Tag Archives: #prisons

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on July 27, 2020 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1938 RKO picture “Condemned Women,” with Sally Eilers, Louis Hayward, Anne Shirley, Esther Dale, Lee Patrick, Leona Roberts, George Irving, Richard Bond, Netta Packer, Rita LaRoy and Florence Lake. Musical direction by Roy Webb, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1938, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 49 Comments

July 9, 1907: L.A. Converts Abandoned Church to House Inmates From Crowded Jail

Posted on July 9, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. July 9, 1907 Los Angeles Grace Methodist Episcopal Church on Hewitt Street was barren; the pastor had gone away and the congregation had moved on. And so the City Council, in struggling … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Streetcars | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Silver Lake Hammer Murder – Part 3

Posted on September 23, 2011 by lmharnisch

Sept. 19, 1941: Valverda Booth visits her husband, Ernest Booth, while he is in custody in the Silver Lake Hammer Murder of heiress Florence Stricker. Is there anything more delightful to the heart of a research drudge than a notice … Continue reading →

Posted in 1927, 1929, 1941, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD, Libraries | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Necklace Stolen From Titanic Exhibit

Posted on September 20, 2011 by lmharnisch

Writing in the New York Times, Roberta Smith pleads for the preservation of the American Folk Art Museum. Two posts in Lens, the New York Times’ photography blog, are worthwhile reading. The first is a question and answer with Pete … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Courts, Genealogy, Museums, New York | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

El Segundo revisited

Posted on July 14, 2008 by lmharnisch

orman Frederick Gagnon looks like an excellent suspect in the unsolved killing of two El Segundo police officers last year. In an incident quite similar to the El Segundo case, Charles H. May and a female companion (The Times, fortunately, … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Front Pages, Homicide | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Paul Coates

Posted on January 15, 2008 by lmharnisch

Jan. 15, 1958 I talk to a lot of men who are fresh out of prison. I do because each one has a story–usually each is in bad need of someone to listen. So I do. I listen as each … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Paul Coates, Religion | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Old convict

Posted on May 2, 2007 by lmharnisch

May 2, 1957 Los Angeles Police officers had a kindly affection for old "Toothpick Charlie." At 93, the dapper, neatly dressed man known as James J. Fitzpatrick, James Hennesy and James Flannery had been  working his cons since before they … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Downtown | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment