District Attorney Suspects



R301248 Lt. Frank B. Jemison 2-20-51

Phoebe Short
Elizabeth Short Murder

S: Michael Otero, George Bacos, Sergeant “Chuck”, Mark Hansen,
Doctor Paul DeGaston, etal [sic]

See opening reports and digest of information relative to victim’s movements, condition of her body, photographs, and the summary of all the facts ascertained in the Los Angeles Police Department investigation, as well as facts reported by the undersigned who took statements from the following named persons. See these statements which are attached and are by reference a part of this report.

Bacos, George
Egger, John F.
Fowler, Richard W.
Gael, Clara Ann
Gael, Frank J.
Glazer, Ernest F.
Granas, Robert S.
Hansen, Mark
Hodel, Dorothy M.
Hoffman, Henry
Hymes, Leo S.
Jackson, Daniel
Meyer, Norma Lee alias Lynn Martin
Manley, Robert
Moorman, Betty Jo
Moorman, Burton
Maurice, Clifford J.
Rankin, Reginald
Richmond, Arthur L
Sertim, Clora
Schwartz, Melvin M.
Starr, Connie
Telrop, R. Wylie
Toth, Ann
Van der Sten, B. H.
Van der Sten, Iris
Witman, Fred
Zorb, George “Tony”

The following are suspects in the murder of victim, Elizabeth Short:

1. Carl Balsiger
2. C. Welsh
3. Sergeant “Chuck” name unknown
4. John D. Wade
5. Joe Scalis
6. James Nimmo
7. Maurice Clement
8. A Chicago police officer
9. Salvador Torres Vera*
10. Doctor George Hodel
11. Marvin Margolis*
12. Glenn Wolf
13. Michael Anthony Otero
14. George Bacos
15. Francis Campbell
16. Queer Woman Surgeon
17. Doctor Paul DeGaston
18. Doctor A. E. Brix
19. Doctor M. M. Schwartz
20. Doctor Artnur McGinnis Faught
21. Doctor Patrick S. O’Reilly
22. Mark Hansen

* Medical student

INFORMATION IN RE SUSPECTS:

1. Carl Balsiger, in February, 1943 was stationed at Camp Cooke at the same time as Beth Short. She was employed there in the commissary. When questioned by police on January 20, 1947, he stated he first met victim at real estate office on Sunset Boulevard on December 6, 1946, that she moved out of the Chancellor Hotel that date and that he took her in his car on a business trip to Camarillo, California where he made a sale of supplies to a baker. They returned to Los Angeles the same day and then signed his name for a room for victim at a hotel on Yucca Street, Hollywood. That on December 7, he took her down to the bus station in Hollywood where she said she was going to take a bus San Francisco to see her sister. He said that he had no sexual relations with her; he just felt sorry for her. This story was not believed as the facts indicated that the victim took a bus to San Diego on December 9, 1946. It was established that this suspect on two occasions had given different women vicious beatings apparently for no good reason and that a young twenty-two year old woman by the name of Dorothy Welsh with whom he had attended a school in Kansas City was murdered in that city in 1941 in a similar manner to victim Short. The brother Claude Welsh had been tried for this murder and acquitted. It was further suspected that this suspect Balsiger had known Short at Camp Cooke and had been court-martialed and sent overseas as a result of Short who then laid claim to the personal effects and property of this suspect. This suspect left Los Angeles shortly after the murder and moved from job to job in various states. Investigation by undersigned and Sgt. Brown established apartment where he was rooming at the time of the murder in Hollywood and that he had lied when he said he had been with the victim one day and one night on December 6, 1946, and that his name did not appear in victim’s address book, but that it was on a folded piece of paper in with her personal effects which were mailed into police department on January 24, 1947. There was no hotel register on Yucca Street which contained the name of this suspect on the evening of December 6, 1946. He was finally located in St. Louis. Sgt. Brown went there where he was given a lie detector test and questioned. He admitted being with victim until December 8, 1946, but convinced Sgt. Brown that he was not the sergeant court-martialed. He was informed that Claude Welsh was in Hollywood at the time of the murder. It has not yet been established that he [Welsh] ever met the victim. It has since been ascertained that the sergeant who knew victim at Camp Cooke, against whom she testified in the court-martial was Sergeant “Chuck” (last name unknown). This information was secured from interviewing numerous friends of victim at Camp Cooke who worked in the commissary and information from officers stationed there in 1943. Thus far it has been impossible to find any record of such a court-martial proceedings. See photograph and other reports in re this suspect.

