Category Archives: LAPD

October 23, 1957: Matt Weinstock

Posted on October 23, 2007 by lmharnisch

Oct. 23, 1957 The lady, an Ay–Ayer, is sober again, and philosophic. Not long ago, she slipped, as A-Ayers sometimes do. Finding herself well-soused, with no money left for a cab and little sense of direction, she decided the clink … Continue reading →

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A dose of skepticism

Posted on October 23, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Oct. 22, 1957 Los Angeles And here’s where storytelling trumped skepticism. Recall the death of Theodore Roosevelt Beckham, who killed Juvenile Officer Robert R. Christensen at 1524 Ingraham St. during an attempted arrest. The first news accounts said officers … Continue reading →

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Flashback

Posted on October 22, 2007 by lmharnisch

Oct. 15, 1957 Los Angeles I missed this story the first time around, but somehow I don’t think it matters too much. The best ones are timeless.  

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In the teeth of the evidence

Posted on October 18, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Evelyn and L. Ewing Scott during a cruise on the Queen Mary. Oct. 16-18, 1957 Los Angeles In its opening days, the Leonard Ewing Scott murder trial has focused Evelyn Scott’s eyeglasses and dentures, which were found behind the … Continue reading →

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October 17, 1957: Paul V. Coates–Confidential File

Posted on October 17, 2007 by lmharnisch

Oct. 17, 1957 He sat nervously in the chair opposite me. The staccato beat in his speech reflected his anxiety. “Nothing would ever have happened to me,” he said, “except that on her dead body was found my name. “I … Continue reading →

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Karil Rogers Graham and ‘The Badge’

Posted on October 17, 2007 by lmharnisch

“She was such a grand, lovely person. She loved flowers, was crazy about them.” That’s what the landlady, Eleanor Lipson, had to say about murder victim Karil Rogers Graham. Her sister, Mrs. H.L. Manley, called her “a well-settled girl.” According … Continue reading →

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End of watch

Posted on October 14, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Oct. 14, 1957 Los Angeles Theodore Roosevelt Beckham, a 23-year-old suspected sex offender, killed LAPD juvenile Officer Robert R. Christensen, 38, with his own gun during an attempted arrest, the third slaying in a bloody, tragic week for Southern … Continue reading →

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Ramblin’ man

Posted on October 12, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Oct. 11-23, 1957Los Angeles Hey there, men, feeling blue because you can’t get a date? You might try the Clifford Earl Burton method: You don’t have to be tall (he was 5-5), highly educated (he could barely read or … Continue reading →

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A fifth of whiskey

Posted on October 8, 2007 by lmharnisch

Oct. 8, 1957 Los Angeles How can such smart crooks be so dumb? The short answer is: They just were. In the last few months, half a dozen seasoned pros had been involved in systematically burglarizing the homes of wealthy … Continue reading →

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Fatal rage

Posted on October 6, 2007 by lmharnisch

Oct. 6, 1957 Los Angeles Joe and Ruby had four young children, but were treating them so badly that a warrant was issued on charges of neglect. Juvenile Officers Roy Keene and Connie Kennedy went to the home at 1328 … Continue reading →

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Madness

Posted on October 4, 2007 by lmharnisch

The Mirror published a copy of the Christmas note Ronald White wrote to his grandmother.

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Madness

Posted on October 4, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Oct. 4, 1957Los Angeles I’ve read any number of horrible stories in the old papers, but this is one of the worst in terms of senseless tragedy. The facts, such as they are, don’t even begin to explain what … Continue reading →

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Architectural ramblings

Posted on October 3, 2007 by lmharnisch

Every day, I visit a friend who is recovering from cancer surgery at Glendale Memorial Hospital, so I took a short detour and visited the boyhood home of Caryl Chessman, the "Red Light Bandit."   Photograph by Larry Harnisch / … Continue reading →

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Mystery photo solved

Posted on October 1, 2007 by lmharnisch

The correct answer is Caryl Whittier Chessman. A very impressive showing by Duane Laible. I didn’t expect anyone to guess so quickly.    Meet the boy bandit gang, which terrorized Los Angeles with a string of robberies and shootings in … Continue reading →

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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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