Category Archives: Homicide

May 24, 1938

Posted on May 24, 2008 by lmharnisch

His name was Dwight Tyler Simpson, a 32-year-old business student from Laconia, N.H. Not an enemy in the world, apparently, except for somebody who broke a milk bottle on his skull and strangled him. Dwight had been living at 747 … Continue reading →

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May 23, 1938

Posted on May 23, 2008 by lmharnisch

It’s another slow day in the trial of Police Capt. Earle Kynette in the Harry Raymond bombing … In the meantime, let’s take a look at former police investigator Fletcher E. Felts, whose father was one of the longest-serving officers … Continue reading →

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May 22, 1938

Posted on May 22, 2008 by lmharnisch

  Above, a plan for the Santa Anita Motor Inn at 101 W. Huntington. Apparently, the final design of the tower was a little more Art Deco (see the postcard here). At left, a miner leads detectives to the body … Continue reading →

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May 19, 1958

Posted on May 19, 2008 by lmharnisch

Alas, The Times never followed up on this story, so we don’t know what became of Elroy E. Pena. But telling a man with a gun "Why don’t you get the hell out of here?" as you’re sitting in a … Continue reading →

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May 10, 1908

Posted on May 10, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, I’ll leave it to someone else to comment on women’s concepts of body image in the early 20th century. Below, interesting coverage of the Laporte, Ind., "death farm." The Times reported yesterday that Belle Gunness had been captured. Today’s … Continue reading →

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May 9, 1908

Posted on May 9, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, a banjo recital that makes everyone feel like getting up and dancing … Below, Belle Gunness is captured as investigators uncover more bodies on the Laporte, Ind., "death farm" … Problems at a convention for the unemployed: "Gas House" … Continue reading →

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May 7, 1908

Posted on May 7, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, an influential article by Harris Dickson appears in the Saturday Evening Post … Below, the term "soul kiss" is 100 years old? Imagine that. What’s this? The term "soul kiss" is attributed to Mary Pepper, a medium who is … Continue reading →

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May 6, 1908: Shocked Judge Grants Divorce; Bodies Found at Indiana Murder Farm

Posted on May 6, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, an update in the divorce case of Henry Lord … The judge doesn’t even bother to hear all the testimony before dissolving the marriage. What became of Augustine Emanuel Lord and coachman Harry Cameron? Alas, The Times is no … Continue reading →

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May 5, 1938

Posted on May 5, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, Thelma Todd’s famous (or notorious) Inn … Below, George Sakalis says he was offered $3,000 to keep his mouth shut in the trial of Police Capt. Earle Kynette in the Harry Raymond bombing … Jackie Coogan says he brought … Continue reading →

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Mob murders in L.A.

Posted on April 27, 2008 by lmharnisch

View Larger Map I spent a little time tracking down the addresses of what the LAPD said were Mafia killings from 1906 to 1951. Even a superficial look reveals problems with the Police Department’s list. As noted elsewhere, the 1934 … Continue reading →

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April 25, 1958

Posted on April 25, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, the L.A. Dodgers appear in a crossword puzzle, always a barometer of popular culture … Below, Cheryl Crane is released from custody … Secret Service agents detain a woman who burst out of a crowd and insisted on seeing … Continue reading →

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Mob killings

Posted on April 24, 2008 by lmharnisch

April 29, 1959 I stumbled across this page yesterday while looking for details on the Les Bruneman killing at the Roost cafe. Unfortunately, the front page didn’t get microfilmed, so all we have is the jump. Still, it’s a nice, … Continue reading →

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April 23, 1938

Posted on April 23, 2008 by lmharnisch

Below, the 1937 slaying of underworld figure Les Bruneman intrudes into the trial of Police Capt. Earle Kynette in the Harry Raymond bombing. (Pete Pianezzi, convicted of killing Bruneman at the Roost cafe, was paroled in 1953) … Former City … Continue reading →

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April 22, 1958

Posted on April 22, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, a baseball museum in Los Angeles? Really?? Well look at this: Below, a United Air Lines DC-7 and an Air Force F-100F Super Sabre on a training flight collide over Nevada, killing everyone on both aircraft. The victims include … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers, Homicide, Sports, Transportation | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

April 16, 1938: Child Molested, Killed

Posted on April 21, 2008 by lmharnisch

April 16, 1938-Sept. 16, 1939 How about that? The tracks are still here, a block south of Firestone on Myrtle. I think that’s where they found her body in the weeds. Poor little kid. Her name was Jenny — Jenny … Continue reading →

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April 21, 1908: Dispute Over Black and White Children Playing Together Turns Deadly

Posted on April 21, 2008 by lmharnisch

Below, an update in the saga of some “Hearstlings” who stole pictures of the Great White Fleet to be published in the Examiner … Note the story about the 1906 Brownsville, Texas, incident in which African American troops of the … Continue reading →

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April 20, 2008: Club Mecca Firebombing Victims Remembered

Posted on April 20, 2008 by lmharnisch

April 20, 2008 Someone asked me if I placed this notice in today’s issues of The Times. No, I didn’t. But I’m glad these people are remembered.  Read my original Club Mecca post here. Email me

Posted in #courts, 1957, Homicide, LAPD | 1 Comment

Gang killing

Posted on April 19, 2008 by lmharnisch

April 19, 1958 Los Angeles One gang was called the Cogents. The other was called the Black Wongs. At least that’s what The Times said. We don’t know much more than that except someone died in a fight outside the … Continue reading →

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April 18, 1958

Posted on April 18, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, note that Robin Ogle was drafted by the Dodgers as a first baseman in 1972. Below, The Times drops the nameplate for the Dodgers’ mug shots and runs a nice, deep picture of Carl Erskine … Also note the … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Dodgers, Front Pages, Homicide, Jack Smith, Sports | Tagged , | 2 Comments

April 17, 1958

Posted on April 17, 2008 by lmharnisch

Below, Dodgers over the Giants, 13-1, in San Francisco. Tomorrow is the Big Day in L.A., with a Dodger motorcade from City Hall to the Coliseum, The Times says … Police  investigate whether the late Johnny Stompanato was blackmailing Hollywood … Continue reading →

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