Category Archives: Homicide

Gangster Killed in Ambush

Posted on December 17, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Gov. Brown cites a projected $70-million surplus, says he'll propose no new taxes. Fred Whalen admits hitting Tony Reno, who was sitting with Mickey Cohen at Rondelli's restaurant when Whalen's son, Jack, was killed.   Dean “The Love Bug” … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Homicide, Sports | Comments Off on Gangster Killed in Ambush

Shooting Victim’s Father Accused of Seeking Revenge

Posted on December 16, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Tony Reno says he was attacked by Fred Whalen, the father of shooting victim Jack “the Enforcer” Whalen. Dec. 16, 1959: Vice President Richard Nixon holds a wide margin among Republican voters over all other GOP contenders in the … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Homicide, Mickey Cohen, Richard Nixon | Comments Off on Shooting Victim’s Father Accused of Seeking Revenge

Iran Welcomes President Eisenhower

Posted on December 14, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Elizabeth Taylor is out of the hospital … And The Times prepares to announce its Women of the Year.  Teresa "Terry" Kincheloe, 6, is learning "the domestic arts." She likes to dry the dishes, helps her mother in the … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, Politics, Sports | 1 Comment

Man Dies in Treatment for Freckles

Posted on December 11, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Knox hats and caps at Alexander and Oviatt. Dec. 14, 1919: George Blaha was given a fatal dose of chloroform by his mother-in-law? Dec. 17, 1919: An unusually large amount of chloroform and carbolic acid was found in Blaha’s … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, health, Homicide | Comments Off on Man Dies in Treatment for Freckles

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 10, 1959

Posted on December 10, 2009 by lmharnisch

Christmas Story It's about that time again so, as the saying goes, let's see if we can jerk a few tears.     A couple with four children have been in serious financial difficulty since the father was injured recently and … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Food and Drink, Homicide, Religion | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Dec. 10, 1959

Grand Jury Hears Testimony in Whalen Killing

Posted on December 10, 2009 by lmharnisch

Mickey Cohen says: "I'm a lover, not a fighter." Sandy Hashagen says going steady with Mickey Cohen for 14 days gave her a police record and cost her a job as a dancer in Las Vegas.. Adjusted for inflation, these … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, #opera, classical music, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, Mickey Cohen, Sports | Comments Off on Grand Jury Hears Testimony in Whalen Killing

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 8, 1959

Posted on December 8, 2009 by lmharnisch

      Crankcase Breather     As you may have read, the Automobile Manufacturers Assn. a few days ago announces the development of a device which would eliminate "substantial" amounts of smog-causing auto exhaust.     The fumes, it stated, would be … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Homicide, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Dec. 8, 1959

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 7, 1959

Posted on December 7, 2009 by lmharnisch

  The Rainbow's End     One by one the old landmarks are disappearing.  Last week the Rainbow, with its old-fashioned mahogany bar, folded.     The shabby Rainbow was known in bat cave circles as the saloon that cared.  Great men … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Homicide, LAPD, Matt Weinstock, Suicide | 2 Comments

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Dec. 5, 1959

Posted on December 5, 2009 by lmharnisch

Mash Notes and Comment       "Mr. Coates:     "In your column of last Wednesday, you delved into the timely issue of 'Is TV on the Up-and-Up?'     "You suggested, rather broadly, that maybe it isn't.     "You cited Desi … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Front Pages, Homicide, LAPD, Mickey Cohen, San Fernando Valley | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Dec. 5, 1959

Cohen Freed in Slaying

Posted on December 5, 2009 by lmharnisch

Akron has Terri Lee dolls!  Dec. 5, 1959: And on the third day, The Times puts the Jack Whalen killing inside. Those $15 ties from Oviatt's would cost $109.61 in 2008 dollars. There really was a pink submarine like the … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Homicide, Mickey Cohen, Sports | 1 Comment

Dime Novels Blamed in Death of Teenager

Posted on December 5, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 5, 1909: Claude Williams, 16, of Cannelton, Ind., kills 13-year-old James Hall and escapes to Kentucky. Williams is a reader of dime novels.

Posted in books, Homicide | 1 Comment

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 3, 1959

Posted on December 3, 2009 by lmharnisch

      Book Banning     In 1946 two Los Angeles booksellers were arrested for selling copies of Edmund Wilson's "Memoirs of Hecate County," which had been banned.  The book was ruled obscene and they were convicted.    Now, 13 years later, … Continue reading →

Posted in books, broadcasting, Columnists, Homicide, LAPD, Matt Weinstock, Television | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Dec. 3, 1959

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Dec. 3, 1959

Posted on December 3, 2009 by lmharnisch

  The Mirror brings out an extra on killing of Jack “the Enforcer” Whalen.   Google maps’ street view of 13359 Ventura Blvd., site of Rondelli's restaurant. On the Togetherness of Police, Pawnshops     Today's lesson is how to have … Continue reading →

Posted in Comics, Food and Drink, Front Pages, Homicide, Mickey Cohen, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Dec. 3, 1959

Jack ‘the Enforcer’ Whalen Killed

Posted on December 3, 2009 by lmharnisch

  The Times brings out an extra on Whalen’s death. Photograph by the Los Angeles Times The body of Jack “the Enforcer” Whalen lies on the floor on Rondelli’s restaurant.   TALES FROM THE GANGSTER SQUAD Death of 'the Enforcer' … Continue reading →

Posted in Homicide, LAPD, Mickey Cohen | Comments Off on Jack ‘the Enforcer’ Whalen Killed

Body Found in Well

Posted on December 1, 2009 by lmharnisch

Officers try to retrieve a body from an abandoned well at Coyote Pass. As nearly as I can determine from the clips, this is the general area of Coyote Pass. Times stories say Garvey Avenue went through the pass, now … Continue reading →

Posted in Homicide | Comments Off on Body Found in Well

November 27, 1964: Secretary Found Stabbed to Death in the ‘Thanksgiving’ Murder

Posted on November 27, 2009 by lmharnisch

November 27, 1964: The death of Joyce Gayle Walker is one of the more haunting killings of the 1960s. I’m not sure it was ever solved. I can’t find any follow-up stories on it.

Posted in 1964, Front Pages, Homicide, Jack Smith | 1 Comment

November 26, 1959: Paul V. Coates – Confidential File

Posted on November 26, 2009 by lmharnisch

Nothing So Dread as He With Fanatic Eye It’s my guess that E.B. (Jet) Simrell — the 46-year-old ex-market owner who surrendered to the FBI yesterday after having threatened the lives of seven judges — figures he’s got one big … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Homicide, Paul Coates | Comments Off on November 26, 1959: Paul V. Coates – Confidential File

Nov. 22, 1963

Posted on November 22, 2009 by lmharnisch
Posted in Front Pages, Homicide, Politics | 2 Comments

Found on EBay – Ann Toth Letters

Posted on November 19, 2009 by lmharnisch

  A lot of letters written to Ann Toth, who was the roommate of Elizabeth Short – the Black Dahlia, were listed on EBay. The vendor carefully noted that the letters were from the 1950s to the 1970s, rather than … Continue reading →

Posted in Homicide, LAPD | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Ann Toth Letters

November 18, 1959: Paul V. Coates – Confidential File

Posted on November 18, 2009 by lmharnisch

As Senators Write to Indignant Taxpayers While we’re all gathered here together, in this smoke-filled room, I’d like to say a few words in behalf of politicians. They are our friends.  Behind that stodgy facade that they put up, they’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in 1959, Columnists, Downtown, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD, Parks and Recreation, Paul Coates | Comments Off on November 18, 1959: Paul V. Coates – Confidential File