Category Archives: LAPD

Officer Cracks Mysterious Case

Posted on July 18, 2009 by lmharnisch

  July 18, 1899: Officer C.L. Foster unravels a series of mysterious thefts. A deliveryman from the butcher shop is helping himself to whatever he can take.

Posted in #courts, LAPD | 1 Comment

Police Commission Ignores Mayor, Fires Police Chief

Posted on July 18, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 18, 1889: Don't be put off because this is an extremely gray page. It's loaded with wild stories. The Police Commission decides in executive session to replace the police chief against the mayor's wishes. The chief refuses to surrender … Continue reading →

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Police Court

Posted on July 16, 2009 by lmharnisch

  July 16, 1899: Malicious mischief … selling lottery tickets … speeding … theft and robbery. And yes, The Times refers to a "slant-eyed disciple of Confucius."

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Police Court

Posted on July 15, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 15, 1899: An old panhandler … a man arrested for speeding … theft … prostitution and public intoxication. Yes, The Times referred to an Asian as a "slant-eyed celestial."

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Woman Turns Informant in Jewel Robbery

Posted on July 13, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 13, 1889: A smash and grab robbery at 1st and Spring … an old man robbed by a prostitute … a forgetful woman … and The Times finds fault with the new City Hall on Broadway, shown below left. … Continue reading →

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Mayor Rebukes Police Chief for Insubordination

Posted on July 12, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 12, 1899: The mayor apologetically rebukes the police chief for talking back to a police commissioner.

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Traffic Officer Killed Near Hollywood Bowl

Posted on July 11, 2009 by lmharnisch

April 18, 1971: Marie Stansell is honored for 25 years as a school crossing guard.   The Times never reported the outcome of charges against Frederick Krupp in the death of Officer Ferris E. Stansell.   At left, on July … Continue reading →

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Police Commission Studies Regulation of Prostitution

Posted on July 11, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 11, 1889: One of the best things about the 1880s newspapers is that The Times wrote about everything. One of the more controversial issues before the Police Commission is what to do with all the prostitutes in Los Angeles. … Continue reading →

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Officer Arrests Boy, 7, in Burglary

Posted on July 8, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 8, 1899: Officer Ziegler arrests a couple of youngsters in the theft of some tools. "Officer Ziegler holds the record for being a terror to small boys," The Times says. "All lawbreakers look alike to him, regardless of age, … Continue reading →

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Policewoman Admits Perjury in Brenda Allen Case; Jive-Talking Sports Scribe!

Posted on July 7, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 7, 1949: Charles Stoker surrenders his police badge to defense attorney S.S. Hahn after being accused of burglary by Policewoman Audre Davis. In this story, Davis admitted lying to win the conviction of Hollywood madam Brenda Allen. She accused … Continue reading →

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Fireworks Injuries

Posted on July 5, 2009 by lmharnisch

   July 5, 1899: The Times tallies the injuries caused by Fourth of July fireworks … and in Fullerton, a Mexican named Gonzales is beaten for spitting on the flag.

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Fireworks Touch Off Numerous Blazes

Posted on July 5, 2009 by lmharnisch

   July 5, 1889: Firecrackers and rockets touch off numerous blazes around the city … a man is arrested for swearing at a driver who collided with his wagon. 

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Legislature Fails to Pass Budget; Mota Leads Dodgers

Posted on July 2, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 2, 1969: The Sacramento debating society recesses without passing a budget. Why is crime down? Police credit the Neighborhood Watch program. Photograph by Steve Dykes / Los Angeles Times Feb. 13, 1992: Dodgers batting instructor Matty Mota, left, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers, Downtown, Front Pages, LAPD, Politics, Sports | 1 Comment

New High Street Wants Prostitutes

Posted on July 1, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 1, 1889: Property owners circulate a petition urging the City Council to put all the prostitutes New High Street. View Larger Map

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Woman, Baby Hurt in Bike Crash

Posted on June 27, 2009 by lmharnisch

  June 27, 1899: The Times published many stories about fires that were started by gasoline stoves. Given the primitive nature of firefighting at the time, the results were often tragic.   June 27, 1899: A woman with her baby … Continue reading →

Posted in 1899, Downtown, LAPD | 1 Comment

Police Raid Colored Republican Club

Posted on June 26, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 15, 1887: Effie Smith, a prostitute on Los Angeles Street, burns to death. She took a dose of morphine and lapsed into unconsciousness after lighting a cigarette. I found this item while trying to determine the location of … Continue reading →

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Grand Jury Vice Probe! Gilmore Field Expanded

Posted on June 25, 2009 by lmharnisch

"Put That Pistol Down, Young Lady."   Keith's 1949 post on Gilmore Field has dropped us in the middle of an extremely complicated grand jury investigation of the Los Angeles Police Department. To summarize: Officers James Parslow, Thomas C. Lindholm … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, City Hall, Comics, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD, Sports, Stage, Suicide | 1 Comment

City May Cut Police Overtime

Posted on June 25, 2009 by lmharnisch

June 25, 1899: A City Council committee weighs the complicated issue of police salaries. Some officers complain that their duties require more than an eight-hour workday. Another issue is whether travel time to get to their beats should be included … Continue reading →

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Nuestro Pueblo: Central Jail

Posted on June 23, 2009 by lmharnisch

June 23, 1939: I think this is my favorite "Nuestro Pueblo" so far. The dialogue could come right out of some 1930s movie. Interestingly enough, the text was completely rewritten for the book.

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Veteran Burglar Convicted Again

Posted on June 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

June 22, 1899: Adjusted for inflation, these suits cost $51.10-$102.20. I was curious as to what "door key nippers" might be. Evidently they were some type of lock-picking device. I found this story: Feb. 16, 1903: "Stealing was going on … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, LAPD | 1 Comment