2. Claude Welsh, in 1941 was acquitted by Superior Court jury of the murder of his sister, Dorothy, age twenty-two, in the city of Kansas City. Her body was cut by a sharp knife, a piece of flesh was cut from her buttocks and left on the ground near an open window in the victim’s bedroom where the suspect had apparently made his escape. This suspect’s fingerprints were in the room but standing alone were not sufficient evidence for conviction. There is now information that he was in Hollywood at the time of the murder of victim Short, however it has never been established that he knew the victim. Kansas City police have failed to send complete information on this suspect as they had agreed to do. The investigation of this suspect is still pending. See photograph of suspect attached.

3. Sergeant “Chuck” (last name unknown) was seen with victim on numerous occasions at Camp Cooke in the spring of 1943. She testified that he had assaulted her to the court-martial proceedings there and he was ordered overseas as a result of it. She attempted to obtain his personal property which it was necessary for him to leave behind. It is agreed by investigators that this could be a revenge murder committed by such a person as Sgt. “Chuck”. Thus far numerous associates of victim at Camp Cooke have been interviewed and a search has been made for the records of this court-martial proceedings which would reveal the full name, background and information of this suspect. Thus far they have not been found. The investigation of this suspect is pending. See Los Angeles Police Department reports.

4. John D. Wade, alias Dr. J, Bass, DDS, whose photograph was shown to all waitresses and bartenders of the Crown Grill cocktail bar at 9th and Olive, Los Angeles, along with numerous photos, and his photo looked familiar as a customer to Francis Campbell, waitress (see statement), Joe Scalis, bartender of 2611 Bronson and also familiar to Bernice Smith, waitress, 915 North Vendome. Elizabeth Short and her friend Marjorie Graham and Ann Toth were known drinking customers of this bar located at 9th and Olive, which is two blocks from where Elizabeth Short was last seen alive. This suspect was caught phoning lewd conversations to a South Gate housewife by Investigators Sharp and Corsini and there questioned by undersigned. He admitted drinking in some of the bars where Short was seen shortly before her murder. No waitress or bartender or anyone else could place this suspect associated with victim.

5. Joe Scalis, Adson Hotel, 2611 South Bronson, Parkway 9314, was a bartender on duty the night of January 9, 1947 at the Crown Grill, the night Short was last seen alive. He was bartender on the Olive Street side. It will be remembered that victim Short was last seen alive walking in the direction of this bar as she left the main door of the Hilton on the Olive Street side. This suspect had a reputation for being high-tempered with any woman who would not date with him after closing time. When questioned at his home in the Adson Hotel he appeared very nervous and stated, “Yes, her body was found right over here” (pointing to where it was found eight blocks away) and said, “I was sleeping in a room right across the hall at the time.” But he denied that her photograph looked familiar to him as a customer of the bar.

6. James Nimmo, 147-23 Eighty-eigth Avenue, Jamaica, New York, was assistant usher to chief usher Jack Egger for the Columbia Broadcasting Company located at 6121 Sunset Boulevard before and at time of murder. Jack Egger, now an investigator for the District Attorney, states that Nimmo told him he had taken Short out and that he and Nimmo had seen her at least twenty times waiting to see the broadcast and that the last time he saw her she brought a boyfriend with her for the first time. This boyfriend identified himself at the door by showing a Chicago police badge, and he admitted them ahead of the waiting line of people. Egger states that it was after New Year’s Day, 1947 and that apparently James Nimmo had become well acquainted with the victim. Nimmo has never been questioned. See statement of Jack Egger attached.

7. Maurice Clement, Apartment 107, at 1616 North Normandy was working at Columbia Studios at the time of the murder. His name appeared in the victim’s address book. He knew Short socially and is a likely tyoe of character but has been partially eliminated by Los Angeles Police Department. See their reports.

