Category Archives: Homicide

April 9, 1958

Posted on April 9, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, a review of a concert at the Million Dollar Theater (coming up May 11: Mariachi Vargas!) Below, Mickey Cohen touches off a sensation by releasing Lana Turner’s love letters to Johnny Stompanato. Quote of the Day: "In all my … Continue reading →

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April 9, 1938

Posted on April 9, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, Cleveland’s notorious "Torso Killer" strikes again. Below, a defense expert examines bomb fragments in the Harry Raymond case … The 40 women in the 1st Street School Americanization class stage a fashion show. I’ll have to do a little … Continue reading →

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April 8, 1958

Posted on April 8, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, Al Jolson in blackface as the lead in "Porgy and Bess" while African Americans play all the other roles? Now there’s a casting idea that takes my breath away. Philip Scheuer interviews Ira Gershwin and notes that the lyricist … Continue reading →

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Paul Coates

Posted on April 7, 2008 by lmharnisch

April 7, 1958 I’ll post more on this story soon. Stay tuned….

Posted in Homicide, LAPD, San Fernando Valley | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

April 7, 1958

Posted on April 7, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, the quarrel between Lana Turner and Johnny Stompanato that led to his death may have begun over whether he was going to accompany her to the Academy Awards! Below, some of the type is missing from the jump of … Continue reading →

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Cheryl Crane

Posted on April 5, 2008 by lmharnisch

Photograph by the Los Angeles Times Cheryl Crane in a heavily retouched photograph published April 6, 1958, while she was being held in the stabbing death of Johnny Stompanato. This is one of the most heavily repainted photographs I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Homicide | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Johnny Stompanato, RIP

Posted on April 5, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, the Mirror brings out an extra on the Johnny Stompanato killing.

Posted in Front Pages, Homicide, Mickey Cohen | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

April 4, 1908

Posted on April 4, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, Opening Day in the Pacific Coast League. Below, a bitter legal battle in which a woman is seeking a court order barring her husband and his adopted children from selling any of their real estate because she would receive … Continue reading →

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Death in La Puente

Posted on March 29, 2008 by lmharnisch

March 29, 1958 Two cars cruised La Puente on a Friday night. One car carried Fred Avila, 20, and three unidentified young women. The other carried four young men from La Puente: Manuel Garcia, 19; Refugio Luna Jr., 20; John … Continue reading →

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March 20, 1958

Posted on March 20, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, more layoffs, this time in Los Angeles’ auto assembly plants in South Gate, Van Nuys and Maywood, recall the recurring theme of unemployment in recent columns by Matt Weinstock and Paul Coates. Below, the Navy discovers that a mystery … Continue reading →

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Body dumped

Posted on March 12, 2008 by lmharnisch

March 4-May 7, 1958 Riverside A couple of Pinal County deputies found the new Fiat, wrecked and abandoned in Florence, Ariz., with a bloodstain in the backseat and a charge slip dated the previous day from a gas station in … Continue reading →

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Sleepy Lagoon

Posted on March 7, 2008 by lmharnisch

Aug. 3, 1942 Los Angeles I received several requests for Times stories on the Sleepy Lagoon case after we published the obituary of Manuel Reyes, who was wrongly convicted in the slaying of Jose Diaz. This is our first story … Continue reading →

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

Found on EBay

Posted on March 5, 2008 by lmharnisch

Regular reader Callbox Sam pointed out this item on EBay: A copy of the Feb. 8, 1947, Herald-Express with the Page 1 story about Joseph Dumais’ confession in the Black Dahlia killing. Dumais conned Army investigators (but not the LAPD) … Continue reading →

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

March 5, 1958

Posted on March 5, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, note the longstanding popularity of mysteries–alas, the Daily Mirror won’t be doing mystery tunes anytime soon. Below, a prowler who cures his nausea by being a peeping Tom is arrested near the scene of the Marjorie Hipperson killing …  … Continue reading →

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

Ewing Scott

Posted on March 4, 2008 by lmharnisch

March 4, 1958 Los Angeles Late one night in his cell at the County Jail, in fitful sleep, convicted killer L. Ewing Scott had a dream: An arm … his missing wife’s arm … bloody … wrapped in newspapers … … Continue reading →

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Feb. 29, 1908

Posted on February 29, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, the Stoddard-Dayton ($58,265.68 USD 2007). Drivers prepare for the annual Pasadena-Altadena Hill Climb, an important event in motor sports in early 20th century Los Angeles. The race course started at Orange Grove and went up Los Robles, took a … Continue reading →

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An urge to kill

Posted on February 26, 2008 by lmharnisch

Feb. 26, 1958Stanford Thomas was handsome, clean-cut, 19-year-old sophomore on the tennis team at Stanford, where his father had gone to college and was a prominent alumnus. He lived at 248 Edlee Ave., across the street from Mr. and Mrs. … Continue reading →

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Paul Coates

Posted on February 25, 2008 by lmharnisch

Feb. 25, 1958 The biggest hero is often the last heralded. He acts with such quiet, automatic efficiency that he destroys the drama of his own actions. He remains anonymous, unknown and unthanked for his service. Today I have a … Continue reading →

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Voices, Frank Heller

Posted on February 25, 2008 by lmharnisch

Photograph by the Los Angeles Times Frank Heller and Linda Mintz in a photograph published Nov. 11, 1958, in The Times. Frank Heller was a defense attorney for Linda Mintz, the housekeeper charged with beating her employer Thelma Macomber to … Continue reading →

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Feb. 25, 1908

Posted on February 25, 2008 by lmharnisch

An "instantaneous heater" explodes while a man is taking a bath and the fire destroys much of the home at 1201 W. 7th. … A fire caused by crossed wires in the attic destroys a home at 2659 Ellendale Place … Continue reading →

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