My Dark Places

3

The Times, Express and Mirror gave it page-two play. It made the local TV news for five seconds.

The redhead rated zero. The Johnny Stompanato snuff was the real goods. Lana Turner’s daughter shanked Johnny back in April. The story was still hot news.

The Mirror ran a shot of the redhead smiling. The Times ran a picture of the kid just after the cops gave him the word. Jean Ellroy was the twelfth county murder victim of 1958.

Armand Ellroy went down to the Coroner’s Office early Monday morning. He identified the body and signed a Health and Safety Code form to release it to the Utter-McKinley Mortuary. Dr. Gerald K. Ridge performed the autopsy: Coroner’s Case File #35339-6/23/58.

He ascribed cause of death to “asphyxia due to strangulation by ligature.” His anatomic summary noted the “totally occlusive double ligature” around the victim’s neck. He noted that the victim was in her menstrual phase. His smear for spermatozoa turned up positive. He found a tampon at the rear of the vaginal vault.

He noted the “surgical absence” of the victim’s right nipple. He diagrammed the scrapes on her hips and knees and the bruises on the insides of her thighs. He described the body as being “that of a well-developed, well-nourished, unembalmed white female.” His external examination notes cut straight to the two garrotes:

There is a double tightly occlusive ligature about the neck, producing deep grooving of the soft tissues. This ligature is comprised of both a length of apparent clothesline cord, which has apparently been placed first about the neck and knotted tightly in the left posterior region. The ends of the cord are free, one extremely short and apparently having been broken loose at the knot, while the other one is of moderate length and extends inferiorly. Apparently applied over the first ligature is a tightly knotted nylon stocking, the knot likewise located in the left posterior lateral surface. The nylon ligature overlies the long limb of the clothesline ligature at that point. The nylon stocking appears to have been tightly affixed by the usual overhand knot first and in the formation of the second knot, one limb of the free end has been looped under a partial slip knot, which is quite tightly drawn up.

Dr. Ridge removed the ligatures and noted the “deep pallid groove” around the neck. He shaved the victim bald and described her head tissues as “Intensely cyanotic and suffused with dark bluish-purple discoloration.” He cut the scalp down to the skull and pulled the flaps back. He diagrammed eleven wounds and labeled them “intense red deep scalp ecchymoses.”

The doctor sawed off the top of the head and examined the victim’s brain tissue. He weighed it and found “no evidences of injury or other intrinsic abnormalities.” He cut open the victim’s stomach and found whole kidney beans, meat shards, orange-yellow masses resembling carrots or squash and yellowish masses resembling cheese.

He examined the rest of the body and found no other evidence of trauma. He took a blood sample to be held for chemical analysis and removed portions of the vital organs for potential microscopic study.

He extracted food particles from the stomach to be held and analyzed. He froze the spermatozoa smear—to be held and blood-typed.

A toxicologist took a blood sample and screened it for alcohol content. His reading was low: .08%.

A forensic chemist checked the body. He found small white carpetlike fibers under the victim’s right middle fingernail and bagged them as evidence. He took the two garrotes, the victim’s dress, right stocking and brassiere to the Sheriff’s Crime Lab. He noted that the unraveled strangling cord was 17 inches long—yet had tightened to 3 inches around the victim’s neck.

Dr. Ridge called Ward Hallinen and summarized his findings. He confirmed asphyxia as the cause of death and said that the victim had been struck in the head at least six times. She may have been unconscious when she was strangled. She’d engaged in recent sexual intercourse. She had probably eaten a full meal one to two hours before her death. It was most likely Mexican-type food—she had partially digested beans, meat and cheese in her stomach.

Hallinen wrote the information down and called Sheriff’s Metro. He laid out his case to the squad lieutenant and requested two men to canvass bars and restaurants in the El Monte/Rosemead/Temple City area. The lieutenant said he’d send out Bill Vickers and Frank Godfrey. Hallinen said they should stress three things:

The victim ate Mexican-style food Saturday night or very early Sunday morning. She might have been out with a Mexican or a Latin-type Caucasian—possibly named Tommy. The victim was redheaded—the two probably stood out.

The lieutenant promised priority service. Hallinen said he’d be out canvassing himself. Lawton and Hallinen connected at the El Monte Station. They split up and started working separate canvassing beats.

Jim Bruton teamed up with Captain Al Etzel. They drove to 700 Bryant and reinterviewed George and Anna May Krycki. Mrs. Krycki stuck to her Jean-didn’t-drink/Jean-didn’t-go-out-with-men story. She said that Jean answered a newspaper ad and rented the little back house impulsively Jean liked the fenced-in yard and thick foliage. She said the place felt safe to her. The Kryckis had a hunch that Jean was hiding out in El Monte.

Jean did not have a telephone. She used the Kryckis’ phone for local calls and made her other calls at work. The Kryckis received a few calls to her. They were strictly calls related to her job.

Bruton asked Mrs. Krycki if she had any more photos of Jean. She gave him six Kodachrome snapshots. Etzel asked her to go through the bungalow with them. They needed to inventory Jeans things and determine the shoes and purse she had with her Saturday night.

Mrs. Krycki walked Bruton and Etzel through the house and examined the victim’s belongings. She drew a blank on the purse and said Jean’s clear plastic high heels were missing.

Bruton and Etzel drove to the El Monte Station and dropped the snapshots off for reprinting.

Hallinen met up with Lawton.

Their canvassing runs were unsuccessful. They hit numerous bars and nightclubs—but nobody recalled a redhead and a dark man out Saturday night.

They drove to the Airtek Dynamics plant. It was just south of downtown L.A.—a big six-story structure. The personnel director was named Ruth Schienle.

She’d heard about the killing. She said the news was buzzing all over Airtek. She said she was friendly with Jean. Jean was a well-liked Airtek employee.

Airtek was a division of the Packmeyr Gun Company. They manufactured window casings for military planes. Jean was the plant nurse. She hired on in September ’56.

Mrs. Schienle said she knew very little about Jean’s private life. Hallinen and Lawton pressed her.

She said Jean had very few close friends. She was not much of a socializer and only an occasional drinker. Her friends were mostly older couples, dating back to the time of her marriage.

Hallinen and Lawton described the blonde and the dark man. Mrs. Schienle said they didn’t sound like Airtek people— or any of the friends Jean told her about. The name Tommy did not ring a bell.

Hallinen and Lawton left her a card and said they’d be in touch. They told her to call if she picked up on anything suspicious.

Mrs. Schienle assured them she’d cooperate. Hallinen and Lawton headed back to El Monte.

The Metropolitan Detail was a loan-out unit. It had one function: to assist the Headquarters Detective Bureau in major investigations. The assigned deputies wore plainclothes and were skilled at canvassing.

Frank Godfrey locked in to the Ellroy case on Monday afternoon. Bill Vickers was set to start soon.

Godfrey canvassed with a photo of the victim. He queried waitresses, carhops, bartenders, restaurant and cocktail lounge managers. He stressed the redhead, the blonde and a dark man who might be named Tommy. He said the redhead ordered Mexican food or a chili size with cheese.

He hit Staat’s Cafe at Meeker and Valley. A waitress said the redhead looked familiar. She said a party of four came in Saturday night and ordered chili sizes. Pearl Pendleton waited on them.

Pearl was off today. Godfrey got her number from the manager and called her. Pearl listened to his questions and said that none of her Saturday-night customers resembled the people he described.

Godfrey hit Dick’s Drive-in at Rosemead and Las Tunas. Nobody there was working Saturday night into Sunday morning. The manager was not on the premises.

