Category: Kim Cooper

County officials are in no hurry to play host to 18-year-old Leonard L. Chambers, 652 S. Indiana Street, who was found guilty of going 55 in a 25 mph zone and sentenced by Santa Monica Municipal Judge Lawrence Scherb to 10 days in jail (nine suspended), 30 days without a driving license, and to visit the County Morgue in the next 10 days to gaze upon the mangled body of a speeding victim. A Coroner’s office spokesman told the Times that in light of regulations, it was unlikely that this grisly date would be kept.

When Henry Davis Jr., 24, died at Georgia Street Receiving Hospital yesterday, it seemed from his deathbed remarks that he’d been shot for having an empty wallet, after a trigger-happy pair of robbers hadn’t bothered to look for cash in his pockets.

But when a Mrs. Henry Davis Jr. called the hospital asking about her husband, who had just expired, police became suspicious. If Davis had been kidnapped, robbed and dumped at the hospital, how would the wife have the slightest idea where he was?

Det. Sgts. L.O. Burton and J.G. Cotch had a talk with Mrs. Davis at her home at 2228 E. 98th Street, and soon learned that Ervie Smith, 21, of 9697 E. 98th Street had informed her that after holding up some gamblers for $700 in Santa Monica, Henry shot himself in the gut while putting his gun away. As a dying thanks to his partner for not stripping his pockets, Henry came up with the robbery story… and he would have gotten away with it, too, if it wasn’t for his meddling wife (who, presumably, will not be getting the $250 Henry died with).

When the police found Henry Davis Jr. of 2228 E. 98th Street in the driveway of the Georgia Street Receiving Hospital, where he’d been tossed from a car, he was bleeding from a gunshot to the belly and near death. He told officers that two armed men had forced him into their car, discovered his empty wallet, and shot him before he could offer up the cash in his pockets. Then these hair-trigger fellas had dropped him off at Georgia Street.

After Davis died, police found more than $250 in his clothing.

$13,100. That’s the amount Mrs. Marie Waterman wants as compensation for the events of last December 15, when her hand became trapped in the bathroom window of her apartment at 334 N. Normandie. Mrs. Waterman was in the all together at the time, and could not reach a towel. When she finally yelled for help, a man answered her cries and got an eyefull.

She is in Superior Court hoping that Western Loan & Building Co, her landlords, will pony up a whole field of cabbage for her trouble.

Three fellas who stopped by the market at 1313 E. Olympic last night got a humiliating surprise when a pair of armed robbers made them slip off their trousers and hand ’em over. While the chilly victims were waiting in the back of the store, the robbers made off with $800 from the till and $289 from various pockets. They were kind enough not to take the trousers when they left.

Mother: when a man comes to the door, tells you your little Arnie is the handsomest tot he’s ever seen and suggests that for a mere $2.50 he can snap a swell shot of the little one for entry into the Downtown Business Men’s Association’s beautiful baby contest, slam that screen door fast. There’s no such contest, the guy’s a crook, and to be perfectly honest, your kid is… uhm… gee… well, he’s just adorable.

This has been a public service announcement from your pals at the 1947project.

17-year-old Ray Luedeman was cleaning rags in a pan of gasoline on the back porch of his home at 1877 W. 38th Street when the automatic gas heater beside him clicked on. Suddenly realizing the danger of the gas igniting, he scooped up the pan, sending gas flying all over the heater and his clothing. He’s in Georgia Street Receiving Hospital being treated for serious burns.

Further reading: Never Done, A History of American Housework

Mrs. R.J. Odman was sleeping peacefully in her bed at 825 N. Wilcox Ave. when Harry Lavine, 41-year-old guest of her upstairs neighbor, actor Matty Fain, shot himself just below the heart. The bullet exited Lavine’s back, came through floor and ceiling, and passed through Mrs. Odman’s splayed hair before stopping.

She was startled but unharmed; Lavine is in serious condition in the Prison Ward of General Hospital. Not for the threat to Mrs. Odman, though: Lavine, also an actor, was out on $5000 bail on a narcotics charge, but had failed to appear in federal court on Monday. Prior to shooting himself, he left a note absolving Margie Martini, 28, who was arrested with him on the drug charge. Miss Martini awaits her preliminary hearing in the County Jail.

A mini Matty Fain 1947 film festival:
Dead Reckoning, with Humphrey Bogart and Lizbeth Scott (Fain, uncredited, as “Ed”)
Down to Earth, with Rita Hayworth (Fain, uncredited, as “Henchman”)