Category Archives: Crime and Courts

Jan. 26, 1961, Paul Coates

Posted on January 26, 2011 by lmharnisch

       Jan. 26, 1961: Paul Coates has the latest example of the recurring stories the Mirror published about petty intimidation by LAPD officers, under Chief William H. Parker, particularly traffic officers.  ALSO Justice Strained

Posted in #courts, Columnists, Crime and Courts, Downtown, Front Pages, Matt Weinstock, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Jan. 26, 1961, Paul Coates

Wife Seeks Divorce After Learning Mother-in-Law is Black

Posted on January 25, 2011 by lmharnisch

           Jan. 25, 1911: Divorce proceedings reveal the peculiar tale of Elda P. Kenny/Kenney and her husband, Robert. The Kenneys married in Cleveland in 1902 and moved to Los Angeles shortly thereafter, The Times says. In … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Countdown to Watts, Crime and Courts | 7 Comments

Paul Coates, Jan. 24, 1961

Posted on January 24, 2011 by lmharnisch

       Jan. 24, 1961: Paul Coates uses the kidnapping and death of Rose Marie Riddle, 6, to explore the story of another young victim of a child molester.

Posted in Columnists, Crime and Courts, Front Pages, Paul Coates, Suicide | 3 Comments

Another Good Story Ruined – The Black Dahlia

Posted on January 21, 2011 by lmharnisch

Here we have another popular faked picture of Elizabeth Short. The image on the left is genuine, as far as I know. The bizarre image on the right has been flopped and retouched.  ALSO Another Good Story Ruined – The … Continue reading →

Posted in Another Good Story Ruined, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD, Photography | Comments Off on Another Good Story Ruined – The Black Dahlia

Another Good Story Ruined – The Black Dahlia

Posted on January 19, 2011 by lmharnisch

    I was talking about the Black Dahlia case the other day to someone who pulled up this picture on a cellphone. Looks great, doesn’t it? But it’s a fake.  Here, I’ll show you. ALSO Another Good Story Ruined … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Another Good Story Ruined, books, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Photography | 3 Comments

Death Reveals ‘Burglar’ Is Suspicious Husband in Disguise

Posted on January 18, 2011 by lmharnisch

            Jan. 18, 1911: Jealousy takes a tragic turn in Long Beach as a suspicious husband tries to catch his wife cheating on him with a house guest and is shot to death when the … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Countdown to Watts, Crime and Courts, Homicide, Long Beach | Comments Off on Death Reveals ‘Burglar’ Is Suspicious Husband in Disguise

Paul Coates, Jan. 16, 1961

Posted on January 16, 2011 by lmharnisch

Jan. 16, 1961: Paul Coates has a first-rate interview with a man he calls Gramps, a man in his 70s who has been a drug addict for most of his life.

Posted in Columnists, Crime and Courts, Front Pages, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul Coates, Jan. 16, 1961

In Remembrance, Elizabeth Short

Posted on January 15, 2011 by lmharnisch

The Daily Mirror is dark today.

Posted in #courts, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD | Comments Off on In Remembrance, Elizabeth Short

Black Politics in L.A.

Posted on January 14, 2011 by lmharnisch

    Charles H. Matthews, African American member of the Police Commission, at a 1946 meeting. I was intrigued by the remark on L.A. Observed, quoting the Root, “According to historian Raphael J. Sonenshein, ‘No African-American, Latino or Jewish person … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Crime and Courts, Education, LAPD | Comments Off on Black Politics in L.A.

USC Fraternity Pledges Stealing Hotel Spittoons!

Posted on January 13, 2011 by lmharnisch

        Jan. 13, 1911: The population of Los Angeles is 319,198, The Times says. In our bustling city, USC fraternity pledges are caught stealing spittoons from hotels …  a post office official is accused of taking items … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, City Hall, Comics, Crime and Courts, Education, Fashion | Comments Off on USC Fraternity Pledges Stealing Hotel Spittoons!

Philip K. Scheuer, Town Called Hollywood, Jan. 12, 1941

Posted on January 12, 2011 by lmharnisch

        Jan. 12, 1941: Fantasound — by its own name or any other name — is here to stay, and Walt Disney is going right ahead with plans for it. I had a long talk with him … Continue reading →

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

L.A. Serial Killer Suspect Kills Himself in Jail

Posted on January 12, 2011 by lmharnisch

        Jan. 12, 1981: Vernon Butts, a suspect with William Bonin in the Freeway Killer case, hangs himself with a towel in his cell at the Los Angeles County Jail. He was 23.  People are struggling to … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Food and Drink, Homicide | Comments Off on L.A. Serial Killer Suspect Kills Himself in Jail

Another Good Story Ruined – The Black Dahlia

Posted on January 10, 2011 by lmharnisch

It is deceptively difficult to write with any degree of accuracy about the Black Dahlia case. Here’s a recent example of a mangled account by Scott McCabe of the Washington Examiner: On this day, Jan. 9, 1947, Elizabeth Short, anaspiring … Continue reading →

Posted in Another Good Story Ruined, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD | Comments Off on Another Good Story Ruined – The Black Dahlia

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 9, 1941

Posted on January 9, 2011 by lmharnisch

           Jan. 9, 1941: Sailor Pedro V. Rodriguez met Eva J. Sandstrum at a San Pedro cafe and after being invited to her home, had several drinks. However Rodriguez got tired of her repeated questions about … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Jimmie Fidler in Europe, Jan. 8, 1941

Posted on January 8, 2011 by lmharnisch

        Jan. 8, 1941: Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier, the “perfect lovers,” had an out-loud row just before sailing for Europe — and almost went in opposite directions, Jimmie Fidler says.  Keeping reading for more on the … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Columnists, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Europe, Jan. 8, 1941

Hollywood at War

Posted on January 8, 2011 by lmharnisch

        Studio executive Walter Wanger (d. 1968) describes how World War II is affecting the motion picture industry in this Nov. 15, 1942, article. He notes that movie audiences are increasing, and suggests that because of gas … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Huntington Beach Jane Doe, 1968

Posted on January 5, 2011 by lmharnisch

    My Google alert for “Black Dahlia” sent me to Tori Richards’ piece on an unsolved 1968 homicide being reopened by the Huntington Beach Police Department. Taking the case to the Internet has already dispelled decades of speculation that … Continue reading →

Posted in 1968, Crime and Courts, Homicide | Comments Off on Huntington Beach Jane Doe, 1968

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

Man Poses as Woman Golfer

Posted on January 4, 2011 by lmharnisch

       Jan. 4, 1921: Well isn’t this an awkward moment on the golf course!  Miss Eleanor Fox, a tall and dashing brunette, drives a ball 200 yards and loses her tam – and her luxurious tresses – revealing … Continue reading →

Posted in 1921, Crime and Courts, Fashion, Sports | Comments Off on Man Poses as Woman Golfer

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 →

Posted in #courts, 1961, Columnists, Crime and Courts, From the Vaults, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul Coates, Jan. 3, 1961