A carhop gave him some names: Marlene, Kathy, Kitty Johnson, Sue the counter girl. They were all working Saturday-Sunday graveyard and would be rotating back on duty Wednesday.

Godfrey walked across the street and checked out the Clock Drive-in. The manager said none of his on-duty crew was working late Saturday night or early Sunday. He checked his 6/21 roster and kicked loose some names and numbers: two dining-room girls, one hostess, one counter girl and four carhops.

Godfrey circled over to Five Points and hit Stan’s Drive-in. The manager said his Saturday-Sunday girls were all off now. Godfrey wrote down their names and home numbers:

Eve McKinley / ED3-6733; Ellen “Nicky” Nichols / ED3-6442; Lavonne “Pinky” Chambers / ED7-6686.

It was 4:00 p.m. Godfrey swung south on Garvey and stopped at the Melody Room.

The owner introduced himself as Clyde. He heard out Godfrey’s questions and told him to contact Bernie Snyder, the night barman. Bernie closed the place at 2:00 a.m. Sunday. Call Bernie and talk to him.

A customer butted in. He said he was here Sunday morning—and he saw a ponytailed blonde huddled up with a dark-haired guy. The guy was thirty to thirty-five. The ponytail and him were acting real nervous.

Clyde said the ponytail sounded like a regular named Jo. She worked for Dun & Bradstreet in L.A. He called the woman a “bar lizard.” The dark-haired guy didn’t come off familiar at all.

Godfrey took down the customer’s name and phone number. Clyde urged him to call Bernie Snyder—Bernie knew all the faces.

Godfrey called from the bar. Bernie’s wife answered. She said Bernie wouldn’t be back until 5:30—try him then.

It was 4:30 p.m. Most of your local nightspots didn’t open until 6:00 or 7:00. Godfrey was running up a long phone call list.

The Desert Inn was a hillbilly joint. It used to be called the Jungle Room and Chet’s Rendezvous. Myrtle Mawby bought the place for her kid brother, Ellis Outlaw. Ellis renamed it Outlaw’s Hideout.

Ellis was always in trouble with the cops and the fucking Internal Revenue Service. The Feds shut him down for skimming withholding money from his employees—then let him reopen so he could pay off his debt. Ellis brained Al Man-ganiello with a bottle back in ’55 and narrowly avoided a jail stretch. He just couldn’t make the Hideout turn a steady profit.

He sold it back to Chet Williamson. Chet renamed it the Desert Inn and let Ellis run it. Ellis came from a barkeeping family. His sister Myrtle shot her husband in the ear once and got two cocktail bars in the ensuing divorce settlement.

Ellis owned the bungalows behind the Desert Inn parking lot. His pal Al Manganiello rented a flop from him. Ellis ran a small handbook out of the bar. He took action on all the races at Hollywood Park and Santa Anita.

Ellis got popped for drunk driving in May of ’57. Two El Monte cops said he tried to bribe them—nice coin if they shit-canned the arrest report. A couple of Ellis’ buddies offered them backup bribes.

The bribe offers were relative chump change. The thing escalated into a hick-town cause célèbre.

Ellis was convicted for drunk driving. Appeals kept him out of jail for over a year. Ellis and his pals beat the bribery rap.

The drunk driving appeals ran out on June 19th. A judge confirmed the conviction. Ellis was ordered to appear for sentencing on June 27th.

The Desert Inn was venerably shitkicker—and high-class by El Monte standards.

Spade Cooley played there on his way down from local TV. The quasi-Ink Spots played there on their post-Vegas slide.

Negro customers got the bum’s rush. Spies got a wary welcome—if they didn’t show up en masse.

The Desert Inn was a good place to drink and scout nookie. The Desert Inn was safe and civilized—by 1958 El Monte standards.

Jim Bruton met Hallinen and Lawton at the bar. It was 6:30 p.m.

They hit Al Manganiello up for the Desert Inn guest book. Al showed them a ledger filled with names and addresses. They skimmed it and found two men named Tom.

Tom Downey: 4817 Azusa Canyon Road, Baldwin Park. Tom Baker: 5013 North Larry Street, Baldwin Park.

Al said he didn’t know Tom Baker. Tom Downey was more their speed—sort of a slick dark-haired guy like the one they said was dancing with the redhead.

Hallinen, Lawton and Bruton drove to Downey’s address. A woman answered the door and ID’d herself as Mrs. Downey.

She said Tom was still at work—he sold Fords at El Monte Motors. He should be home in a few minutes.

They told her they’d be back later and staked out the house in Bruton’s car. “A few minutes” stretched to nine and a half hours.

They called it quits at 5:00 a.m. Bruton radioed the station and told them to dispatch a patrol unit to relieve the stakeout.

A black & white arrived five minutes later. Bruton drove Hallinen and Lawton back to the Desert Inn to get their cars. Everybody dispersed and went home.

The patrol guys watched the Downey house. Tom Downey showed up twenty minutes into their stakeout.

The patrol guys grabbed him. They radioed the El Monte switchboard and told the operator to rouse Captain Bruton.

Tom Downey was pissed off and bewildered. The patrol guys drove him to the El Monte Station and placed him in an interview room.

Jim Bruton walked in. His first impression of Tom Downey: This guy is too stocky to be our suspect.

Bruton questioned him. Downey said he was out chasing cunt—and boy was he tired. Bruton told him to run down his Saturday-night activities.

Downey said he was at the Desert Inn on two different occasions. The first time was between 8:00 and 9:00. He sat at a table with Ben Grissman and another guy while they ate their dinner.

Ben and the other guy left. He stayed another ten minutes or so. He hit a few more spots, returned to the Desert Inn and had two drinks. He cashed a 20-dollar check with the bartender and split just prior to midnight. He went to another bar and met up with a friend. They drove to a steak house in Covina and had a late supper. He got home real late.

Bruton described the victim, the blonde and the dark man, and placed them at the Desert Inn roughly concurrent with Downey’s visits. Downey said he didn’t notice anybody resembling them.

Bruton wrote down “Ben Grissman” and got the name of Downey’s other buddy. He told Downey that some Sheriff’s men might want to talk to him.

Downey pledged his cooperation. Bruton sent him home in a patrol car.

A letter arrived at the El Monte Station Tuesday morning. It was scrawled on the back of a bank deposit slip and an employee’s time clock sheet.

El Monte Chief of Police 6/23/58

Dear Sir,

I would suggest, in relation to your latest rape murder (that I read about in today’s paper) you should question E. Ponce, a TV repair man, works for Dorn’s, lives in Monterey Park. This is rather near El Monte and my wife charges that he raped her in April of last year, in my home. He also threatened her at that time and the rest of the family. Our matter is in the courts at this time. He is a tall slim Mexican, very pronounced accent. Make him account for his actions and or any others of a similar nature, as he is so inclined.

Ask Ponce if he was acquainted with the nurse that was raped & murdered. Find out if she ever bought a TV or had other dealings with Dorn’s, and if Ponce had ever repaired sets or any other appliance for her. Look at Dorn’s books and hours. Make him account for his time on the night of the crime. Substantiated. Ask me to identify him, just as if I had seen her with him. Let me get a close look.

The letter was signed “Lester A. Eby, 17152 Cires Avenue, Fontana, Calif.” The Chief’s secretary called Information and got the accompanying phone number: VA2-7814. She wrote it at the bottom of the time clock sheet and called Information back.

She asked for a listing on “E. Ponce” in Monterey Park. The operator gave her the only one she had: Emil Ponce, 320 East Fernfield Drive, PA1-3047. She wrote the information down below the informant’s name and placed the letter in Captain Bruton’s box.

