Angeleno Pair Quizzed on His Wounded Hand

August 16, 1947
San Francisco

Speaking on behalf of the citizens of the great City of San Francisco, we’d just as soon you runaway SoCal lovebirds keep your shenanigans South of Tehachapi.

Seems SF police were called to a hospital here to talk with William Farley, 24, of 2217 Cahuenga Blvd., and his flame-tressed friend Mrs. Bobbie Mai Edkins of 1063 1/2 S. Sycamore. Mr. Farley had a bullet in his hand–in their car engine pan, cops found a pistol. The pair claimed they went over a bump and the gun fell from the flove box and discharged (so why the subterfuge?). Later, the story mutated to one of Farley shooting himself to prove his love for Mrs. Edkins. The dope even works with his hands–he’s a watchmaker. Sheesh.

And yes, there is a Mr. Edkins, Harry by name, back in LA. Unamused, officers booked the tourists on a joint charge of assault.

Suggested reading: Murder by the Bay : Historic Homicide in and about the City of San Francisco

Kim Cooper

Kim Cooper is the creator of 1947project, the crime-a-day time travel blog that spawned Esotouric’s popular crime bus tours, including The Real Black Dahlia. She is the author of The Kept Girl, the acclaimed historical mystery starring the young Raymond Chandler and the real-life Philip Marlowe, and of The Raymond Chandler Map of Los Angeles. With husband Richard Schave, Kim curates the Salons and forensic science seminars of LAVA- The Los Angeles Visionaries Association. When the third generation Angeleno isn’t combing old newspapers for forgotten scandals, she is a passionate advocate for historic preservation of signage, vernacular architecture and writer’s homes. Kim was for many years the editrix of Scram, a journal of unpopular culture. Her books include Fall in Love For Life, Bubblegum Music is the Naked Truth, Lost in the Grooves and an oral history of Neutral Milk Hotel.

See author's posts

Published by

Kim Cooper

Kim Cooper is the creator of 1947project, the crime-a-day time travel blog that spawned Esotouric’s popular crime bus tours, including The Real Black Dahlia. She is the author of The Kept Girl, the acclaimed historical mystery starring the young Raymond Chandler and the real-life Philip Marlowe, and of The Raymond Chandler Map of Los Angeles. With husband Richard Schave, Kim curates the Salons and forensic science seminars of LAVA- The Los Angeles Visionaries Association. When the third generation Angeleno isn’t combing old newspapers for forgotten scandals, she is a passionate advocate for historic preservation of signage, vernacular architecture and writer’s homes. Kim was for many years the editrix of Scram, a journal of unpopular culture. Her books include Fall in Love For Life, Bubblegum Music is the Naked Truth, Lost in the Grooves and an oral history of Neutral Milk Hotel.

One thought on “Angeleno Pair Quizzed on His Wounded Hand”

  1. His face and body were burned with a blowtorch so that his eyes popped out of his head. He was beaten with a wide, flat object, like a belt or a wide plank. His wrists were hacked with a cleaver and he was partially castrated.

    He was John C. Jones, a black, 28-year-old World War II veteran of Minden, La., who was the state’s last lynching victim. His widow, Carrie Lee Jones, of Los Angeles, sued Sheriff Oscar H. Haynes for $50,000 ($473209.30 USD 2005) for failing to protect her husband from a mob Aug. 8, 1946.

    The sheriff said Jones and a companion were arrested after being identified by a woman as two men who tried to get into her house through a window.

    Haynes said the men were released after they denied the charges. Jones’ body was found the next day.

    The Times never reported the outcome of the suit. According to Internet sources, Louisiana attorney A.P. Tureaud led a team investigating the lynching and gave the names of three killers to the U.S. Department of Justice, but no action was taken. Minden, La.’s website makes no mention of the killing.

    https://www.lmharnisch.com

Leave a Reply