Category Archives: Homicide

December 11, 1938: Breakfast of death; voodoo cult killings

Posted on December 11, 2008 by lmharnisch

December 10, 1938: I defy anyone to insist that the past was “a kinder, simpler time” after reading this page. But don’t take my word for it — see for yourself.

Posted in #courts, 1938, Food and Drink, Front Pages, Homicide, LAPD | Comments Off on December 11, 1938: Breakfast of death; voodoo cult killings

Cult members describe bombing, December 11, 1958

Posted on December 11, 2008 by lmharnisch

"Venta will return and be resurrected." Known as "the barefoot people." Above, followers of Krishna Venta describe life at the Fountain of the World religious compound and the bombing that killed 10 people. "A tower of blue and white flame … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, Current Affairs, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, Religion, San Fernando Valley, Suicide | Comments Off on Cult members describe bombing, December 11, 1958

Cult leader killed in bombing of religious compound, December 10, 1958

Posted on December 10, 2008 by lmharnisch

American history presented as a lavish pageant, the only film directed by Anthony Quinn, who took over from the ailing  Cecil B. DeMille. With a great score by Elmer Bernstein. An ad published in The Times shortly before the explosion. … Continue reading →

Posted in Front Pages, Homicide, Religion, San Fernando Valley, Suicide | 2 Comments

December 2, 1958: Model stabbed, dumped off mountain highway

Posted on December 5, 2008 by lmharnisch

People v. Feasby (1960) 178 Cal.App.2d 723 [3 Cal.Rptr. 230] [Crim. No. 6783.Second Dist., Div. Three. Mar. 9, 1960.] THE PEOPLE, Respondent, v. GERALD BYRON FEASBY, Appellant. COUNSEL Ellery E. Cuff, Public Defender (Los Angeles), Richard S. Buckley and Richard … Continue reading →

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Killers die in gas chamber, December 3, 1938

Posted on December 3, 2008 by lmharnisch

"There’s nothing to it." — Robert Lee Cannon "So long." — Albert Kessel "That was the most terrible thing I’ve ever seen. I’ve witnessed 52 hangings. I could find nothing humane about it and I never want to watch anything … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Caryl Chessman, Front Pages, Homicide, Sports | 1 Comment

Found on EBay — Black Mask magazine

Posted on December 2, 2008 by lmharnisch

A copy of the May 1943 issue of Black Mask magazine has turned up on EBay. Bidding has started at $50, about average for an issue of this vintage. Note that UCLA Special Collections has a nearly complete collection of … Continue reading →

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Speeding train crushes school bus; UCLA gets new football coach, December 2, 1938

Posted on December 2, 2008 by lmharnisch

A truck carrying Christmas trees crashes into a streetcar … and a man is charged with buying a cougar cub at a pet store and killing it for the $75 bounty. Robert L. Cannon and Albert Kessel, sentenced to die … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, Sports, Transportation | 1 Comment

Found on EBay –Harvey Milk

Posted on December 1, 2008 by lmharnisch

The new movie about San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk has brought a bit a ephemera to EBay. Here’s the extra the San Francisco Examiner brought out the day of the shooting. Bidding started at $9.99 and rose quickly.     … Continue reading →

Posted in #gays and lesbians, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, Politics | Comments Off on Found on EBay –Harvey Milk

December 1, 1938: California prepares to execute two killers at San Quentin

Posted on December 1, 2008 by lmharnisch

The secret of Babe Ruth’s happy marriage: White Owl cigars. December 1, 1938: California prepares to use the gas chamber for executions rather than hanging.