Ruth Schienle called Sheriff’s Homicide Tuesday morning. She left a detailed message for Ward Hallinen and Jack Lawton. The phone man wrote it down on the back of a teletype slip.

Miss Schienle rptd that Henry Kurtz, 4144 Irving PL, Culver City, NE8-5888, did not rpt for work last night and had phoned in that he would not be in tonight (6/24/58). Henry F. Kurtz / MW/ 39-42/5′-8″—220 / brown hair

The phone man placed the slip in Jack Lawton’s box.

Jim Bruton called Frank Godfrey Tuesday morning. He told him to hustle down to Brea and talk to a Mexican girl named Carmen Contreras. They got a tip that she knew a Desert Inn habitué named Tommy. The girl’s address was 248 South Poplar.

Godfrey drove to Orange County and found the address. The girl’s mother sent him over to the Beckman Instrument Company—Carmen’s place of employment.

Godfrey talked to Carmen. Carmen said she knew a man named Tommy—but she didn’t know his last name. He was a Caucasian, 30 to 40, 5′6″ to 5′7″. He was dark complected and had brown eyes and dark curly hair.

Carmen thought he lived in Baldwin Park. He was married—but was trying to obtain a divorce. He drove a ’57 Mercury coupe, pink over white. He told her he used to own a ’52 Olds. He worked for a floor-installation company in Temple City. He hung out at the Ivanhoe in Temple City and the Desert Inn in El Monte. He liked to sit at the bar or table-hop. He took her to an Italian place on Valley a couple of times. She hadn’t seen Tommy in a while.

Godfrey gave her a card. He told her to call him if she dredged up Tommy’s last name. Carmen said she would.

Godfrey called Jim Bruton and ran the interview by him. Bruton said he’d check out the Ivanhoe.

An anonymous tipster called the Temple City Sheriff’s Tuesday morning. He said this “Johnny” guy might be the one who choked that nurse.

The tipster said Johnny frequented the Desert Inn. He drove a pink-and-white Olds Holiday and considered himself a “lover boy.” He was white, 30 to 35, 5/8// with a medium build. He had black hair and a dark complexion. He had an ex-girlfriend named Patricia Fields.

The desk sergeant relayed the information to Bill Vickers. Vickers found a phone listing for Patricia Fields and called her.

Miss Fields told him that Johnny had been working overseas since December. She’d been corresponding with him since that time. Vickers asked her if she could verify it. Miss Fields told him to call Peggy Narucore. Her number was GI3-2638.

Vickers called the number. Peggy Narucore confirmed Miss Fields’ story.

It was mid-afternoon.

Frank Godfrey and Bill Vickers were canvassing bars and restaurants. Ward Hallinen and Jack Lawton were reinterviewing the victim’s ex-husband and son.

Their apartment was small and hot. They sat around a small kitchen table.

Armand Ellroy mentioned the funeral next week. He’d arranged for a minister and burial at Inglewood Cemetery. Jean’s sister and her husband were flying in from Madison, Wisconsin. He’d be taking his boy back to El Monte next Monday to pick up his things.

Hallinen and Lawton asked the boy some questions.

Did your mother know a blond woman with a ponytail? Did you ever see her with a Mexican man or a dark white man? Who were her friends at work? Did she make any friends since you moved to El Monte? Why did she move to El Monte?

The boy said his mother lied about the move to El Monte. She said she wanted him to live in a house, not an apartment. He knew she was lying.

He liked Santa Monica. El Monte scared him. He didn’t understand why they moved so far away.

He didn’t know any blond woman. He didn’t know any Mexican guy or dark white guy. He didn’t know his mother’s work friends. He already told them about Hank Hart and Peter Tubiolo. Mrs. Krycki was his mother’s friend—he knew that.

Lawton asked him if his mother drank liquor.

The boy said she drank a lot of Early Times bourbon.

Jim Bruton got a call Tuesday evening. The Temple Sheriff’s forwarded a tip: Tommy just showed up at the Ivanhoe.

Bruton arranged for a Sheriff’s unit to transport him to the El Monte Station. He set up an interview room with a one-way glass mirror and called Myrtle Mawby. She agreed to come in and view the suspect.

Two deputies brought Tommy in. It was Tom Baker from the Desert Inn guest book. Bruton had him run down his Saturday night.

Baker said he went to the races at Hollywood Park. He stayed through the seventh race and drove to a restaurant on Florence and Rosemead. He had a burger and drove to his place in Baldwin Park. He spent the rest of the evening watching TV with his landlord and the landlord’s son. He was not at the Desert Inn Saturday night.

Myrtle Mawby observed Tom Baker. She told Bruton that he was not the man she saw with the redhead.

Tom Baker was released. A patrol car drove him back to the Ivanhoe.

It was 8:00 p.m.

Vickers and Godfrey were over at Temple—calling bartenders and carhops at home. Hallinen and Lawton were calling out from the El Monte Station.

They were trying to locate Margie Trawick and Mike Whit-taker. They needed them to submit formal statements tonight.

They found Margie at her parents’ house. They found Mike at the Melody Room and told him they’d send a car for him. They arranged for a Sheriff’s stenographer to come out to the station.

The desk sergeant interrupted them. He said a tip just came in—a carhop at Stan’s might have seen something Saturday night.

Lavonne Chambers was wearing a red-and-gold uniform. Hallinen and Lawton interviewed her in the manager’s cubbyhole.

Stan’s was circular and space-age modern. A neon spire poked out of the roof. The lot behind it was huge—cars could stack up three rows deep and flash their lights for service.

Lavonne said she heard a radio broadcast. She hemmed-and-hawed for a day or so and told her shift boss what she knew. He called the Sheriff’s for her.

Hallinen and Lawton coaxed her a little. Lavonne relaxed and told them her story.

She recognized the description on the radio. She remembered the redhead—from her dress down to her pearl ring. She was certain that she served the redhead and her date twice— Saturday night and Sunday morning.

They came in shortly after 10:00. The woman ordered a grilled cheese sandwich; the man ordered coffee. The man was driving. The car was a ’55 or ’56 Olds sedan. It was two-tone green—with the lighter green probably on top. The man was very thin, 35 to 40, with black hair combed straight back. He looked like he might be of Greek or Italian extraction.

The woman acted lighthearted. She might have been intoxicated. The man acted bored and reserved.

They ate and drove off. They returned between 2:00 and 2:45 a.m. They parked in one of her stalls again.

The redhead ordered chili and beans. The man ordered coffee. She was still lighthearted. He was still bored and reserved. They ate, paid up and drove off.

Hallinen and Lawton displayed the victim’s coat—covered with forensic tags now. Lavonne Chambers ID’d the lining immediately. She ID’d a photo of the victim just as fast. She agreed to submit a formal statement tomorrow—but only at her house. She couldn’t leave her children alone.

Hallinen and Lawton set up a 3:30 appointment. Lavonne went on and on about the redhead—she was so pretty and seemed so nice.

Mike Whittaker’s formal statement was a mess.

He kept pleading drunkenness. He pegged the 43-year-old redheaded victim as a brunette in her 20s. He called the pony-tailed blonde a Mexican girl.

His story was vague and filled with memory gaps. He kept contradicting his Sunday-night statement. His one chronological frame of reference was the moment he fell off his chair.

The interview concluded at 9:35 p.m.

Mike Whittaker walked out. Margie Trawick walked in.

