Category Archives: LAPD

September 27, 1957: Paul V. Coates–Confidential File

Posted on September 27, 2007 by lmharnisch

September 27, 1957 August 12, 1957–A 19-year-old youth was stabbed and seriously wounded last night as he fought to save an 11-year-old girl from criminal attack in Hollenbeck Park. The youth, Edward Gandara, and Jesus Rodriguez, 16, routed the molester, … Continue reading →

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September 19, 1957: Paul V. Coates–Confidential File

Posted on September 20, 2007 by lmharnisch

Sept. 19, 1957 Never underestimate the power of little old ladies. I did, two days ago. I accused a frail, grandmotherly type, born circa 1887, of pulling an amusing little con game to gain herself a free meal or a … Continue reading →

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Snooze alarm

Posted on September 19, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Sept. 16-19, 1957 Los Angeles "State Senate committee hearing" is one of the most boring phrases in the English language and the thick dust of half a century only adds layers of tedium. But let’s stand in the back … Continue reading →

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Strangler strikes

Posted on September 18, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Sept. 18-26, 1957 Los Angeles Let’s go talk about the Ginger Mitchell case. We’re in Wilshire Division so how about Canter’s Deli, up on Fairfax? While we’re driving, I’ll tell you the rest of the story. Officially, this killing … Continue reading →

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Strangler strikes

Posted on September 17, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Sept. 17, 1957 Los Angeles We’re parked outside 3477 S. La Brea Ave., a two-story apartment house with about 18 units in the Wilshire Division. It’s one in a row of apartment buildings along the west side of the … Continue reading →

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Requiem

Posted on September 16, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Sept. 16, 1957 Los Angeles Franklyn West Storer, 50, woke up on a Saturday morning to discover that his beloved 16-year-old daughter, Mary Alice, had taken a fatal overdose of sleeping pills. In despair, he also took a fatal … Continue reading →

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On the menu: domestic strife

Posted on September 13, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Sept. 13, 1957 Los Angeles Information on Gene Leonard Cornforth is a bit sketchy, but he certainly had interesting taste in women. Take the first Mrs. Cornforth, Maureen. After she and Gene divorced, her boss at Hughes Aircraft, David … Continue reading →

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Mystery guest revealed

Posted on September 11, 2007 by lmharnisch

Anthony Brancato, killed Aug. 6, 1951, 1648 N. Ogden Drive, Hollywood, along with Anthony Trombino in the “Two Tonys Murder.” Jimmy “The Weasel” Fratianno eventually confessed to the killings.

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Stag film raid

Posted on September 10, 2007 by lmharnisch

Feb. 10, 1957Los Angeles I stumbled across this story while researching yesterday’s post on South-Central vice raids and it was too wonderful to ignore. It sounds almost like one of the “Honeymooners” episodes involving Ralph Cramden, Ed Norton and the … Continue reading →

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South-Central Vice

Posted on September 9, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Sept. 8-12, 1957 Los Angeles Let's suppose you are the mayor of the nation's third-largest city. Let's further suppose that your wife has received several letters complaining about rampant crime in a heavily minority neighborhood. You might turn the … Continue reading →

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Police and the courts

Posted on September 8, 2007 by lmharnisch

I missed this op/ed piece when it came out July 19, 1957. It was certainly a different era for the police.

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A rambling man

Posted on September 6, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Sept. 6, 1957 Los Angeles Kindly, mild-mannered and quiet, The Traveler, 51, was the last person anyone would suspect of a crime. He seemed more like a Sunday school teacher, which he had been, or perhaps an itinerant newsman. … Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock

Posted on September 5, 2007 by lmharnisch

Matt Weinstock Sept. 5, 1957 An Altadena family took off recently on a trip to Europe. The other day, the next-door neighbor, Ed Murray, was advised by his youngster that a skunk was trapped in the cement crawl hole at … Continue reading →

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Fried Rice

Posted on August 31, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 29-30, 1957 Los Angeles The poor thing died as hardboiled as she had lived: Renting a junky room in an old house that had been cut up into apartments. The landlord said she’d been sick for the last … Continue reading →

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Fuzzy Pink Nightgown

Posted on August 23, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 23, 1957Los Angeles Bad things happen when two men (Ralph Meeker and Keenan Wynn) abduct a movie star (Jane Russell). It turns out that her upcoming film is "The Kidnapped Bride" and everyone–including the studio and the alleged … Continue reading →

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The Choirboys

Posted on August 22, 2007 by lmharnisch

Aug. 17-22, 1957 Los Angeles Officers Robert J. Steele, 25, and James K. Sherratt, 28, were sitting in Steele’s car at 4 a.m. after finishing their shifts at Newton Division when a gunman tried to rob them, The Times said. … Continue reading →

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Los Feliz strangler

Posted on August 20, 2007 by lmharnisch

Aug. 20, 1957Los Angeles It’s late afternoon and we’re parked outside a 1926 bungalow at 4020 Holly Knoll Drive. Pretty soon the street will be full of police and reporters, but right now everything is quiet. Ready? Let’s go in. … Continue reading →

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The vexations of research

Posted on August 19, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 18, 1957 Los Angeles Nearly a century ago, Los Angeles had the wisdom and foresight to appoint the first policewoman in the United States–or was she? Alice Stebbins Wells is usually given that distinction today, but the record … Continue reading →

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You Have Got to Be Kidding Me

Posted on August 14, 2007 by lmharnisch

Aug. 15, 1957Los Angeles

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Jean Spangler

Posted on August 12, 2007 by lmharnisch

  I was listening to the prayers of the people during today’s church service and was shocked to hear "Jean Spangler"  among the names. I told myself it could be a coincidence. Maybe it was someone else named Jean Spangler, … Continue reading →

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