett explores her family’s tragic history in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1937, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, Homicide | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

December 12, 1907: The .45-Caliber Newspaper Ombudsman

Posted on December 11, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. December 12, 1907 Los Angeles via the Associated Press Goldfield, Nev.—J. Holtman Buck, editor of the Western Nevada Miner in Mina, Nev., shot Francis L. Burton to death during a fight over … Continue reading →

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1920: Police Raid Party at Ex-Mayor’s Home, Arrest 7 Men in Drag

Posted on December 10, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Dec. 10,1907 Los Angeles Mayor Arthur C. Harper happens to be in all sorts of trouble. He’s telling the newspapers that he has had enough of politics and won’t seek another term. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, 1909, 1912, City Hall, Crime and Courts, Downtown, LAPD, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Dec. 2, 1938: California’s First Use of Gas Chamber Horrifies Witnesses; Hanging Is ‘Quicker and Better’

Posted on December 9, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project.   The Times editorialized: Kessel and Cannon were two of five convicts who twisted a wire around the warden’s neck and dragged him into the prison … Continue reading →

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Dec. 9, 1907: Black LAPD Officer Blames Firing on Racism, Rejoins Fire Department

Posted on December 9, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Dec. 9, 1907 Los Angeles Mayor Harper has restored E.J. Bowen to his old job in the Fire Department after the rookie police officer was fired for allegedly being a coward—a charge … Continue reading →

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Follies Theater’s 1927 ‘Hot Mamma’ Show Led Court to Overturn Law on ‘Indecent Shows’

Posted on December 9, 2018 by lmharnisch

A EBay vendor posted this photo of a woman named Aline or Alene Carberry, and I could not resist unleashing the hounds of research. Bidding on the “Hot Mamma” photo is currently at $34.50.

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Dec, 7, 2006: Note to "Dahlia Avenger" Fans

Posted on December 7, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Here’s a publicity still of “Maddy” Comfort from “Kiss Me Deadly” for sale on EBay. Her name is also spelled “Mattie” and “Mady.” Comfort is referred to in the Los Angeles County … Continue reading →

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Dec. 7, 1907: Morris Buck Hanged for Killing Mrs. Canfield, Former Employer

Posted on December 7, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Dec. 7, 1907 Los Angeles “I asked if she received the letter. She said she had. I asked her if she would loan me a sum of money to be paid back … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, 1908, 1911, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Streetcars | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Dec. 5, 1907: Man Accused of Scheme in Selling Daughter to Gypsies

Posted on December 5, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Dec. 5, 1907 St. Louis A Los Angeles couple have a novel way of making money: Antonio Thompson and his wife sell their daughter Marie to the Gypsies, then go to court … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Crime and Courts, LAPD | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

December 1947: Youths, Bored With Hunting Squirrels, Shot at Each Other – Then One of Them Died

Posted on December 4, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and original appeared on the 1947project. Facing a possible accusation of involuntary manslaughter, Jack L. Modisett, 17, of 1717 N. Avenue 53, was removed to Ventura on an open charge yesterday after … Continue reading →

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Dec. 4, 1907: Shooting on Baldwin Ranch Raises Tensions Between Chinese, Latino Workers

Posted on December 4, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Dec. 4, 1907 Arcadia Charley Chew, the water superintendent on the Lucky Baldwin ranch, had fired two Mexican workers several months ago and one dark night near the Unruh residence, they ambushed … Continue reading →

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December 1947: Son Uses Coin Telescope at Point Fermin to Spot Body of Missing Father

Posted on December 3, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. Herbert’s mother phoned him on Monday because his father, Fritz, was missing from their home at 3703 W. Bluff Place in San Pedro. Herbert told police … Continue reading →

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Dec. 3, 1907: Gunman Kills LAPD Officer; Dies in Slow Agony Awaiting the Gallows

Posted on December 3, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Dec. 3, 1907 Los Angeles Officer Patrick Lyons had been on the force for four months when he was shot in the head while trying to arrest two robbers a little after … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD, Streetcars, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Nov. 30, 1907: Witness Against Mexican Revolutionaries Poisoned!

Posted on November 30, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Nov. 30, 1907 Los Angeles A secret witness in the trial of the Mexican revolutionaries—kept under close guard because his life has been threatened—went into convulsions shortly after eating a meal that … Continue reading →

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