STATEMENT OF MARGIE TRAWICK. TAKEN AT THE EL MONTE POLICE DEPARTMENT, 505 EAST VALLEY BOULEVARD, EL MONTE. PRESENT: SERGEANT W. E. HALLINEN, SERGEANT J. G. LAWTON. 9:41 P.M., JUNE 24, 1958. FOR FILE #Z-483-362. REPORTED BY: DORA A. BRITTON, STENOGRAPHIC REPORTER.

BY SGT. HALLINEN:

Q What is your full name?

A Margie Trawick.

Q Do you have a middle name?

A Yes, the middle name is Lucille.

Q Are you sometimes known by another last name?

A My maiden name was Phillips.

Q Where do you live?

A 413 Court Adair Street, El Monte.

Q Do you have a telephone?

A Gilbert 8-1136.

Q May I ask your age?

A I was thirty-six a week ago last Saturday the 14th of June.

Q Who do you live at that address with?

A My parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Phillips.

Q Are you working at the present time?

A Right now, no. I do have an employer. I’m off on sick leave at present.

Q Who is your employer?

A Tubesales, 2211 Tubeway Avenue, Los Angeles 22.

Q Did you have previous employment as a waitress?

A Yes. Waitress. Mostly hostess at the Desert Inn, 11721 East Valley Boulevard, El Monte, right.

Q How long were you employed there?

A Approximately nine years. Not steady at any time, whenever they needed me. When business was real good.

Q When was your last date of employment?

A Let’s see, I went to the hospital May 6th and it was the Saturday night before that Tuesday.

Q Referring to Saturday night, June 21st in the evening, do you recall this date?

A Yes, I do.

Q Would you tell us your movements starting with approximately 10:00 p.m. of that date?

A I left my home at about, between five and ten minutes after 10:00, went directly to the Desert Inn.

Q Pardon me, what type of place is the Desert Inn?

A It’s a night club, strictly. Dancing and dinner house.

Q What time did you arrive at the Desert Inn?

A I would say about 10:15, to 10:20. Just what time it would take me to drive from here straight there.

Q Where did you sit?

A The table directly in front of the bar next to the service station.

Q By service station you mean there where the girls obtain their drinks for service to the customers?

A That’s right.

Q While sitting at that table did you view the room and it’s customers?

A Yes, as it’s habit with me.

Q Could you tell us about the condition as to movement of customers and anyone in particular that you noticed?

A There were six people at two tables pulled together directly on the front row next to the dance floor.

Q Did you recognize any of these people?

A As regular customers of the Desert Inn, yes.

Q Can you name them?

A I can not.

Q Did you notice anyone at the bar?

A Yes, there was the colored singer sitting on the stool next to the service station. There was two other men at the bar.

Q Would you know their names?

A Only one that I know as Cliff. He’s the man that left with meat 11:30.

Q You are referring to when you left the Desert Inn at 11:30 p.m.?

A Yes, that’s right.

Q Any others you recognized or can name, sitting at any of the tables within your view?

A There was a dancer that used to dance at the Pioneer, a stripper, I mean, and I don’t know whether it’s her husband or agent, but he is always with her, sitting directly next to me. There was another regular sitting at the center table under the mirror on the side wall. They were regulars. There were four people at the third table next to the dance floor. I don’t know them, but they have been in there a number of times. There was a young couple directly behind them. The young fellow I’ve seen. The girl I had not.

Q As you recall these people within your view at the tables, approximately what time was it?

A This was at the time that I went in.

Q Did anyone else seat themselves or come into the place that you took particular notice of?

A Two girls. One a redhead and one is, I call a dishwater blonde, came in and sat down at the center table, center row.

Q Would you describe these two ladies?

A The redhead was very attractive. I call it a Titian red. I don’t know what you might call it. Not a dark red, not a light red. Very nicely dressed and a navy blue duster dress. Dress of print, the duster lined with the same material as the dress. The outside of the duster navy blue. At the time that they sat down, the waitress, which is a very dear friend of mine, was talking to a customer at the bar.

Q What is the waitress’s name?

A Myrtle Mawby.

Q With reference to the redheaded girl, can you describe her as to approximate age, height and weight?

A I would say she was forty years old. I would judge her to be 5′5″, her weight I’d say is hard for me to judge. I don’t believe I stated her exact weight, possibly between 125 to 130 pounds.

Q Did you notice any jewelry on this girl?

A I did not.

Q Did you notice anything else that might be distinguishing?

A The reason I noticed the girl in particular was when she pulled her coat off to dance with a fellow that walked up to the table.

Q Can you describe the other girl sitting at the table?

A She was a dishwater blonde, had a short three-quarter length, beige or tan coat on across her shoulders. She had on flat heel shoes and until I saw her dance, that’s as much of a description. Dancing, about her weight, I judged her to be heavier than the redhead by five or ten pounds. She was hippy or broad across the hips.

Q Her age?

A About the same as the other lady, about forty years old.

Q Height?

A About the same as the redhead. She had on flat heels. The redhead had high heels.

BYSGT. LAWTON:

Q Did you notice the shoes of the redhead?

A No, I did not.

Q Did the redhead appear to be intoxicated?

A Neither one of them appeared that way.

BYSGT. HALLINEN:

Q After the two girls you have just described sat at the table, what happened next?

A I called Mrs. Mawby’s attention that she had two customers and she finished her conversation with the gentleman at the bar. In the meantime a tall thin Mexican fellow walked to the back of the chair of the redhead. I did not hear him ask her to dance. She immediately arose from her chair.

Q Before you go on, can you describe this person a little more fully?

A I would say he was between 5′9″ and 6′ tall, very thin body stature, thin in face. Dark hair, slicked back. Quite slicked down.

Q Was there any wave to this hair?

A No.

Q Was there any part?

A No, it was a receding forehead on both sides here.

Q What type clothes, if you recall?

A Dark suit. Dark sport shirt, worn open at the throat with the collar out of the suit coat.

Q Did you notice anything white or light on this man?

A I did not.

Q The age?

A I would say that he wasn’t, he was around the same age as the women there.

Q Approximately forty years of age?

A Yes, sir. Between that and forty-five.

Q Did you hear any of the conversation when he came to the table?

A No, I did not.

Q Did you have any impression as to whether this man knew either one of the girls?

A It seemed to me that he was a member of the party. It looked that way.

Q And you obtained that impression from what?

A From the way he approached the redhead. She arose from her chair, she took her coat off, he helped her fold it, lining out, put it across the back of the chair and went to the dance floor.

Q At this time it left the other girl with the pony tail sitting alone at the table?

A Miss Mawby started then to take their order and came back and stood by my table because she had to wait to see whether they were all old enough before she could serve any drinks to that table. What happened next, she took their order; one beer, two highballs. I heard her call, “Tall,” then I knew one of them had a tall drink.

Q At this time there were three at the table?

A Yes.

Q What is your next recollection as to the proceedings?

A The next recollection was of Mike coming off the dance floor with the blonde.

Q You don’t know his name?

A No, I didn’t at the time.

Q You have since learned his name is Mike?

A Yes.

Q I wish to go back just a small ways in this statement and ask you if you can recall the approximate time that the two girls arrived at and sat at the table you described?

A I would say I had been there at least a half-hour, which would make it about quarter to 11:00.

Q Would you describe the person you now know as Mike?

A Well, he has light brown hair. I would call him blonde because of his facial features. He strikes me as a blonde. Young fellow, 23, 24 years old. Had a dark shirt with navy blue or black. The thing most noticeable to me was that it was sloppy. It was unbuttoned all the way down the front. Dark trousers and fabric shoes on, kind of light tennis shoes.

Q This is the same description you related to us prior to knowing that this person’s name was Mike?

A That’s right.

Q What did Mike do?