8. Unknown Chicago Police Officer See photograph taken from trunk of victim of an acquaintance of hers in the East, no doubt as victim was endeavoring to trace her trunk which had gone astray enroute from the East to California at the time of her death. This trunk was located after the murder by officers, and that photo of unnamed person has been identified by Jack Egger, District Attorney investigator, as looking similar to the man who stated that he was an officer from Chicago and who displayed a Chicago police badge which he examined at the Columbia Broadcasting Company entrance during the week of victim’s disappearance. Egger states he was positive it was after New Year’s Day 1947. On this occasion this officer escorted Short into the broadcast ahead of the waiting line. He knew Short having seen her approximately twenty times but on this last occasion it was the only time he saw Short with a boyfriend. This suspect has never been questioned. See statement of Egger and correspondence with Chicago police department. It has been determined that the Chicago police department honorary and special police badges are star shaped and Jack Egger is uncertain as to the shape of the badge examined. He is positive that it read Chicago Police Department. Further that the following named persons knew victim while she was in Chicago enroute to Long Beach, California in July 1946: Jack Chernau, residence 7107 Grand Avenue, Chicago, he registered at the Blackstone Hotel with Short and saw her approximately fifteen times in three weeks. He had intercourse with her; he was in the upholstery business. Slig Diamond, a newspaperman whose residence is Park Row Hotel, Chicago, he saw Short over a ten-day period and has stated that he had intercourse with her and says that she was always talking about murder cases. Lou Paris, feature writer for the Chicago Daily Times, Chicago knew Short and talked with her at which time she was keenly interested in the famous Heirens Chicago murder case. John Giampa, 3421 West Lexington, was a mailer for Chicago Herald American; he knew her and said that Short knew a Chicago detective who worked on the Heirens case. Jan Jansen was reporter on the Chicago Daily News has stated that he knew victim in Chicago. All of these named persons new Short in the month of July, 1946 approximately six months before the murder and anyone of these men could have the honorary special Chicago police badges. See list of Chicago police officers who have retired which was sent by Commissioner of Police of Chicago, Illinois, which officers have retired and come to live in southern California. See photo of suspect identified by Jack Egger. It has been further established that there was only one Chicago police officer who had official business in Los Angeles at the time and he arrived and checked in to his hotel a day after the murder on January 15, 1947. All retired Chicago police officers carry police badges similar to the ones they carry in active service with the exception of the word “retired” appearing in small print on the face of the badge. See correspondence with the Chicago police department and list of names with addresses of all retired Chicago officers residing in this area, which list has not been checked out with photos and by interview.

9. Salvador Torres Vera, business address Brittingham’s Columbia Square at 6121 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood 9-3611. He is employed by his former business associate in Mexico, George Brittingham. This suspect stated that he graduated in surgery at the University of Mexico City. He was residing at 3609 South Hoover attending U.S.C. at the time of the murder. The landlady there, a Mrs. Schreiber, states that she remembered this suspect as a quiet type of roomer and remembered nothing unusual about his conduct or clothing at the time of the murder and never saw him with girls. It has been established that the victim frequented Brittingham’s Restaurant in connection with her visiting the Columbia Broadcasts, but it has not been proven that this suspect ever knew her.

