Category Archives: LAPD

November 16, 1907: Husband in Elaborate Disguise Shoots Estranged Wife on Streetcar

Posted on November 16, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 16,1907: Frederick Cook faces trial for shooting his estranged wife on a streetcar, disguising himself so she wouldn’t recognize him. Continue reading →

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November 15, 1907: Charles Mulford Robinson Drafts a Los Angeles of the Future

Posted on November 15, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 15, 1907: Charles Mulford Robinson proposes a grand boulevard for downtown Los Angeles, from a proposed Union Station ending at a new public library and art gallery. And a new City Hall. Continue reading →

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Voices — Christine Collins, November 14, 1930

Posted on November 14, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 14, 1930: James Borton writes to the warden about the parole hearing for Christine Collins’ husband, Walter. Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Changeling, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Comments Off on Voices — Christine Collins, November 14, 1930

Voices — Christine Collins, November 12, 1930

Posted on November 12, 2025 by lmharnisch

“Changeling” letters, November 12, 1930: Mrs. James Borton writes to the prison board, seeking leniency for Walter Collins. Continue reading →

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November 12, 1958: Teenage hitchhiker killed

Posted on November 12, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 12, 1958: Daryle Kelch, 17, was kidnapped and killed while hitchhiking. His murder was never solved. Continue reading →

Posted in Front Pages, Homicide, LAPD, Obituaries | 2 Comments

November 12, 1941: Crowds Line Broadway for Armistice Day Parade

Posted on November 12, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 12, 1941: Crowds line Broadway in downtown Los Angeles for the annual Armistice Day parade, which marked the end of what used to be called the Great War or the World War – until we had another one. Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, A Kinder, Simpler Time, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Streetcars, Theaters, Tom Treanor, Transportation, World War II | Tagged , , | Comments Off on November 12, 1941: Crowds Line Broadway for Armistice Day Parade

Voices — Christine Collins, November 10, 1930

Posted on November 10, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 10, 1930: Aimee Dunne, Christine Collins’ sister, writes to the prison board about parole for Walter Collins. Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Changeling, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD | Comments Off on Voices — Christine Collins, November 10, 1930

Voices — Christine Collins, November 10, 1930

Posted on November 10, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 10, 1930: The Los Angeles County district attorney lists Walter Collins’ offenses in a letter to the prison board. Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Changeling, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | 2 Comments

Voices — Christine Collins, November 9, 1930

Posted on November 9, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 9, 1930: The woman whose tragedy inspired the movie ‘Changeling’ tells her story in her own words. Continue reading →

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Black L.A. 1947: Sentinel Offers $100 for Proof That LAPD has Black Motorcycle Officer

Posted on November 6, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 6, 1947: The Sentinel offers a $100 reward to anyone who can identify a Black motorcycle officer in the LAPD. Continue reading →

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November 6, 1947: LAPD Officer Kills Black Suspect in Market Burglary

Posted on November 6, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 6, 1947: Clarence Wallas is shot during a struggle with Officer J.L. Brown during an attempted arrest in the burglary of a market. Officer R.F. Williams captures Roosevelt Everline, as he tried to flee. Continue reading →

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Voices — Christine Collins, November 6, 1930

Posted on November 6, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 6, 1930: A letter written on behalf of Christine Collins, whose son was killed by Gordon Northcott, as portrayed in the movie Changeling. Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Changeling, Christine Collins, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Comments Off on Voices — Christine Collins, November 6, 1930

Black Dahlia: Ask Me Anything, November 2025

Posted on November 4, 2025 by lmharnisch

This month’s Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case, including a progress report on Heaven Is HERE! and why the Black Dahlia case shouldn’t be treated as a game of “Clue.” Continue reading →

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October 31, 1957: Trick or Treat murder

Posted on October 31, 2025 by lmharnisch

October 31, 1957: The Trick-or-Treat Murder. Joan and Goldyne planned for months on killing hairdresser Peter Fabiano on Halloween. Investigation revealed that Fabiano had recently reconciled with his wife, Betty, after separating over her relationship with Joan. Continue reading →

Posted in #gays and lesbians, Homicide, LAPD, San Fernando Valley | Tagged , , | Comments Off on October 31, 1957: Trick or Treat murder

George Hodel: Ask Me Anything, October 2025

Posted on October 28, 2025 by lmharnisch

October 28, 2025: This month’s Ask Me Anything on George Hodel and Steve Hodel in the Black Dahlia case. Continue reading →

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October 28, 1938: Mayor investigates honorary LAPD badges

Posted on October 28, 2025 by lmharnisch

October 28, 1938: Mayor Fletcher Bowron calls for an investigation into so-called juice badges given to celebrities and others by the LAPD. This eventually resulted in an overhaul of the badge to its current design. Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, City Hall, Downtown, Front Pages, LAPD, Politics | Comments Off on October 28, 1938: Mayor investigates honorary LAPD badges

October 28, 1907: Former LAPD Chief Calls It ‘Most Detestable Job Ever Created’

Posted on October 28, 2025 by lmharnisch

October 28, 1907: A former LAPD chief says the job is the worst in the city. Continue reading →

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October 26, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on October 26, 2025 by lmharnisch

October 26, 1959: Steve Medved says he was beaten unconscious by the LAPD while being arrested for being drunk. When his trial ended in a hung jury, Medved says, the LAPD began targeting him for drunkenness, Matt Weinstock says. Continue reading →

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October 26, 1942: Lon Chaney’s Ghost Haunts Hollywood and Vine!

Posted on October 26, 2025 by lmharnisch

October 26, 1942: Councilman Norris Nelson tells a story about the ghost of Lon Chaney sitting on a bench at Hollywood and Vine. Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, African Americans, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, World War II, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on October 26, 1942: Lon Chaney’s Ghost Haunts Hollywood and Vine!

October 26, 1907: Women Clean Clothes With Gasoline, Die After Explosion and Fire

Posted on October 26, 2025 by lmharnisch

October 26, 1907: Two women in the West Adams District were badly burned and expected to die after a bowl of gasoline they were using to clean a soiled dress exploded, engulfing their apartment at 42 St. James Park in flames. Continue reading →

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