Category Archives: Crime and Courts

Crime Wave Sweeps L.A.

Posted on November 19, 2006 by lmharnisch

Nov. 19, 1907Los Angeles An influx of crooks, petty hoodlums and vagrants drawn by good weather and horse racing at Santa Anita are blamed for a siege of crime throughout the city. The jail is so crowded—300 being held in … Continue reading →

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Religious Recycling

Posted on November 18, 2006 by lmharnisch

Nov. 18, 1907South PasadenaCalvary Presbyterian Church at Center (now El Centro) and Fremont was dedicated in a service featuring prominent local religious leaders, including Dr. John Willis Baer, president of Occidental College.The Times notes that the original church building was … Continue reading →

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Deadlier Than Male

Posted on November 14, 2006 by lmharnisch

Sept. 19, 1907Los Angeles “Hidden somewhere in Los Angeles is a daredevil Spanish woman who should be standing with the Mexican revolutionaries when they are arraigned here in the United States Court,” The Times says. “Letters recently confiscated show that … Continue reading →

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Danger Point

Posted on November 1, 2006 by lmharnisch

Oct. 31, 1907Los Angeles John J. Mooney, 23, a Southern Pacific machinist who recently arrived from Butte, Mont., was aboard the West 2nd Street car on his way to be initiated in the Modern Woodmen of America when the brakes … Continue reading →

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Gilbert and Sullivan Said It Best

Posted on October 28, 2006 by lmharnisch

Oct. 28, 1907Los AngelesYou know the song even if you’ve never seen “Pirates of Penzance”: A policeman’s lot is not an easy one” and that is doubly true for one anonymous former LAPD chief.The ex-chief has nothing but complaints: “It … Continue reading →

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An American Education

Posted on October 19, 2006 by lmharnisch

Oct. 19, 1907Los AngelesOn a visit to Japan, K. Tsuneda of California met an attractive young woman named Toku. Telling her family that he was a wealthy Stanford student, Tsuneda married Toku and they embarked for the United States so … Continue reading →

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2 Die in Tong War

Posted on October 13, 2006 by lmharnisch

Oct. 13, 1907Los AngelesGunmen imported from out of town by the Hop Sing Tong entered the tailor shop of Lem Sing at 806 Juan St. in Chinatown and under the pretense of having some clothing made, wounded him when he … Continue reading →

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Bob Belden, Black Dahlia, "Genesis"

Posted on October 1, 2006 by lmharnisch
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Bob Belden, Black Dahlia

Posted on October 1, 2006 by lmharnisch
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Disharmony

Posted on September 26, 2006 by lmharnisch

Sept. 26, 1907Long Beach Marco Vessella, conductor of Long Beach’s Royal Italian Band, has had nothing but trouble with Special Officer W.D. Cason after firing him from his job as ticket taker. On one September evening, Vessella and a young … Continue reading →

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Brian De Palma’s ‘The Black Dahlia’

Posted on September 14, 2006 by lmharnisch

“The Black Dahlia,” directed by Brian De Palma, screenplay by Josh Friedman based on the novel by James Ellroy. Starring Josh Hartnett (Dwight “Bucky” Bleichert), Aaron Eckhart (Leeland “Lee” Blanchard), Scarlett Johansson (Kay Lake), Hillary Swank (Madeleine Linscott) and Mia … Continue reading →

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EBay Avenger

Posted on September 10, 2006 by lmharnisch

OK, I’ve had my fun with Ellroy’s copies of the “Avenger” books. The hardback stands at $38 and the paperback at $29. Despite my minimum bids, there is always the risk that I might end up with these turkeys! Good … Continue reading →

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A Flirtation Goes Awry

Posted on September 8, 2006 by lmharnisch

Sept. 8, 1907Los Angeles Jack Foster, a handsome, blond actor who is the toast of the vaudeville circuit, noticed a young lady standing at 3rd Street and Main after a show. Seeing that she was alone, Foster said: “Rather late … Continue reading →

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Interring the Short-Handled Log Implement

Posted on September 7, 2006 by lmharnisch

An incredibly curious thing happened yesterday. I’ve been taping segments for an “America’s Most Wanted” episode on the Black Dahlia and the producer called to see if they could get some shots of me in the Biltmore bar talking to … Continue reading →

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Outbid!

Posted on September 6, 2006 by lmharnisch

Gosh, I upped my bid on James Ellroy’s copies of “Black Dahlia Avenger” (the hardback and paperback) but was outbid. Darn. I’m going to do my best to get them over $25, though. Don’t you think primo Dahlia material is … Continue reading →

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The Little Devil

Posted on September 5, 2006 by lmharnisch

Sept. 5, 1907Los AngelesPoor old Mrs. Moore was ill, so instead of paying the grocer his monthly bill, she put a $10 gold piece in an envelope and told her 9-year-old son, Cecil, to take it to him. But Cecil, … Continue reading →

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Nooooo!!!

Posted on September 5, 2006 by lmharnisch

I couldn’t stand the thought of James Ellroy’s copies of “Black Dahlia Avenger” going for so little on EBay. After all, don’t people know the book has been optioned by New Line Cinema? Surely books that are inscribed to the … Continue reading →

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So Rude!

Posted on September 4, 2006 by lmharnisch

My goodness, one never knows what will turn up on Ebay. This morning I found a copy of “Black Dahlia Avenger” inscribed by Steve Hodel to James Ellroy, who wrote the introduction to the paperback, praising Hodel’s work and endorsing … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The Rich Owens Saga

Posted on August 22, 2006 by lmharnisch

Oklahoma City Feb. 27, 1948 Ray Parr’s story about Rich Owens, the longtime executioner at McAlester State Penitentiary, has been knocking around my home office for ages, passed along by a former co-worker many years ago. Writing for the Daily … Continue reading →

Posted in 1948, Crime and Courts | 3 Comments

The Bucket of Blood

Posted on August 13, 2006 by lmharnisch

Aug. 12-13, 1907Los AngelesDespite the name Bismarck Cafe, police call the saloon at Main and Winston Streets the Bucket of Blood because it’s a continual source of crime and violence.It is a place, The Times says, “of drunken debauchery among … Continue reading →

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