10. Doctor George Hodel, M.D. 5121 Fountain* Avenue, at the time of this murder had a clinic at East First Street near Alameda. Lillian DeNorak who lived with this doctor said he spent some time around the Biltmore Hotel and identified the photo of victim Short as a photo of one of the doctor’s girl friends. Tamar Hodel, fifteen year old daughter stated, that her mother, Dorothy Hodel, has told her that her father had been out all night on a party the night of the murder and said, “They’ll never be able to prove I did that murder.” Two microphones were placed in this suspect’s home (see the log and recordings made over approximately three weeks’ time which tend to prove his innocence. See statement of Dorothy Hodel, former wife. Informant Lillian DeNorak has been committed to the State Mental Institution at Camarillo. Joe Barrett, a roomer at the Hodel residence cooperated as an informant. A photograph of the suspect in the nude with a nude identified colored model was secured from his personal effects. Undersigned identified this model as Mattie Comfort, 3423-1/2 South Arlington, Republic 4953. She said that she was with Doctor Hodel sometime prior to the murder and that she knew nothing* about his being associated with the victim. Rudolph Walthers, known to have been acquainted with victim and also with suspect Hodel, claimed he had not seen victim in the presence of Hodel and did not believe that the doctor had ever met the victim. The following acquaintances of Hodel were questioned and none were able to connect the suspect with murder: Fred Sexton, 1020 White Knoll Drive; Nita Moladero, 1617-1/2 North Normandy; Ellen Taylor 5121 Fountain Avenue; Finlay Thomas, 616-1/2 South Normandy; Mildred B. Colby, 4029 Vista Del Monte Street, Sherman Oaks, this witness was a girl friend of Charles Smith, abortionist friend of Hodel, Turin Gilkey, 1025 North Wilcox; Irene Summerset, 1236-1/4 North Edgemont; Norman Beckett, 1025 North Wilcox; Ethel Kane, 1033 North Wilcox; Annette Chase, 1039 North Wilcox; Dorothy Royer, 1636 North Beverly Glenn. See supplemental reports, long sheets and hear recordings, all of which tend to eliminate this suspect.

*Note: Correct address is 5121 Franklin

11. Marvin Margolis, now living at 1445 West Thome Street, Chicago, Illinois, formerly at the time of the murder resided at 1442 South woods Avenue, Los Angeles. He entered U.S.C. on March 4, 1946, taking a pre-medical course, and was so engaged at the time of the murder. It has been established that he and his friend, Bill Robinson, lived in the same apartment, No. 726 at the Guardian Arms Apartments, 5217 Hollywood Boulevard from October 10 1946 to October 22, 1946 with victim Short and her friend, Marjorie Graham. Victim slept on the sofa while the suspect and Bill Robinson slept with Marjorie Graham. See supplemental report in re Veteran’s Administration file on suspect Margolis. It reveals that he came out of the medical corp of the navy diagnosed a fifty per cent mental disability, due primarily to his persistent demand and desire to be attached to the surgical unit. He was engaged in the handling of hundreds of dead bodies in the Pacific Islands, but was denied any service in the surgical units, which he so much desired. He did not come forth at the time of the murder investigation and when finally questioned, he stated that he had been residing at the St. Francis Apartments and did not mention he was living at the Guardian apartments with victim. He finally admitted living with the victim at the latter address. Bill Robinson now owns the Bowery Restaurant and beer joint, Rosecrans Boulevard, San Diego, California and he has not been questioned by undersigned. T. Moroney, 1031 South Broadway, Prospect 4711 is chief attorney for the Veterans’ Administration and has control over navy case history file of suspect. His mother is Mrs. L. Margolis, 300 South Hamlen, Chicago, Illinois; his father is Irving Margolis, residing at 1448 Roosevelt Road, Chicago, Illinois. See Los Angeles Police Department reports in re suspect.

12. Glenn Wolf is the owner of the Chancellor Apartments, 1842 Cherokee Hollywood. It was the last place where victim resided in Los Angeles before she met Carl Balsiger and then left for San Diego. He [Wolf] was residing at 1617 North Las Palmas in an apartment house owned by Kate Harris at the time of the murder. He admitted knowing victim. She lived in a six bed apartment at the Chancellor Hotel and left there December 6, 1946 as she did not like the place. Wolf is known as a sexual maniac by other young women. Ray Pinker, LAPD Crime Laboratory chemist, checked the rooms in which he resided for blood and got no positive reaction. This was done upon request of Marvin Hart, now living at Lido Apartments, Hollywood, lived at Chancellor Apartments at the time of the murder. He has not been questioned. Alice Lebedeff, private investigator, 1967 Carmen Street, Hillside 6279 states that a Miss Schell, who runs a hot dog stand on Santa Monica boardwalk, slept in the upper bunk of the bed occupied by victim on December 1, 1946 at the Chancellor apartments. Further that Polly Blits, Hollywood real estate broker is a known queen queer and knows plenty. There is reliable information that some of the five girls in the room at the Chancellor living with victim were queers. Victim stated on several occasions, however, that she had no use whatsoever for queers.