A In reference to asking me to dance he walked in the front door, walked to the bar and ordered a beer, then came up to my table and asked me if I would like to dance, and I told him the number was too fast. Then he asked me would I dance a slow one and I told him, “No, thank you.” He became very belligerent and asked me did I even know how to dance at all. He went back to the bar, picked up his beer and walked to the corner table that separates the cocktail lounge from the food side of the place. The waitress—I made the remark to the waitress that he was belligerent and looked rather young to me. She went and came back, gave him a clean ashtray and clean napkin, came back to my table and said, “No, he’s plenty old enough.” A short while later I noticed that he was dancing with the pony-tail blonde that was sitting at the center table, center row with the redhead.

Q Did you notice Mike go to the table prior to dancing with the girl with the pony tail?

A No, when I saw him sitting at the table with the party at that time that made four of them; the Mexican, the young fellow, and the two girls.

Q Do you recall in relation to the location of the bar what the position of the four people were?

A The two girls had their backs to me.

Q Which would make their backs to which side of the room?

A Their backs were at the north. They were facing the dance floor. Mike’s chair was pulled in close at an angle where he could watch the dance floor, closer to the pony tail blonde.

Q Which would be the west side?

A Yes, west. The Mexican fellow was still facing me. That would make him face north.

Q And the bar and the girls?

A That’s right.

Q And on the east side of Mike?

A Yes.

Q Did you see any more drinks ordered for the table?

A I only saw the waitress serve two rounds of drinks.

Q Do you recall who ordered those rounds?

A No, I don’t.

Q Did you notice the condition as to intoxication of the four people sitting at this table?

A The young fellow now known as Mike was quite intoxicated. The other three people, no.

Q Did both men dance with the two girls?

A After that I didn’t pay particular attention because I left at 11:30.

Q They were all four sitting at the table when you left?

A Yes, sir.

Q Did you go out of the Desert Inn with someone?

A Yes, I did.

Q And it was approximately 11:30 when you left?

A That’s right.

Q Did you return at any time that evening?

A Ten minutes to one. I brought the same fellow back. Took him to collect money that was owed to him.

Q What time did you arrive back?

A Ten to one.

Q Did you notice the condition as to the occupancy of the table and the bar of the Desert Inn?

A It was practically empty on the cocktail lounge side.

Q Did you notice the table you have previously described as having the four people there?

A It was empty.

Q Did you see any of those people previously described in the restaurant?

A No, I did not.

Q How long did you stay there?

A Just a few very few minutes.

Q And then you left?

A Then I went home, yes.

BY SERGEANT LAWTON:

Q This tall or thin Mexican man that you have described, if you saw him again, would you be able to identify him?

A I believe I could. He was so thin in here, you might think he had no teeth until you saw him smile.

Q You are indicating the jaw area?

A Yes.

Q He’s the one that asked the redhead to dance?

A Yes. I didn’t hear him ask her.

Q But they danced?

A Yes.

Q He’s the one you got the impression that they knew each other?

A That’s right.

Q Thank you very much.

STATEMENT CONCLUDED AT 10:10 P.M.

Two letters arrived at the El Monte Station Wednesday morning. Both were addressed to the Chief of Police.

The first letter was typed and postmarked Fullerton, California.

We have been trailing Mr. C.S.I, from Santa Ana and saw him throw that body, red-hair girl from his or a 1954 Plymouth two tone salmon pink, chocolate brown car that evening. You see he has a police record at various Southern California’s Police Dept. and has threatened several lives. We consider him TRASH and he is the one you are looking for. KI-28114 will tell you some more.

The letter was signed “Eye Witness, Peggy Jane, Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Galbraith, Fullerton.”

The second letter was postmarked Los Angeles. It was handwritten. “Consider Her Ways” was printed on the front of the envelope.

So shall thy poverty come as one that travalleth and thy want as an armed man.

Olga was raised in a house of ill fame, from other pros she learned all about burglary, robbery, theft, and the thief is like a murderer. Her trail leads past hold ups of banks— the 9th and Spring cashier within recent months as well as a “Job” of a bank in San Francisco known locally as Grandma. She disguises—having been around the movie studios and an elevator operator at the Ambassador, from the latter and maid work she developed the theft and murder technique she worked out in Hollywood to kill a woman in a hotel, Mrs. Greenwald, Miss Epperson and a woman in an L.A. hotel. Numerous other murders—a Stepanovich in MacArthur Park in recent months and others not revealed to the public. She hangs about the Santa Fe Trailways bus depot & museums and Forest Lawn, as well as changeable areas and districts where she may find a man to pick-pocket, a woman for sodomy, a drunk to roll, a travellar to fleece or pick pocket, Olivera Street where she sells her body & picks travellar pockets, and young men—usually two—to sleep with it in her gut.

She has to sleep so she finds a hotel over the bridge to West 7th Str. in L.A. En route is the market run by Anthony Jr. & the Senior Thomas. There Anthony seduced her and frequently A pays her, now A lives in El Monte, to prevent a new crime in El Monte, drive Anthony (by quenching him with fire) out of El Monte or she will slay you, your children and your love because she wants to get money from Anthony. Therefore drive him out of your City. If you do not want—yes—if nothing else—a social disease. If your town is wide open for pros like Olga we will continue to stamp out that evil. Rulers are a terror for evil. Now the writer is looking for two eunuchs to pitch Olga out of the window Therefore you must send her where eunuchs are and are at a place where women plunge. Send her to the state hospital on the pretext of fixing her feet. She never wears pants—violates the law against indescent exposure— and so rolls her socks which cause varicose veins. She can get a cramp and fall in traffic & in the flurry of excitement the sheriff the superior court judge & the state hosp med director could be bumped into & perish. Where would you be? She is blond, 40 to 45, is your suspect.

If the crimes of theft and murder stop then Olga is the guilty party. The longer she stays in the institution the longer is the time needed for her habitual way to carry crime into there. It will be found out and then it will be realized that although there are other crimes unsolved in her area attributed to males you sheriff’s have been looking for the wrong suspect in the book of the science of criminology of which you are paid to eat, sleep, talk and go on a journey about. Science—the thief is as a murderer, and the low pay person covets, Olga only gets a few replies for her ads & her feet force her to sleep. There are more females than males and disturbances of the area of birth by simulated actions and objects are part of a pro’s show stag “Job.” Therefore he or she that doeth violence to the body of any person shall flee to the pit. Let no man stay him, unless this female beast is gassed we will send you in.

The letter was unsigned. It was accompanied by a page torn from an Italian-language magazine. One side of the page featured scientific text. The other side featured a large photograph of a bumblebee.

The Chiefs secretary dropped both letters in Captain Bruton’s box.

An APB went out Wednesday morning.

ALL POINTS BULLETIN

SPECIAL ATTENTION … SAN GABRIEL VALLEY POLICE

AGENCIES AND CHP

ON JUNE 22, 1958 THE STRANGLED BODY OF A WOMAN WAS FOUND IN THE EL MONTE AREA. SHE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS JEAN ELLROY AKA JEAN HILLIKER AKA GENEVA 0. ELLROY. IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE SUSPECT EITHER STILL HAS IN HIS POSSESSION OR HAS THROWN AWAY ARTICLES OF VICTIM’S CLOTHING AND PERSONAL EFFECTS INCLUDING A PURSE, DESCRIPTION UNKNOWN, KEYS TO VICTIM’S 1957 BUICK, A PAIR OF WOMAN’S SHOES, POSSIBLY CLEAR PLASTIC WITH HIGH HEELS, A WOMAN’S UNDERPANTS, GIRDLE AND SLIP.

