Category Archives: LAPD

Death of a Mad Dog

Posted on June 8, 2010 by lmharnisch

  The dealer says this Arts and Crafts furniture will last for a century, June 8, 1910: A Wyoming rancher tracks down and kills a wolf nicknamed “One Toe,” a notorious killer of cattle that was too wary for traps … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, art and artists, LAPD | 1 Comment

LAPD Sets Up Speed Trap on Grand Avenue

Posted on June 7, 2010 by lmharnisch

  June 7, 1910: The 20% grade of Grand Avenue is a popular place for car salesmen to show customers the speed of their vehicles. In fact, Grand is such a perfect test track that the Police Department has set … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, LAPD, Transportation | 2 Comments

The Times’ Court Reporter Files a Story in Dialect

Posted on June 3, 2010 by lmharnisch

  June 3, 1910: The Times’ court reporter files a story in dialect about two African American women who are charged with fighting. Ouch. And police arrest newsboys shooting dice behind the offices of Los Angeles Record (1886-1931).

Posted in #courts, classical music, Countdown to Watts, LAPD, Music | 2 Comments

Homemade Bread Is Slavery!

Posted on June 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

   June 2, 1910: Husbands! Homemade bread is slavery! A loaf of Holsum (10 cents/$2.27 USD 2009) is better anyway. On the jump, a pincher gets pinched.

Posted in #courts, Food and Drink, LAPD | 1 Comment

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, June 1, 1960

Posted on June 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

June 1, 1960: Paul Coates has a follow-up on the raid on the 25-cent gambling pool on roller derby at Olympic Auditorium. The judge dismissed the case.

Posted in #courts, Columnists, LAPD, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, June 1, 1960

Stubborn Handcuffs Keep Prisoners Out of Jail

Posted on May 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Look! It’s Julian Eltinge! May 30, 1910: “Babe” McCain, the bouncer at Turner Hall, brings two prisoners to the police station, but they can’t be booked until McCain removes the handcuffs – which proves to be a problem. And … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, LAPD, Stage, Transportation | Comments Off on Stubborn Handcuffs Keep Prisoners Out of Jail

She’s Not Afraid of a Mere Man

Posted on May 27, 2010 by lmharnisch

May 27, 1910: Elizabeth La Rue, a costumer at the Majestic Theater Building, is in the news for grabbing a man who rented one of her costumes and was trying to sell it at a secondhand shop. La Rue took … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, LAPD, Stage | Comments Off on She’s Not Afraid of a Mere Man

Found on EBay – Thicker’n Thieves

Posted on May 26, 2010 by lmharnisch

Former Police Sgt. Charles Stoker’s “Thicker’n Thieves” has attained a measure of respect that it never had when it was published in 1951. Even five or six years ago, it was possible to pick up a copy for almost nothing … Continue reading →

Posted in books, LAPD | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Thicker’n Thieves

Prelude to the Bombing of The Times

Posted on May 26, 2010 by lmharnisch

The Los Angeles County Hall of Records, which survived a 1910 bombing attempt, as it appeared during the realignment of Spring Street in 1929.    In the months leading up to the bombing of the Los Angeles Times by union … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Downtown, LAPD, Los Angeles Times Bombing | 1 Comment

U.S. Launches Spy Satellite

Posted on May 25, 2010 by lmharnisch

    May 25, 1960: The U.S. successfully launches a Midas satellite after a previous attempt failed. The Times editorialized that the satellites would make spy planes such as the U-2 obsolete. Which is why the Midas satellites became space … Continue reading →

Posted in LAPD, San Fernando Valley, Science, Transportation | Comments Off on U.S. Launches Spy Satellite

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, May 23, 1960

Posted on May 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

  May 23, 1960: Paul Coates gets a second column out of the arrest of two people in a 25-cent gambling pool on roller derby at the Olympic Auditorium.

Posted in Columnists, Front Pages, LAPD, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, May 23, 1960

Freeway Trench Cave-In Kills Boy, 6

Posted on May 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

  May 23, 1960: Kelly "Randy" Holmes of 2829 Allesandro St. is killed when he is buried under four feet of dirt while playing in a trench for the Golden State Freeway near what is now the interchange with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Freeways, LAPD, Transportation | Comments Off on Freeway Trench Cave-In Kills Boy, 6

LAPD Reports Fewer Arrests, More Crimes

Posted on May 21, 2010 by lmharnisch

  May 21, 1910: The Times reports some alarming statistics for the Police Department. Arrests have fallen off sharply and criminal complaints have increased. Various officials offer different explanations: officers don’t bother with trivial offenses,  they are frustrated with permissive … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, City Hall, LAPD | Comments Off on LAPD Reports Fewer Arrests, More Crimes

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, May 20, 1960

Posted on May 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

  May 20, 1960: Paul Coates writes about two people who were charged with felony bookmaking for running a 25-cent pool on roller derby at the Olympic Auditorium.

Posted in #courts, Columnists, Front Pages, LAPD, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, May 20, 1960

20 Held in Chinatown Gambling Raids

Posted on May 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Notice all the car dealers around 10th (Olympic) and Olive streets.    Olympic and Olive via Google maps’ street view. May 20, 1910: Sgt. Charles E. “Charlie” Sebastian, the future police chief and mayor of Los Angeles, leads another raid … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, LAPD, Transportation | Comments Off on 20 Held in Chinatown Gambling Raids

But He Only Had Two Beers

Posted on May 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

  The Automatic Telephone ensures privacy! June 28, 1904: The rotary phone is putting Los Angeles switchboard operators out of work! May 18, 1910: John Lyons had two beers late one night and decided to go home – only he … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, LAPD | 1 Comment

LAPD’s Cars Are Useless Wrecks

Posted on May 9, 2010 by lmharnisch

  May 9, 1910: “The first automobile purchased by the Police Department was an electric patrol wagon. This proved to be a failure, was used but little, and is now stored in the basement of the jail. Then a gearless … Continue reading →

Posted in LAPD, Transportation | Comments Off on LAPD’s Cars Are Useless Wrecks

Police Raid Chinatown Gambling Dens

Posted on May 4, 2010 by lmharnisch

May 4, 1910: Police conduct gambling raids in Chinatown in the 300 block of Marchessault Street, at 424 N. Los Angeles St.,  335 1/2 Apablasa and on North Alameda. On the jump, in the final days of the U.S. census, … Continue reading →

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CHESSMAN DIES

Posted on May 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

  May 2, 1960: Don Dwiggins of the Mirror News writes: “At exactly 10:03:25, an unidentified guard tripped a lever that sent cyanide pellets dropping into an acid bucket beneath Chessman's seat. “Chessman seemed to tense noticeably, held his breath, … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Caryl Chessman, Front Pages, LAPD | Comments Off on CHESSMAN DIES

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, April 25, 1960

Posted on April 25, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Heartsick Mother's Problem One Which Has No Solution       Steve's mother knows she did wrong.  But she wonders, under the circumstances, what would have been right.       "I don't know," she told me from behind her handkerchief, … Continue reading →

Posted in Caryl Chessman, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Music, Obituaries, Paul Coates | 3 Comments