13. Michael Anthony Otero, lived at the time of the murder at 3940 Marathon Street, Normandy 2-3632, with Albert Rodriguez. Shortly after the murder, he left the United States and resides in Barcelona, Spain. Approximately, on September 1, 1950, he returned to New York and is now residing there at an address known only to his brother. He has admitted going out with victim Short, twelve times and least on one occasion Ann Toth took victim to the Biltmore Hotel to meet this suspect whom she referred to as her Spanish teacher. His spanish book was found in her effects. He was with victim on December 6, 1946, the day before she left for San Diego. He is the only known boy friend who was meeting her at the Biltmore Hotel where she was last seen alive. Albert Rodriguez still resides at 3940 Marathon, Los Angeles, and has not been questioned. See Robert Manley’s statement in which he states that two days before he left San Diego with victim to bring her up to Los Angeles, that the victim had specified in requesting him to take her that she would like him to take her to the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles.

14. George Bacos, 5899 Strohmer, Sunset 7623, is the brother of Francis Campbell, a bi-sexual waitress residing at 319 South Virgil, Dunkirk 1-1949. She identified the photo of victim as a customer of the Crown Grill Bar, 9th and Olive, Los Angeles. She has stated and the records have indicated that she worked the night shift on January 9, 1947, the night victim disappeared, but she stated that she could not remember seeing victim there that night. A short time after the murder an anonymous information came to homicide, LAPD, that George Bacos had taken victim to a queer woman surgeon in the valley. Police failed to locate George Bacos and he has never been questioned. See statement taken from this suspect by undersigned where he states that at the time of the murder he was supplying the entertainment for the Crown Grill Bar and that he talked with victim approximately twelve times and had taken her out in his car and parked on Mulholland Drive at least on one occasion, but he denied taking victim to any queer woman surgeon in the valley. Suspect lives in the valley. Doctor Tony Zorb, M.D., well known abortionist stated to undersigned that it had been commonly accepted by Hollywood physicians that victim was murdered by a queer woman surgeon. He would not name the suspect and should be questioned further. See attached statement of Robert Granas of 4964 Glen.

15. Francis Campbell, residence 319 South Virgil, Dunkirk 3-1945, is said to be bi-sexual by her associates, waitress Bernice Smith, 915 North V****ma, Olympia 9258, and waitress Marjorie Underorbok, Crown Grill Bar, 9th and Olive. They all knew victim as a customer of this bar two blocks from the Biltmore Hotel. Suspect stated that she was a former waitress at the Continental Café. She was on duty the night of victim’s disappearance. A few days after the murder, Officer Ed Barrett was told by a bartender in the Crown Grill that victim was in there that night alone. Suspect Francis Campbell never came forth with with in [sic] information nor was she questioned until by undersigned. It has been positively established that not only victim, but her friends Marjorie Graham and Ann Toth, and her boy friend Leo Hymes were regular customers at the bar. See statement of George Bacos, Bob Granas, and Arthur Richmond attached.

16. Queer Woman Surgeon, see No. 14, suspect George Bacos for information.

Madam Chang, Chinese wealthy surgeon of San Francisco spent considerable time partying in Hollywood and San Francisco. It has been established that she is a prominent queer. She entertained all the pilots and flyers of the Air Force enroute to Chinese areas during the was [war]. Victim was engaged to a United States flyer Quin [Matt Gordon], who was stationed in San Jose and went to China where he was killed in action. She made trips to San Francisco with him and could have known this surgeon, Madame Chang. This subject has a brother who is now a Los Angeles County sheriff.