ANY INFORMATION RE ABOVE FOR J. G. LAWTON & W. E. HALLINEN, HOMICIDE DETAIL, SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT. (REFER LAWTON HQ DB HOMICIDE DETAIL FILE Z-483-362).

E. W. BISCAILUZ, SHERIFF

It was Wednesday afternoon. Bill Vickers was hitting the El Monte spots again.

He checked Suzanne’s Cafe—with negative results. He checked the Dublin Inn—with negative results.

He got a tip at the 49’er. A bartender said the victim might have been in the place the previous Saturday night—June 14th.

She was with a guy. He was 5′8″, with a stocky build and slightly wavy blond hair. They were both drunk. They stayed a short while and got into an argument—something about the redhead refusing a drink. The bartender said he’d seen the blond guy before—but he wasn’t a regular and he didn’t know his name.

Vickers checked the Mama Mia Restaurant. The owner told him to call his waitress Catherine Cathey—she was working last Saturday night.

Vickers called her. Catherine Cathey said a redhaired woman came in the place about 8:00 p.m., alone. Vickers said he’d call her back and arrange to show her a photo of the victim.

Vickers checked the Off-Beat. Nobody recognized his snapshot of the victim. The owner’s wife told him a story that she thought might connect to his case.

A regular named Ann Mae Schidt was in the Off-Beat last night. She said she was drinking at the Manger Bar with her husband and another couple Friday night and got into an argument with them. She left the bar—alone—and got accosted by a Mexican outside.

The Mexican pulled her into a car and attempted to rape her. He couldn’t accomplish the act. Ann Mae escaped.

She didn’t report the assault. She was afraid she’d be arrested for plain drunk.

Ann Mae was 40-ish and redhaired. The owner’s wife gave Vickers her phone number: GI8-0696.

Vickers left her a card and worked his way over to the Manger. He got negative results at Kay’s Cafe and the El Monte taxi stand.

A guy named Jack Groves was working the bar at the Manger. He recognized the victim’s photo and said she was in the place Saturday night between 8:00 and 9:00. He thought she was alone.

Groves did not know the name Ann Mae Schidt. He said the owners—Carl Manger and his wife—might know her. They were working Saturday night. They might have more information pertaining to the redhead.

Lavonne Chambers was divorced. She lived in a small house with her three small kids. Hallinen and Lawton took her formal statement there.

STATEMENT OF LAVONNE CHAMBERS. TAKEN AT 823 FOXDALE AVENUE, WEST COVINA. PRESENT: SERGEANT W. E. HALLINEN, SERGEANT J. G. LAWTON. 3:55 P.M., JUNE 25, 1958. FOR FILE #Z-483-362. REPORTED BY: DELLA ANDREW, STENOGRAPHIC REPORTER.

BY SGT. LAWTON:

Q What is your name?

A Lavonne Chambers.

Q Do you have a middle name?

A Marie.

Q How old are you, Mrs. Chambers?

A Twenty-nine.

Q And your home address?

A 823 Foxdale, West Covina.

Q And your phone number?

A Edgewood 7-6686.

Q What is your business or occupation?

A Car hop at Stan’s Drive-In.

Q Is that Stan’s Drive-In, at Five Points, El Monte?

A Yes.

Q On Saturday night, June the 21st, in the early morning hours of June 22nd, were you working at Stan’s, in that capacity as a car hop?

A Yes.

Q And during the course of the evening, when you were serving different cars, was there any particular car that came in—and occupants—that attracted your attention?

A Well, it was after I came back from eating. I usually eat at 9:00 o’clock. It’s usually 10:00, when I come back. After that, I saw this woman—she’s the one that attracted me, more than the man.

Q The woman attracted you, more than the man. And it was after ten?

A It was after ten.

Q Could it have been closer to eleven?

A It could have been, but it seems it was closer to ten, because it wasn’t too long after I came back from eating.

Q What kind of car were this man and woman in?

A It was a dark green Oldsmobile, it was a ’55 or ’56, and more than likely, a ’55, by the paint. It was a real dull finish, and the paint was like it had never been waxed.

Q What type of body?

A Sedan.

Q Do you know the difference in the Oldsmobile series, between the regular line and the Holiday series?

A Yeah. I know the Holiday is a longer car.

Q Is it your impression this was, or was not a Holiday?

A This was not.

Q It was not?

A Uh huh.

Q You recall we talked to you last night, over at Stan’s, and it seems like you said something—it was a possibility it might have been two-toned?

A It is possible. If it was two-toned, it was all green—a lighter shade of green and a darker green.

Q What is your best recollection, at this particular time? You have probably thought about it since we talked to you last night, along those lines, as to whether it was or was not a two-tone.

A I still feel it was a two-tone.

Q The bottom part being the darkest of the two colors?

A Uh huh.

Q You said that this woman is the one that attracted your attention the most? Why was that?

A Well, usually you walk up to a car and you ask them if they want a menu, and they say yes, or they say no. But she didn’t know what she wanted. But she said, “I want a sandwich, the smallest sandwich you got.” And I started to say, “A hot dog?” and she says, “Thinnest sandwich you have.” I said, “That will be a grilled cheese.” She said, “Okay”. He didn’t say anything, and I waited for him to order, and he said, “Just coffee.” And I took the order. And when I went to pick up the tray, I noticed the ring— the way she was sitting. She was smiling and laughing all the time, real gay.

Q Excuse me. You said you noticed the ring, the way she was sitting?

A When I was at his window, the ring was on this finger, so I could see that. (Indicating.)

Q Indicating by that, you mean your wedding ring finger?

A Uh huh.

Q On her left hand?

A Uh huh.

Q Can you describe that ring?

A It was an enormous pearl, it was so big.

Q Anything else, in particular, about it?

A It looked really bigger, I guess, because the way her hand was. It looked like it went all the way around, because I could see the big part of the pearl.

Q Anything in addition to the pearl?

A No, just the pearl, and the dress she had on. The blue dress—I noticed that.

Q Again, if you recall, we showed you a coat that has two different types of material, the outside being linen, kind of dark blue, and the inside lining a silk material, like varied-colored blue.

A That’s what it was, a blue print dress.

Q The cloth that you saw, that lined this coat that we showed you last night, was the same material?

A As the dress.

Q Was it your impression that this woman had been drinking?

A Yes, she was—oh, I’d say, pretty drunk.

Q You’d say she was pretty drunk?

A Uh huh.

Q How about the man?

A No, he wasn’t. If he was drunk, he didn’t show it. He seemed very sober.

Q Can you describe this woman to us?

A She was thin, with short dark red hair and very pleasant—real nice personality, or seemed to have. The kind you look twice at her.

Q How old a woman do you think she was?

A I don’t know. I am not a very good judge of ages.

Q Well, as I recall, you are 29.

A I’d say she was older than I am.

Q How much older than you?

A Gee, I don’t know.

Q Well, could she have been 40 years old, in your opinion?

A She could have been.

Q I don’t want to put ideas in your mind, I want your best recollection, just trying to help you recollect, a little bit. How about the man, what did he look like?

A Dark, very thin. Thin face, had dark hair, hair combed straight back.

Q You say dark hair. Could it have been dark brown, or black?

A It was either black, or awfully dark brown.

Q Did it appear that he used some kind of preparation on it, that made it lay down?

A Oh, to make it lay down, maybe. I didn’t notice much. He had quite a thick head of hair. It wasn’t thick—it was receded back, a little bit. But he still had quite a bit of hair on top.

Q Lay down flat on top?

A Uh huh.

Q How old do you think he was?

A In his thirties—middle thirties, past.

