Tag Archives: lapd

Random shot

Posted on October 25, 2007 by lmharnisch

LAPD headquarters under construction, 2nd and Spring streets, October 2007   Photograph by Larry Harnisch / Los Angeles Times

Posted in LAPD | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Random shot

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 →

Posted in #courts, Columnists, LAPD, Matt Weinstock | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on October 23, 1957: Matt Weinstock

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 →

Posted in Countdown to Watts, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , | Comments Off on A dose of skepticism

Drug bust

Posted on October 19, 2007 by lmharnisch

Oct. 19, 1957 Los Angeles Perhaps you remember publicist Desmond Slattery from Paul Coates’ Aug. 22, 1957, column. In brief, he was selling crickets as pets. This time, however, his problem is roaches–or rather, a roach. Slattery and his roommate, … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Hollywood, Hollywood Division | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

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 →

Posted in Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on October 17, 1957: Paul V. Coates–Confidential File

Son shoots father

Posted on October 15, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Oct. 15-16, 1957 Los Angeles We can add the story of Elvin Harry DeWitt Jr. to the list of youngsters who intervened in their parents’ quarrels, answering violence with violence. Bethel Lee DeWitt, 52, and Elvin Harry DeWitt Sr., … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Son shoots father

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 →

Posted in Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on End of watch

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 →

Posted in #East L.A., Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Fatal rage

September 24, 1957: Matt Weinstock

Posted on September 25, 2007 by lmharnisch

Sept. 24, 1957 As dedicated ocean fishermen know, this is one of the greatest seasons in years for pulling in the elusive beauties of the deep. For many years they’ve had to be satisfied with getting “skunked” completely or with … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Columnists, Dodgers, Downtown, Matt Weinstock, Sports, Television | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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 →

Posted in #courts, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Hat squad III

Posted on September 14, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Sept. 14, 1957 Los Angeles Motorcycle Officer W.W. Wilhelm decided to put some teeth in fashion law and cited motorist Louise Squire for wearing a plastic mesh basket on her head. When stopped at Argyle and Franklin Avenues, Squire, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Hat squad III

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.

Posted in #courts, Hollywood, Hollywood Division, Homicide, LAPD, Mickey Cohen | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Mystery guest revealed

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.

Posted in #courts, LAPD | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Police and the courts

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 →

Posted in Columnists, LAPD, Matt Weinstock | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock

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 →

Posted in LAPD | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The Choirboys

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 →

Posted in Downtown, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The vexations of research

Four-time loser

Posted on August 12, 2007 by lmharnisch

Aug. 12, 1957Los Angeles John Gordon Fawcett, 42, had enough. His last three marriages had ended with his wives getting boyfriends and so when he found his fourth wife in the bedroom with another man…. “This happens every time,” he … Continue reading →

Posted in LAPD, San Fernando Valley | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Four-time loser

‘I Hate Cops!’

Posted on August 2, 2007 by lmharnisch

Aug. 2, 1957Los Angeles It was St. Patrick’s Day, 1957, and a few customers got rowdy in a bar at Pico Boulevard and Figueroa Street. Police Officer Leo Wise separated a couple of men who were fighting and ordered them … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Downtown, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on ‘I Hate Cops!’

Countdown to Watts

Posted on August 2, 2007 by lmharnisch

Aug. 1-7, 1957Los Angeles A search through The Times for early August reveals several stories about Chief William H. Parker being honored for 30 years service with the Los Angeles Police Department. In a luncheon at the Biltmore Bowl hosted … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Countdown to Watts, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Countdown to Watts

Random queries

Posted on July 30, 2007 by lmharnisch

The hits for the Daily Mirror blog show that someone is researching the Feb. 13, 1969, robbery of the Bank of America at 3320 S. Hill. Here’s your answer: The Times wrote very little about the case, although police killed … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, LAPD, Robberies | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Random queries