17. Doctor Paul DeGaston, 3701 Shannon Road, Olympia 0241, is fifty-four years of age, two hundred pounds, five feet ten and one-half inches, dark brown hair and brown eyes, and has been positively identified as the abortionist using the alias name of Doctor C. J. Morris, room 417, 3923 West Street, Los Angeles. He was using this alias and this address at the time of the murder. See the statement of Doctor Reginald Rankin, abortionist for whom suspect was employed, who along with Doctor J. Walther and son, owners of the Walthers Building at 3923 West 8th Street, Los Angeles definitely established that he was using the name of Morris before and at the time of the murder. “Doctor Morris, Room 417, 3923 West 6th Street” appeared in victim’s address book. This doctor was not investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department. He has been known to state that he studied surgery at the University of Paris, France; he is not now recognized as an M.D. in the United States, but has made a career out of abortions. He is now assisting Doctor Eric Wilson at 13835 Ventura Boulevard, Sherman Oaks. See statements attached by Doctor Tony Zorb, M.D., and Doctor C. J. Morris, M.D. of Glendale. DeGaston was tried for murder in Los Angeles, October 15, 1934, and served a term beginning on September 28, 1940 in Washington State Prison for abortions. His wife Cleona is a school teacher at Vinedale school in Sun Valley, she is now getting a divorce from him. This suspect along with Doctor C. J. Morris was arrested by the agent for the California Board of Osteopathy and officers of the Los Angeles Police Department Homicide Division on Thursday, FEB 9, 1951. He has been charged with one count of abortion and will be questioned in regard to the murder.

18. A. R. Brix, M.D., 125 South Lake Street, this doctor’s card was found in the effects of victim. When questioned he stated that victim came to him only on one occasion and consulted him about his charge for treating her for female trouble and never returned. His appointment records and other records of patients has never been checked.

19. Doctor M. M. Schwartz, room 203, 6630 Hollywood Boulevard (Cherokee Building) Granite 4651, this doctor was uncovered after undersigned took a statement from suspect Mark Hansen at which time he accused Hansen of lying and so forth and so forth then shortly thereafter Hansen who had been questioned for three years relative to his having any knowledge of any Hollywood doctors that victim went to, at this later date, he stated he had taken victim in his car one day to a doctor in the Cherokee Building. By covering all doctors in this building it was discovered that this doctor was associated with Doctor McGinnis Faught in Suite 214 Cherokee Building at the time of the murder. This information was secured from Claude J. Faught, brother of Arthur, who lives at Apartment 105, 1525 North Van Ness Avenue. Information from him was to the effect that Doctor Arthur Faught and Schwartz together with their nurse, Lillian Sickler knew the victim Short as a patient. Doctor Schwartz last stated that he studied surgery and that victim was on the make for him but that she was the patient of Doctor Arthur McGinnis Faught who was treating victim for trouble with her bartholin gland and that he wanted nothing to do with her. He stated that the bartholin gland was the lubricating gland in the vagina and that Doctor Faught had lanced it on several occasions and it could account for the fact that she had not been having intercourse with men. He said the nurse Lillian Sickler should be able to give information. He named her brother as C. W. Cozard, 1231 Randolph Street, Topeka, Kansas and said he would know where she is now located. He also named the nurse’s best girl friend as May Prior, 1644 North Cherokee, Hampstead 9162. The brother Cozard has given undersigned present address of Lillian Sickler as Station Hospital, Carswell Air Force Base, Fort Worth, Texas. This nurse has apparently refused to give any information on victim’s murder as she will not reply to letters and questions addressed to her. She had at no time mentioned to her best friend May Prior, with whom she usually ate lunch during the time the newspapers were spreading the Black Dahlia murder news on the front pages, that she met Short and that she was a patient at her office. Doctor Arthur McGinnis Faught is now deceased. His widow, Mrs. Sally Faught resides at 268 South Larchmont Avenue, Los Angeles. She has never been questioned.

20. Doctor Arthur McGinnis Faught, deceased November 1, 1949, see above No. 19, Doctor M. M. Schwartz for details.

21. Doctor Patrick S. O’Reilly, 712 South Pacific, Glendale was a good friend of Mark Hansen and Millie Miller at the time of the murder. Both of these friends knew victim and this suspect spent many evenings at Florentine Gardens and is known to have attended sex parties at Malibu and also with these friends. See Supplemental Reports by Investigator Johnstone who along with Investigator for California Pharmacy Board examined all of the doctor’s records and also see reports by Investigator Morgan. He examined pharmacy prescription records of numerous Hollywood drug stores. None of these records were found that connected suspect to victim. He was formerly married to a daughter of Burt Wallace, retired Los Angeles Police Department captain, which marriage ended in divorce. He later was convicted of Assault with a Deadly Weapon as a result of taking his secretary to a motel and sadistically beating her almost to death apparently for no other reason than to satisfy his sexual desires without intercourse. His right breast was removed by surgery. The right breast of victim Short was removed apparently by a person skilled in the use of a surgical knife. For details see supplemental report by Investigator Morgan.