Q Between thirty-five and forty, possibly?

A Uh huh.

Q What nationality would you think he might be?

A She, of course, I didn’t think about her being anything but just American—but for him, I’d take him for a Greek or Italian.

Q Greek or Italian. Is it possible he might have been Mexican or Spanish-type, Latin-type?

A He could have been. (Pause.) His tan was, seemed like he wasn’t dark enough to be a Mexican. ’Course, I know there’s lots of light ones, but—

Q Was there anything particular about the condition of her clothing, at this time?

A No, I didn’t notice. I noticed the dress she had on, when I first waited on them. I know it was low-necked, because the light was shining.

Q About this car. Since we have talked to you last night, have you thought of anything, at all, that might be distinguishing about the car, that could help us?

A No, I thought about the car, last night. I thought, too, it must have had a California license on it. If it had been an out-of-state license, I would have noticed it. We work for tips, and about 99% of the out-of-state cars, you never make anything out of, so you notice them. And I didn’t notice that the car didn’t have the California license on it, so chances are that it did.

Q How about dented fenders, or broken grill work, or anything like that? Do you recall anything—

A (Interrupting) I just noticed that the paint, the finish, was so dull.

Q Did you hear them—after they finished their order and paid you and left—did you hear or see them leave?

A No.

Q Did you, at any time, hear the car running?

A Huh uh. The car wasn’t running when I went to pick up the tray.

Q And you didn’t hear them drive away?

A No.

Q In other words, you wouldn’t know whether it had loud pipes or anything like that on it?

A No.

Q Then, I understand that you saw this car again, later on. When was that?

A Sunday morning, after the bar was closed. It must have been around 2:15 or a little after, because we don’t usually get a crowd in there until about 2:15. But usually the lot’s full by 2:15, and they parked in back, almost to the back, right where we have the light shining over on the side, on her. And I went back to the car, and of course, asked them if they wanted a menu. She spoke up and said she wanted a bowl of chili and a cup of coffee. And I stood there, waiting for him to order, and I guess I wouldn’t have noticed him—I waited for him to order, and finally he said, “Just coffee.”

Q You said she ordered a bowl of chili?

A Uh huh.

Q Just chili, or chili and beans?

A Just chili and coffee.

Q Would there be some beans in the chili, though?

A Yes, always. That’s always served as chili and beans. We don’t serve straight chili.

Q What was her condition, at this time?

A She was a little drunker than she was the first time, but she was still very pleasant. She wasn’t nasty. Real pleasant to wait on, gay and laughing, and when I picked up the tray, she said something—I tried to remember what she said to me, or to him, but I can’t remember what she said, and who she was talking to, but she said something and laughed, and I smiled at her, and I couldn’t remember what she said.

Q What was the condition of her clothing, at this time?

A Her clothes were all right, except for the front of her dress. ’Course, the way the dress was made, I could see practically the whole breast, one side.

Q It wasn’t covered by a brassiere?

A No, I couldn’t see no brassiere. I could see something white, that I took for a slip, with a little white lace on it.

Q Could that have been her brassiere, pushed down?

A It could have been, but they don’t usually have lace on them.

Q Could you see her feet, at all?

A No, I couldn’t see her feet. I could have, if I had looked, but I didn’t. I have to reach quite a ways inside the car, to get the trays out, and put the inside trays in.

Q What impression did you get, at this time, regarding her appearance, as to what her activity had been, just prior to coming in, on this occasion?

A Oh, I don’t know. She didn’t look much different than she did the first time I saw her. I got a better look at her because I was on her side of the car.

Q Could it have been possible that, because of the appearance that you have just described her as being in, the clothing, that they could have just come from a petting party somewhere?

A They could have. It is possible.

Q She gave no indication, at this time, that she was upset or mad, or anything?

A No, she was very pleasant, very gay. She was laughing. The picture of her smiling, I remembered so well, because she laughed all the time.

Q He didn’t smile any?

A No, he seemed very bored with it. Except, I had to wait for a minute for him to pay me. The last time I waited on him, I waited again, so I went up and told him how much the bill was. I had to wait a few minutes, ’fore he had the money in his hand, and gave me a dollar bill. I gave him change, walked around to the other side of the car. The tip he left was on the tray.

Q How did he pay you, each time? Both times with a dollar bill?

A I don’t remember the first time, but I remember the last time.

Q Do you recall whether he took it out of his pocket, or out of a wallet?

A He had it in his hand, but it was a few minutes before he gave it to me, when I told him what the amount was.

Q Have you ever seen these persons before, either one of them?

A Not that I remember. I don’t remember ever seeing them, before.

Q Is there any doubt in your mind, since we have talked to you the first time, and showed you the article of clothing and the pictures that we have of this woman, that they belong to and are the same person that you waited on that night?

A There is no doubt of it.

Q If you saw this man again, would you be able to identify him?

A I am quite sure I would. I remember him, in my mind. There is nothing so outstanding about him that I could describe him, no features that would point him out in a crowd. But I know, in my mind, what he looks like.

Q Well, you said he had a thin face. Was it an extremely thin face?

A It was like Italian or Greek—a nose like that. And thin, real thin face.

Q Did you get any impression that he might have had false teeth, or not?

A No.

Q You know, sometimes, people that have false teeth— either in or out—their jaws kind of sag, around here. Did you get that impression?

A No, I didn’t.

Q Nothing other than the thinness?

A No.

BY SGT. HALLINEN:

Q You have probably given this considerable thought, since we talked to you yesterday. Would you describe, if you can, the man’s clothing?

A It was light, that’s all I can remember. It was a jacket, or something with long sleeves, and it was light.

Q You are fairly certain it was light?

A Uh huh.

Q On the sport side, or would it be of the regular suit type?

A No, it wasn’t a suit. It was some kind of a jacket. I’d say it was a sport jacket.

Q You don’t know the color of his trousers?

A No.

Q Do you recall whether he had a shirt on, light or dark?

A He had a shirt on, but I don’t recall that—I don’t remember if it was light or dark.

Q Would you be able to recognize a car similar to this one?

A Oh, yeah.

Q In other words, you’d be able to tell a car, whether it was similar, or not similar?

A I could tell, I’d know. I probably couldn’t pick the car out, that particular car, but if I saw a car like it, I could tell.

Q You feel, at that time you’d know, when you saw it, whether the car you have in mind for this car would be two-toned or one-toned?

A Uh huh.

Q Did you notice whether either one of them smoked, while they were in there?

A I never noticed.

Q Going back to this man’s features, was his skin swarthy, or regular, smooth, in your opinion?

A It was smooth, it was dark.

Q Would he be a light-complected man?

A No, he was a dark-complexioned man.

Q But light skin?

A No, his skin wasn’t light, but it wasn’t dark. Not like you see a real dark Mexican, like that. It was a dark skin, like an Italian.

Q You mentioned the hair as being black, and straight back?

A Uh huh.

Q And also, that it receded at the forehead?

A Slight—receded slightly. Not very much.

Q And a thick head of hair, though?

A Yes, his hair was quite thick on top.

Q Was there anything distinguishable about his ears?

A I don’t remember.

Q Outstanding, or—

A (Shook head from left to right.)

SGT. LAWTON: One other thing. Did you notice whether he wore any kind of jewelry, such as rings?

A No, I didn’t notice.

SGT. LAWTON: Thank you very much. STATEMENT CONCLUDED AT 4:15 P.M.

A region-wide teletype went out Wednesday night. It summarized the Ellroy case 72 hours in.

