Category Archives: Homicide

Our new favorite thing

Posted on January 4, 2009 by lmharnisch

Here’s one of our new favorite things: The Daily Script. Above, a page from "Double Indemnity" and — for contrast — the opening of Josh Friedman’s "The Black Dahlia." Note that "Double Indemnity" has been retyped and put into modern … Continue reading →

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

Body of writer’s daughter found off Mulholland; bidding war for Alcindor, January 2, 1969

Posted on January 2, 2009 by lmharnisch

Elizabeth Marina Habe was home on Christmas vacation from the University of Hawaii and staying with her mother, actress Eloise Hardt, at 8962 Cynthia Ave., in West Hollywood. Her parents were divorced and her father, author Hans Habe, lived in … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, Sports | Comments Off

Pasadena crowds cheer Rose Parade, 1909

Posted on January 1, 2009 by lmharnisch

Posted in Fashion, Front Pages, Homicide, LAPD | 1 Comment

Voices — Christine Collins, November 12, 1930

Posted on December 31, 2008 by lmharnisch

From the California State Archives. The Christine Collins letters The woman whose tragedy inspired the Clint Eastwood movie “Changeling” tells her story in her own words. Los Angeles, Cal. November 12, 1930 Mr. Chas. L. Neumiller President Board of Prison … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Changeling, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD | Comments Off

Robbery suspect kills LAPD officer, 1958

Posted on December 31, 2008 by lmharnisch

Photograph by Larry Harnisch / Los Angeles Times The grave of Sgt. Gene T. Nash, Rose Hills Memorial Park. Note: This updates a post from November. Photograph by Larry Harnisch / Los Angeles Times On the night of Oct. 20, … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Homicide, LAPD | 1 Comment

Voices — Christine Collins, November 10, 1930

Posted on December 30, 2008 by lmharnisch

From the California State Archives The Christine Collins letters The woman whose tragedy inspired the Clint Eastwood movie “Changeling” tells her story in her own words. 2614 N. Griffin Ave. Los Angeles, Cal. November 10, 1930 Mr. Charles L. Neumiller … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Changeling, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD | Comments Off

December 29, 1938: Bookie shot to death in Hollywood

Posted on December 30, 2008 by lmharnisch

By the end of 1938, Weldon sensed that he was a marked man and that death was not far off. He could have stayed out of Los Angeles and maybe he would have lived–at least for a while. But he … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, City Hall, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD | 2 Comments

Voices — Christine Collins, May 3, 1929

Posted on December 24, 2008 by lmharnisch

From the California State Archives The Christine Collins letters The woman whose tragedy inspired the Clint Eastwood movie "Changeling" tells her story in her own words. San Gabriel, Calif.May 3, 1929 Mr. A EichoffSan Francisco, Calif. Dear Sir: I am … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Changeling, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD | 2 Comments

Geronimo Pratt case 40 years later

Posted on December 23, 2008 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo Elmer Gerard "Geronimo" Pratt in 2000, after his release from prison. 'Lie down and pray' Gunshots on a Santa Monica tennis court reverberated across legal landscape. Note: Edward J. Boyer, now retired, covered the Elmer … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, books, Front Pages, Homicide, LAPD | 11 Comments

Body found in shallow grave; Rams take off-season jobs, December 22, 1958

Posted on December 22, 2008 by lmharnisch

I thought I had encountered just about every kind of bizarre Southern California crime imaginable, but the Elizabeth Ann Duncan case is staggering–lrh. Mother leaves three children outside orphanage. Teenage robbers shoot barber The Rams’ season was over, so it … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, Front Pages, Homicide, Sports | Comments Off

December 22, 1938: Jealous husband kills wife with ax

Posted on December 22, 2008 by lmharnisch

Testimony in the murder trial was so graphic that spectators became ill and fled the courtroom, The Times said.

Posted in #courts, 1938, Front Pages, Homicide, LAPD | 1 Comment

Robbers shoot couple on Santa Monica tennis court, Bills seek new coach, December 19, 1968

Posted on December 19, 2008 by lmharnisch

My heart skipped a beat when I pulled up this page. Of course, this is the beginning of the Geronimo Pratt case. Note the Ted Thackery Jr. byline. — lrh The Buffalo Bills had big plans in 1968. Not … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Front Pages, Homicide, LAPD, Sports | Comments Off

Voices — Christine Collins, September 13, 1925

Posted on December 16, 2008 by lmharnisch

The Christine Collins letters The woman whose tragedy inspired the Clint Eastwood movie "Changeling" tells her story in her own words. From the California State Archives Los Angeles, Calif.Sept. 13, 1925 Mr. Gannon,No. 1 Sansome St.San Francisco, Calif. Dear Sir, … Continue reading →

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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

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

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 →

Posted in #courts, 1958, Courts, Crime and Courts, Front Pages, Homicide | Comments Off

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 →

Posted in art and artists, books, Homicide | Comments Off

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