Category Archives: Crime and Courts

Pioneering African American Attorney Walter L. Gordon Jr. Honored

Posted on June 24, 2011 by lmharnisch

Walter L. Gordon Jr., left, and Judge William C. Beverly Jr. This week, the UCLA library honored the 103rd birthday Walter L. Gordon Jr., one of the pioneering African American attorneys in Los Angeles. Judge William C. Beverly Jr. was … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Architecture, Crime and Courts, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Libraries, Museums, Nightclubs, Photography | Tagged #1940s, #courts, #gays and lesbians, #libraries, #nightclubs, #photography, architecture | Comments Off

Architectural Rambling – The Van Griffith Estate

Posted on June 22, 2011 by lmharnisch

The Times Sunday Business section featured the former home of Van M. Griffith (d. 1974), the son of Griffith Park donor Colonel Griffith J. Griffith. (For some reason, the early stories in The Times refer to him as “Dan Griffith” … Continue reading →

Posted in 1925, Architecture, City Hall, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Obituaries, Politics, Real Estate, World War II | Tagged #1925, #City Hall, #LAPD, Architecture, architecture, crime and courts, lapd | 2 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on June 20, 2011 by lmharnisch

Eve Golden describes herself as: a biographer, show-business historian, photo archivist and obituary writer. And a haughty dowager. Queen of the Dead—dateline June 18, 2011 • Mildred Wolf, who played piano accompaniment to silent films, died on June 5 at … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Crime and Courts, Eve Golden, Fashion, Film, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender | Tagged architecture | 3 Comments

For Sale: Billy the Kid [Updated +]

Posted on June 18, 2011 by lmharnisch

[Update: The tintype sold for $2.3 million. The Denver Post identifies the buyer as retired industrialist William Koch. Quoting the Post: “I love the Old West,” said William Koch , 71, who now lives in Palm Beach, Fla. “I plan … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Photography | 3 Comments

Los Angeles Tattoo Shops, 1943

Posted on June 17, 2011 by lmharnisch

This is one of my favorite discoveries from the city archives, a description of tattoo shops in Los Angeles by an anonymous citizen. Los Angeles City Council File 15670 September 2, 1943 Dear Sir, I recently made an investigation of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Art & Artists, City Hall, Crime and Courts, Downtown, Libraries, Photography, World War II | 5 Comments

LAPD End of Watch, June 16, 1935

Posted on June 16, 2011 by lmharnisch

The daily NewsWatch of the Los Angeles Police Protective League honors the anniversaries of LAPD officers killed in the line of duty. For June 16,the union honors Alfred C. “Scotty” Madon, a motorcycle officer who was fatally injured on June … Continue reading →

Posted in 1935, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Obituaries | Tagged crime and courts, lapd | Comments Off

The Daily Mirror Is Moving

Posted on June 16, 2011 by lmharnisch

I’m moving to LADailyMirror.com Henry Fuhrmann, one of the assistant managing editors at The Times, likes to say: “Always take the high road. The view is nicer up there.” Henry is my friend, as well as my supervisor, and he … Continue reading →

Posted in Countdown to Watts, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, UFOs, World War II | 23 Comments

LAPD End of Watch, June 15, 1920

Posted on June 15, 2011 by lmharnisch

Dec. 23, 1915: LAPD motorcycle officers take delivery of 37 new Indian motorcycles, capable of 75 mph. The daily NewsWatch of the Los Angeles Police Protective League always honors the anniversaries of LAPD officers killed in the line of duty. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1911, 1915, 1920, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Obituaries, San Fernando Valley, Streetcars, Transportation | Tagged crime and courts, lapd | Comments Off

Mack Ray Edwards’ Legacy of Grief

Posted on June 14, 2011 by lmharnisch

Note: The Times is reporting that Mack Ray Edwards is a suspect in the 1961 disappearance of 7-year-old Ramona Price outside Santa Barbara. Here’s a 1959 column that Paul Coates wrote about one of Edwards’ victims. Today marks an anniversary that … Continue reading →

Posted in 1957, 1959, Columnists, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD, Paul Coates | 1 Comment

End of Watch, June 13, 1991

Posted on June 13, 2011 by lmharnisch

LAPD Officer Charles Randall “Randy” Champe LAPD Officer Gary Alan Howe The daily NewsWatch of the Los Angeles Police Protective League always honors the anniversaries of LAPD officers killed in the line of duty. For June 13, the union features … Continue reading →

Posted in 1991, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Obituaries | Tagged crime and courts, lapd | Comments Off

Immigrants Overwhelm San Diego!