It mentioned the victim’s missing purse and undergarments, the male suspect, the blond woman and the ’55—’56 Olds. All police agencies with information were directed to contact Sheriff’s Homicide or the El Monte PD.

A California Highway Patrol man called in a tip at 10:10 p.m. The El Monte PD desk man logged it.

The CHP man knew a “dark Latin type” with a two-tone Olds. The guy hung out around Five Points. His vehicle had press photographer plates and a whip antenna. The dark Latin type had a surly disposition and liked to monitor police radio calls. The CHP man said he’d get his plate number and call it in.

The teletype drew heat fast. Dead white women always stirred things up.

Thursday morning.

Vickers and Godfrey concluded their canvassing and reached the last of their callback people. The victim’s Saturday-night whereabouts were now halfway sketched in.

Hallinen and Lawton sent a RUSH query to the California DMV. They requested stats on all ’55 and ’56 Oldsmobiles registered to San Gabriel Valley owners. They sent a second RUSH order, to the Sheriff’s Records Bureau.

They requested mug shots and file data on registered sex offenders resembling the dark man. Their suspect was most likely Caucasian—but he could be a racial Latin. They added notes on the suspect’s vehicle and the crime itself: beating, strangulation, probable rape. Their victim was a 43-year-old white woman known to frequent cocktail bars.

Lavonne Chambers and Margie Trawick were transported to the Hall of Justice. A deputy helped them construct Identi-Kit portraits of the suspect.

The Identi-Kit was a new device. Witnesses picked out individual features printed on cardboard strips and built mix-and-match faces from memory. There were dozens of chins, noses, hairlines and mouths to build from. Skilled technicians helped the witnesses put them together.

The deputy worked with Lavonne and Margie separately. The result was two similar—but distinctly differentiated—faces.

Lavonne’s man looked like a lean-faced average guy. Margie’s man looked vicious.

A sketch artist was brought in. He sat down with both witnesses and elicited separate portraits of the suspect. His third run-through melded features from the two previous versions. Lavonne and Margie agreed: He’s the guy we saw.

The sketch man mimeographed copies of the picture and gave them to Hallinen and Lawton. They routed them to the Information Bureau—to be included in a press release on the Ellroy homicide.

A deputy drove Lavonne and Margie home. Hallinen and Lawton arranged to interview the victim’s co-workers and search her house again.

The case was four days old.

Thursday afternoon.

Jim Bruton called a contact at the El Monte Unified School District. The man gave him Peter Tubiolo’s home number.

Bruton called Tubiolo and asked him to come to the station—for the purpose of answering a few questions. The matter to be discussed was the Jean Ellroy murder.

Tubiolo agreed to come in that afternoon. He stressed that he hardly knew the woman. Bruton told him it was just routine and assured him that the interview would remain confidential.

A time was set. Bruton called Hallinen and Lawton and told them to drive out. They said they’d bring Margie Trawick and let her take a look at the man.

Peter Tubiolo was prompt. Bruton, Hallinen and Lawton talked to him in a mirrored interview room. Tubiolo was heavyset and round-faced. He did not resemble the dark man in any way, shape, manner or form.

He was the vice-principal of Anne LeGore Elementary School. The victim’s son just completed the fifth grade there. He was a frightened and rather volatile child.

Tubiolo said he met Jean Ellroy on only one occasion. She came to his school to discuss her son’s poor scholastic progress and inability to get along with other children. He did not “date” or “socialize” with the late Mrs. Ellroy. Such actions were against school district policy.

The cops told him the kid said otherwise. Tubiolo stuck to his story. All he knew about the Ellroys’ private life was that the parents were divorced and the boy wasn’t allowed to see his father during the week. Mrs. Ellroy was a fine woman—but there was nothing personal between them.

Margie Trawick observed Tubiolo. She got a good close look through the mirror.

She told the cops he wasn’t the guy. They cut Tubiolo loose with apologies.

Ward Hallinen got a tip Thursday night. The West Covina PD had a suspect: a local foul ball named Steve Anthony Carbone.

Hallinen had Frank Godfrey check it out. Godfrey ran a make on Carbone and came back enthusiastic.

Carbone was a white male American of Italian descent. His DOB was 2/19/15. He was 5′10″ and 140 pounds, with hazel eyes, straight black hair and a high forehead. He owned a ’55 Olds two-door sedan, polar white over green, license MMT 879.

He hailed from Detroit, Michigan. He was popped three times for indecent exposure: 10/41, 11/41, 8/53. He moved to West Covina in ’57. He ran up a string of three drunk drivings and two assault-with-a-deadly-weapon beefs. His last ADW was notable. He pulled a 30.30 carbine on a cop.

Carbone was foul-tempered and belligerent. Carbone was a well-known cop hater and a sex offender.

Hallinen and Lawton jumped on him.

They had the West Covina PD haul him in. They had his Oldsmobile impounded and photographed in the PD parking lot. A Sheriff’s lab man dusted it, checked it for bloodstains and vacuumed it for fibers resembling the white ones found on the victim.

The lab man came up empty.

Hallinen and Lawton leaned on Carbone. He gave them a vague account of his actions Saturday night. Jim Bruton brought Margie Trawick and Lavonne Chambers in for a show-up.

They both said he wasn’t the guy they saw with the redhead.

Hallinen and Lawton worked straight through the weekend.

They talked to the victim’s co-workers and failed to turn up any leads. They walked through the victim’s house again. They spent hours at the Desert Inn and talked to dozens of patrons. Nobody could put a handle on the blonde or the dark man.

Metro got a tip on a guy named Robert John Mellon—a former mental patient from North Dakota. A deputy checked Mellon out and wrote the tip off as worthless.

A man named Archie G. Rogers called in a tip to the El Monte PD.

He said a guy named Bill Owen had a girlfriend named Dorothy. They sort of matched the description of those people in the paper—the folks seen with the dead nurse.

Owen was a painter and a mechanic. He used to live with Mr. Rogers’ sister. Dorothy frequented the Manger and the Wee Nipee bar. She slept in Mr. Rogers’ car Saturday night, June 21st.

Dorothy’s phone number was ED4-6881. Dorothy said she had a new friend named Jean. Dorothy planned to bring Jean by Mr. Rogers’ sister’s house that Saturday night.

Mr. Rogers found the whole thing suspicious.

The El Monte PD forwarded the tip to Sheriff’s Metro. Deputy Howie Haussner—Jack Lawton’s brother-in-law— handled it.

He got Rogers’ sister’s address and matched Dorothy’s phone number to a Harold T. Hotchkiss in Azusa. He attached the two addresses to the names William Owen and Dorothy Hotchkiss and teletyped them to the Criminal Records Bureau in Sacramento.

The kickback was inconclusive.

The name Dorothy Hotchkiss came back blank: no record, no wants, no warrants, no listing at the Azusa address. “William Owen” came back six times over—various Owens with criminal records dating back to ’39. None of the Owens lived in the San Gabriel Valley.

The Owen-Hotchkiss paperwork was stuffed in an accordion file. The file was marked Z-483-362.

Jean Ellroy was buried on Tuesday, July 1st, 1958.

A rent-a-preacher performed a Protestant service. She was placed in the ground at Inglewood Cemetery—out in southwest L.A.

Jean’s sister and brother-in-law were there. Some Airtek people showed up. Armand Ellroy and a few of Jean’s old friends attended.

Jack Lawton and Ward Hallinen were there.

Jean’s son copped a plea and stayed away. He spent the day watching TV with some friends of his dad’s.

The headstone was marked “Geneva Hilliker Ellroy. 1915-1958.”

The plot was on the west edge of the cemetery. It was inches from a busy street and a stretch of chain-link fence.