Posted in #courts, 1938, @news, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD, Politics, Religion, Sports | 1 Comment

November 30, 1958: Former deputy strangles wife, kills himself as police close in

Posted on November 30, 2008 by lmharnisch

This is one of those stories where I wouldn’t change a word. We can only speculate as to who the anonymous rewrite man was, but he did a first-class job. All I can say is the obvious, which is that … Continue reading →

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Barbara Graham case revisited, November 28, 1958

Posted on November 28, 2008 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo. Murder victim Mabel Monahan. “As you went in the front door, what was the first thing that attracted your attention?” “Mrs. Graham was striking Mrs. Monahan in the face with a gun. She was standing … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, Film, Front Pages, Homicide, San Fernando Valley | 3 Comments

November 27, 1968: O.J. Simpson wins Heisman

Posted on November 27, 2008 by lmharnisch

O.J. Simpson won the Heisman Trophy as the best college football player of 1968 after a remarkable two-year USC career. Dwight Chapin’s story in The Times portrayed the lack of suspense–even Simpson said he was “pretty confident.” Who could blame … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, broadcasting, Current Affairs, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD, Sports, Television | 1 Comment

LAPD honors dead officer’s heroism, November 26, 1958

Posted on November 26, 2008 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2008. Police Sgt. Gene T. Nash died after a shootout with robbery suspects in an apartment house on Budlong just south of Adams. In a televised ceremony, Police Chief William H. Parker presented … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, Cemeteries, Front Pages, Homicide, LAPD, Television | Comments Off on LAPD honors dead officer’s heroism, November 26, 1958

November 23, 1938: Nuestro Pueblo — Lincoln Heights

Posted on November 23, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, Sam’s Lunch Room in 1938 and below, Avenue 19 via Google maps street view.  

Posted in #courts, Food and Drink, Homicide, LAPD, Nuestro Pueblo | Comments Off on November 23, 1938: Nuestro Pueblo — Lincoln Heights

November 22, 1958: Estranged wife kills jealous husband

Posted on November 22, 2008 by lmharnisch

In a confrontation over a divided Berlin, a Soviet official says the government plans to give control to the East Germans by Christmas, and some Soviet troops are reportedly going home. President Eisenhower vows to maintain the occupation of West … Continue reading →

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November 20, 1958: Valley man killed with hammer

Posted on November 20, 2008 by lmharnisch

The crash of a Marine plane near El Toro derails the Santa Fe’s San Diegan, but no serious injuries are reported. Ernest E. Hargis, who had been a city ambulance driver for 20 years, is found beaten to death with … Continue reading →

Posted in 1958, Front Pages, Homicide | 1 Comment

I Want to Live — The Barbara Graham murder case, November 16, 1958

Posted on November 16, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above: Barbara Graham, one of four women to be executed in California, along with Juanita “the Duchess” Spinelli, Louise Peete and Elizabeth Duncan. The trailer–dig those bongos! Gerry Mulligan! Five years after the execution of Barbara Graham in the Mabel … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, San Fernando Valley | 10 Comments

November 12, 1958: Teenage hitchhiker killed

Posted on November 12, 2008 by lmharnisch

Daryle Kelch was one of the most popular seniors at William S. Hart High School. He had a good friend, Douglas Austin, and a girlfriend, Karen Deadmon. And he was a dependable boy, according to the eulogy delivered by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Front Pages, Homicide, LAPD, Obituaries | 3 Comments

L.A. kidnappings, June 17, 1934

Posted on November 8, 2008 by lmharnisch

The Times publishes a stern warning to racketeers that kidnapping doesn’t pay, but about the only gangland figure it mentions is Les Bruneman. The story touches on the Gordon Northcott (notice that we call him Gordon Northrop) and William Edward … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, Changeling, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD | Comments Off on L.A. kidnappings, June 17, 1934

Black Dahlia

Posted on November 7, 2008 by lmharnisch

Steve Hodel’s "Black Dahlia Avenger," inscribed to James Ellroy, as listed on EBay for $19.99, in 2006. Steve Hodel is bringing his "Black Dahlia Avenger" presentation to the South Pasadena Public Library at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7, 2008, … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, books, City Hall, Coming Attractions, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD | 3 Comments