Category Archives: LAPD

LAPD Chief Wants More Officers

Posted on March 5, 2010 by lmharnisch

“The Days of Real Sport,” by Clare Briggs.   March 5, 1920: Police Chief Home appeals to the City Council for 300 more officers because so many have been transferred to the Central Division from more rural areas. Recall the … Continue reading →

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Everyone Can Find Prostitutes Except the LAPD

Posted on March 3, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 3, 1910: Everybody in Los Angeles can find the city’s brothels – except the police, The Times says. Especially that place at 316 1/2 S. Spring St. There’s more on the jump, plus the crazy “Pawnshop Wife” … … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, LAPD | 1 Comment

Higgins Building to Add Two Floors

Posted on March 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 1, 1910:  Thomas Higgins is adding two floors to his building at 2nd and Main streets. A century later, downtown hipsters will thank him! On the jump, police make a terrible blunder in putting officers in Chinatown back … Continue reading →

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Officer’s Shot Saves Partner’s Life

Posted on February 26, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Feb. 26, 1960: Gov. Pat Brown will answer questions about granting a reprieve to Caryl Chessman … and on skid row, Officer V.P. Farmer shoots an ex-convict who is holding a gun to the head of Officer Ernest Searles … Continue reading →

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New Chief Shakes Up Police Department

Posted on February 24, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Feb. 24, 1910: This was one of those days when it was impossible to pick  one story over the others. New Police Chief Alexander Galloway orders a cleanup of the notoriously filthy City Jail … officials report a new … Continue reading →

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Police Urge Ban on Women Drivers

Posted on February 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

“The Saddest Scene,” by Clare Briggs.     Feb. 23, 1920: Los Angeles is the deadliest city in the nation for pedestrians, The Times says. Solution? Ban women drivers because women account for more than 30 percent of the fatalities, says … Continue reading →

Posted in LAPD, Transportation | Comments Off on Police Urge Ban on Women Drivers

Hearing on the Gas House, Part 2

Posted on February 21, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Sept. 8, 1959: This is the second part of a transcript of testimony by “Holy Barbarians” author Lawrence Lipton before the the Los Angeles Police Commission on the Gas House, the Beat hangout in Venice.  Part 1 is … Continue reading →

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

Posted on February 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Legal Revenge Not Dead Yet     I read Gov. Brown's reasons for giving Caryl Chessman a 60-day reprieve yesterday, but I'm not sure that I believe them.     He indicated that he felt  the climate in California had changed … Continue reading →

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Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Feb. 17, 1960

Posted on February 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

It's Machiavellian in a Simple Way     Until last week, Al Linenberger was just like you.  He was a hard-working family man, active in community affairs.  A model citizen.     At least, he thought he was.  Certainly, he didn't suspect … Continue reading →

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Crackdown on Gambling in Chinatown

Posted on February 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Feb. 17, 1910: The legal fight escalates between police and business owners over gambling in Chinatown. Note the reference to Sgt. Charles Sebastian, who became police chief in 1911 and mayor in 1915.

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New LAPD Chief Takes Office

Posted on February 16, 2010 by lmharnisch

   Feb. 16, 1910: Police Chief Alexander Galloway receives his badge and is told that it will allow him free passage on all the streetcars. The chief says that if a conductor insists, he’ll pay rather than risk getting into … Continue reading →

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Businessman Chosen as LAPD Chief

Posted on February 15, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Feb. 15, 1910: Los Angeles gets a new police chief, Alexander Galloway, a former railroad executive with no law enforcement experience. “Chief Galloway is about 55 years of age, of Scotch descent. He is not a typical policeman in … Continue reading →

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Mayor Seeks Money for More Police Officers

Posted on February 15, 2010 by lmharnisch

  “Who’s Afraid of Ghost Stories?” by R.F. Outcault. Feb. 15, 1920: City officials say they desperately need more police officers but don’t have the money for their salaries. The Times suggests an answer – in a news story rather … Continue reading →

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Hearing on the Gas House, Part 1

Posted on February 14, 2010 by lmharnisch

     Sept. 8, 1959: This is the first part of a transcript of testimony by “Holy Barbarians” author Lawrence Lipton before the the Los Angeles Police Commission on the Gas House, the Beat hangout in Venice. I’ll be posting … Continue reading →

Posted in books, LAPD, Music, Nightclubs | 2 Comments

Officers Suspended Over Prostitution Investigation

Posted on February 14, 2010 by lmharnisch

“Florodora” is at the Grand Operahouse.   The “Florodora” girls are in town and “A Clubman” catches up with them – or tries to.    Feb. 14, 1910:  Police Officers Bowman and Whaling were suspended after reporting a brothel on Jackson … Continue reading →

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A Humiliating Night in Jail

Posted on February 12, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Feb. 12, 1910: John L. Grant and his wife, Margie, are in jail on charges of obtaining money under false pretenses, accused of selling their five-year lease and the furniture in a rooming house at 1401 N. Winfield … Continue reading →

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Woman Refuses to Testify Against Husband in Prostitution Case

Posted on February 11, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Feb. 11, 1910: A.C. Berchtold, onetime head of the police "purity squad," is found hiding in the closet when detectives serve a search warrant on Myrtle Booth. "His costume was not suitable for a polite social call," The Times … Continue reading →

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Teenage War Hero Arrested in Los Angeles

Posted on February 10, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Feb. 10, 1910: The Times reports the adventures of Ian (possibly Jan) Koutnik, described as a “hero of the Czech-Slovak troops.” Young Ian, loose in the city en route to be adopted in Chicago,  was arrested on suspicion of … Continue reading →

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The Underbelly of California

Posted on February 9, 2010 by lmharnisch

Christina House / For The Times Richard Rayner at the Festival of Books, 2009 If you have a good memory, you may recall a panel at last year’s Los Angeles Times Festival of Books on “The Underbelly of California,” moderated … Continue reading →

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Harry Raymond Quits LAPD

Posted on February 4, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Feb. 4, 1920: Ted Shawn, Martha Graham and dancers from Denishawn. But separate performances for men and women? Crime has increased dramatically, but no one knows why, the district attorney’s office says.  Feb. 4, 1920: Harry Raymond resigns as … Continue reading →

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