Posted on June 13, 2011 by lmharnisch

San Diego has everything a family might want: A moderate climate and jobs in the expanding defense industries. But there’s no place to live. Rep. John H. Tolan (D-Oakland) is holding hearings in San Diego on the plight of migrants … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Environment, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, Immigration, LAPD, San Diego, Transportation, World War II | Tagged 1947, black dahlia, cold cases, lapd | 1 Comment

Mayor Accuses LAPD of Spying on Political Supporters

Posted on June 9, 2011 by lmharnisch

June 9, 1961: Mayor-elect Sam Yorty comes out swinging, with charges that the LAPD was spying on his supporters, and he takes a little shot against The Times. Police Chief William H. Parker quickly disputed Yorty’s allegations, saying they were … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1961, art and artists, Comics, Countdown to Watts, Crime and Courts, LAPD | Comments Off

‘Hunchback Killer’ Arrested, June 8, 1941

Posted on June 8, 2011 by lmharnisch

June 8, 1941: For some time, I have been coming across stories about Alfred Horace Wells in going through the 1941 clips — “hunchback killer” is not a nickname that’s easy to forget. But I haven’t done anything on him … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1941, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, Lee Shippey, Tom Treanor | 2 Comments

Police Chief on His Way Out

Posted on June 6, 2011 by lmharnisch

June 6, 1941: Police Chief Arthur Hohmann and Deputy Chief C.B. “Jack” Horrall are about to trade jobs. Horrall will remain chief through World War II and into the postwar period, finally retiring during the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, City Hall, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Lee Shippey, Tom Treanor | 1 Comment

June 4, 1941: Burbank Man Invents Death Ray!

Posted on June 4, 2011 by lmharnisch

June 4, 1941: I’ll admit I’m a sucker for stories about death rays. Evidently The Times’ editors were too since they put this item on Page 1. Promoter Kurt Van Zuyle credited L.E. Riley of Burbank as the inventor. It … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1941, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Death Rays, Film, Hollywood, Lee Shippey, Tom Treanor | Comments Off

From the Stacks – ‘Facts You Should Know About California’

Posted on June 3, 2011 by lmharnisch

Since March, when I examined Louis Adamic’s “The Truth About Los Angeles,” I have been hunting the other pamphlets he wrote for E. Haldeman-Julius. A box of a dozen musty tracts arrived Friday, courtesy of EBay, and I … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1927, 1928, books, Crime and Courts, From the Stacks, Hollywood, Zombie Reading List | 3 Comments

Jim Murray, June 1, 1961

Posted on June 1, 2011 by lmharnisch

June 1, 1961: Among those celebrating the convictions of Blinky Palermo and Frankie Carbo is a Boyle Heights prizefight manager named Harry Shall. Harry gave the government a chance to throw the book at Blinky … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, #Jim Murray, 1961, boxing, Columnists, Crime and Courts, Sports | Comments Off

Yorty Elected Mayor!

Posted on June 1, 2011 by lmharnisch

June 1, 1961: Sam Yorty defeats Norris Poulson in the mayor’s race. Poulson says one reason for his loss was the Memorial Day riot in Griffith Park in which a mob of African Americans … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1961, art and artists, Comics, Countdown to Watts, Crime and Courts, Front Pages, LAPD, Parks and Recreation | Comments Off

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, May 31, 1941

Posted on May 31, 2011 by lmharnisch

May 31, 1941 – Arthur Hohmann, the LAPD’s reform police chief, will step down in June, citing the deaths of his son and his mother. He was replaced by Clemence C.B. “Jack” Horrall, who served as … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, City Hall, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Lee Shippey, Tom Treanor, World War II | Comments Off

Jimmie Fidler, May 26, 1941

Posted on May 26, 2011 by lmharnisch

May 26, 1941: PITTSBURGH, May 25 (AP) — A man's leg was found along the Ohio River at suburban Moon Township tonight and detectives seeking the remainder of the body said it was probably "another … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1941, art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, Lee Shippey, Tom Treanor, World War II | Comments Off