Category Archives: Homicide

Through the Lens – the Finch Case

Posted on January 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

 Photograph by Edward Gamer / Los Angeles Times May 21, 1960: Regular correspondent Howard Decker asked if the Daily Mirror could publish some photos from the Finch case. This is defendant Carole Tregoff, who went through many outfits and changes … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Homicide, Photography | 1 Comment

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on January 22, 2010 by lmharnisch

     Jan. 22, 1960 – Hedda Hopper says: “Jerry Wald's finally got his "Return to Peyton Place" players all set: Joan Crawford plays the mother-in-law who plans the murder of her daughter-in-law, Carol Lynley, who gets wind of the … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Homicide | 1 Comment

‘Onion Field’ Killing Revisited

Posted on January 22, 2010 by lmharnisch

March 13, 1963, Jimmy Lee Smith reenacts the killing of Officer  Ian Campbell. March 12, 1963:  "Ex-convict Jimmy Lee Smith stood in a Kern County onion field Monday and acted out his version of how an unarmed policeman was slain … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, books, Homicide, LAPD | 2 Comments

Forgery Charged in Finch Trial

Posted on January 22, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Jan. 22, 1960: The prosecution alleges that Dr. R. Bernard Finch forged his wife’s signature to a check for $3,000 [$21,576.68 USD 2008] three days after Finch allegedly beat and threatened to kill his wife and two … Continue reading →

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Trial Takes Its Toll

Posted on January 21, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Jan. 21, 1960: The Mirror's Lee Belser, at right with Otto the clown in a 1958 photo, takes a savage look at how Carole Tregoff’s appearance has changed since she was arrested in the Finch murder case. She said: … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Homicide | 1 Comment

Finch Defense Attacks Murder for Hire Plot

Posted on January 21, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Sen. Everett Dirksen (R-Ill.) praises President Eisenhower on the anniversary of his first inauguration, saying that Eisenhower and Vice President Richard Nixon had brought to the country a "deeply inspired" administration "that had reversed the course of government intrusion … Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock, Jan. 20, 1960

Posted on January 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Nobody's Home     A lady I know received two warning calls in quick succession the other day from neighbors.  Their breathlessness message: "Don't answer the door — the tax assessor's on the way to your house!"  The second neighbor … Continue reading →

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Man Says Woman Paid Him to Kill Lover’s Wife

Posted on January 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

The killer was supposed to say: “Tell her this is from Bernie!” The witness said he was “drinking heavily that day.” Jan. 20, 1960: “A suave and smooth-talking convict testified yesterday that Carole Tregoff hired him to kill Mrs. Barbara … Continue reading →

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Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Jan. 19, 1960

Posted on January 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Son's Not Quite Like Dad, but He's a Todd     Hollywood, U.S.A. — The shadow of a showman slipped into town this week.     His name was Mike Todd, with a Jr. tacked on the end, and he came … Continue reading →

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Plot Alleged in Finch Killing

Posted on January 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Donald Williams testifies about a murder-for-hire plot in the Finch killing. Sen. Hubert Humphrey (D-Minn.) challenges Vice President Nixon to a series of debates with potential Democratic candidates.   “Cash McCall” is opening in Los Angeles. Jan. 19, 1960: … Continue reading →

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Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Jan. 18, 1960

Posted on January 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Coates Views the Funny Side of Nixon     NEWS ITEM (Hank Grant's column, Hollywood Reporter) — "Writer Tony Webster's been approached to pen gags for Richard Nixon's campaign speeches."     I'm no Criswell, but I can make a prediction … Continue reading →

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Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Jan. 15, 1960

Posted on January 15, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Encounter With a Pencil Salesman     Mike was the old man's name.  He had no teeth, one good arm and legs that stopped at the knees.     He came out of the rain yesterday afternoon, into my office.     … Continue reading →

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LSU Dean Held in Killing of Professor

Posted on January 15, 2010 by lmharnisch

Investigators say Julian A. Frank, 32, insured himself for a National Airlines flight that crashed Jan. 6, killing 34 people. Evidence suggests that Frank may have set off a bomb. Now this is interesting — someone deleted the name of … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Education, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, Sports | 1 Comment

Steve Hodel to Mark Anniversary of Black Dahlia Killing

Posted on January 14, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Steve Hodel, whose father, Dr. George Hodel, has been turned into a serial killer franchise, will be appearing at the Los Angeles Police Historical Society Museum on Jan. 15, the 63rd anniversary of the killing of Elizabeth Short, nicknamed … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Homicide, LAPD | 3 Comments

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Jan. 14, 1960

Posted on January 14, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Ahead of My Time     The thing about me you really ought to know is that I am ahead of my time.     I read "Lady Chatterley's Lover" even before Postmaster Gen. Summerfield discovered that it was dirty.     … Continue reading →

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Suspect Held in Girl’s Abduction, Killing

Posted on January 14, 2010 by lmharnisch

Art Buchwald talks to Gregory Corso on the rise of the Beats. "This is going to be a great age," Corso says. "I can feel it. If we can only get some beatniks in the armies of the world we … Continue reading →

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Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Jan. 13, 1960

Posted on January 13, 2010 by lmharnisch

Issue Was Other Than Brotherhood     I lost a job the other day.     It wasn't a big job, but it did have prestige.  I was invited to be a judge in an essay contest for the high school students … Continue reading →

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Victim Predicted Killing, Lawyer Says

Posted on January 13, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Jan. 13, 1960: "She told me something would have to be done because she knew that Dr. Finch was going to kill her," according to her divorce attorney, Joseph T. Forno. "In fact she described exactly how it was … Continue reading →

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Murder Trial Attracts Crowds

Posted on January 12, 2010 by lmharnisch

  A detective describes finding blood in the car driven by victim Barbara Jean Finch. Jan. 12, 1960: The trial of Dr. R. Bernard Finch and Carole Tregoff attracts long lines of spectators, and some of them are regulars. But … Continue reading →

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Woman Blames Movie Violence for Attempt to Kill Family

Posted on January 12, 2010 by lmharnisch

Jan. 12, 1910: Freed killer Alma Bell went to see a movie about a woman who stabs her boyfriend and attempts suicide. Afterward, she tried to shoot the family that had taken her in.  Nov. 17, 1909: Alma Bell is … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Front Pages, Homicide, Transportation | 1 Comment