The Case of the Killer Longshoreman

December 15, 1947
Los Angeles

Police are holding Rufus Avery, 47, on suspicion of murder and arson after discovering the longshoreman wearing scorched clothing in the aftermath of a fire at 10351 1/2 S. Hickory Street.

Mrs. Vera Dudley directed police to look at her former suitor, who had previously attempted to burn her house down, following the early morning blaze in which her mother Mrs. Minnie Dudley, 50, and children Lawrence, 8, Carol, 6, and Kenneth, 4, were killed.

Avery was taken into custody at his hotel room at 108 Palos Verdes Street, San Pedro. Vera Dudley was not at home at the time of the fire.

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.

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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.

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  1. Dog Plays $1,000 Santa
    to Mutts Held at S.P.C.A.

    A great panting St. Bernard dog named Champ gave away $1,000 yesterday as a Christmas gift to his less fortunate fellows.

    He didn’t actually hand it over to the other dogs—his master, Chad A. Schultz, took care of the mechanical part. But it was because Champ had endeared himself to Schultz that the stray, homeless mutts at the S.P.C.A. shelter here got the benefit of a $1,000 donation for their care and feeding.

    Schultz explained that he customarily gives a thousand-dollar gift to some worthy cause each year about Christmastime and this year it seemed like a good idea to do something for dogs which aren’t as lucky as his 160-pound pet. So yesterday, Schultz, his wife and daughter Elinor, 14, drove to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at 3612 11th Ave. and handed over the donation.

    This Saturday, the 200-odd stray dogs and cats at the S.P.C.A. shelter will be in for another and greater stroke of fortune. The S.P.C.A. plans another of its Christmas parties, where prospective pet owners are invited to an afternoon of entertainment. Then, with some radio or screen figure in charge, the homeless pets are offered to the audience.

    Last years, according to H.W. McLean, president of the society here, 92 pets found new homes and literally gained a new lease on life at the Christmas party.

    Curiously, The Times apparently never published another story about Chad A. Schultz, despite his considerable generosity ($1,000 = $9,464.19 USD 2005). However, the South L.A. animal shelter is still in operation at 3612 11th Ave.

    Here’s a link to their adoptable animals: https://www.ci.la.ca.us/ani/adoptsearchphotos.htm

    Bonus factoid: Mideast death toll since U.N. voted to partition the Holy Land reaches 360.

    Quote of the day: “Among juvenile delinquents, the No. 1 physical defect is defective hearing.â€Â
    Willard Hargrave, founder of the Auricular Foundation.

    https://www.lmharnisch.com

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