22. Mark Hansen, 6024 Carlos Avenue, Granite 9670, Hillside 8594, Olympia 9456, he lives apart from his wife and two daughters who reside at 2274 Canyon Drive, Hudson 2-7257. At the age of fifteen, suspect came to Plenty Wood area in Montana, his citizenship papers No. 72516, Petition Volume 4, No. 858 in the 17th District United States Court were taken out Plenty Wood Montana on August 2, 1917. See the suspect’s statement attached where he denies ever being in the cattle butchering business and also see letter from Sheriff at Plenty Wood area, which states he engaged in the cattle business. In the statement he [Hansen] says victim could have phoned him the night she disappeared at the Biltmore Hotel as he admits getting a phone call and tells a different story about his conversation with her than the story he originally told Ann Toth at the time of the murder. Ann had been living with him sometime prior and sometime after the murder, he told her that victim phoned and asked to come back and live [with] him and he said that he victim, “Ok, come and stay with me until you can find some other place.” He told police and undersigned that he said to her, “You cannot come to stay with me because Ann is not here and she would not like it.” Victim had lived with this suspect and Ann Toth two weeks in October and ten days in November, 1946 at 6024 Carlos. Victim told Ann Toth that Mark was trying to make her, that he was jealous so she had to leave boy friends at the corner so he wouldn’t see them. Suspect phoned Mrs. Ardis, his tenant at 6002 Hollywood Boulevard who was engaged in the dressmaking business and invited her and her husband to come over for drinks to his house and see the most beautiful creature in Hollywood (referring to victim). They went over and met with Beth Short the next day Hansen brought Beth to Ardis’ home and ordered two dresses for her which she fitted and made, but never delivered to the victim. This suspect admits he did not want this victim to go out with those boy friends of her. On the evening of December 6, 1946, victim had dinner with suspect at his home and he took her alone up to the Chancellor Hotel, 1741 [1842] North Cherokee at which time she cried and said she was leaving this hotel and going north to see her sister in Oakland. This suspect claims that was the last time he saw her. Ann Toth and her friend Leo Hymes state that Mark was crazy about her and jealous of her, that he is a man who must have what he wants. They suspect Hanson [sic] and informed undersigned that he left the night of the murder in a dress suit, was out all night and returned in his street clothes. Upon investigation it was established by Mr. And Mrs. B. H. Van der Sten (see statements) and manager of the Wilton Hotel, that this incident occurred nine days after the murder, on January 24, 1947, on this day the newspapers announced the receiving of victim’s address book, on the front of which appeared, “Mark Hansen” in gold letters, suspect explained this by stating that victim, unknown to him, picked up this address book from the drawer of the desk at h

 

 

She Is In LA

Many crime books and other allegedly factual accounts claim that Short lived in or visited Los Angeles at various times in the mid-1940s; but these claims have never been substantiated, and are refuted by the findings of law enforcement officers who investigated the case. A document in the Los Angeles County district attorney's files titled "Movements of Elizabeth Short Prior to June 1, 1946" states that Short was in Florida and Massachusetts from September 1943 through the early months of 1946, and gives a detailed account of her living and working arrangements during this period.

 

 


Timeline

1940
• September: Elizabeth "Bette" Short goes to Florida to work and get away from cold weather
• October 29: nation's first peacetime military draft

1941
• Spring: Bette Short returns to Medford
• December 7: Pearl Harbor bombed; USA enters WW II

1942
• January: mobilization for war effort: price controls, rationing, women replacing drafted men in jobs
• Spring: Bette replaces draftee as soda jerk at Shuman's Drugstore in Medford
• September, Cleo Short sends Bette money to come live with him in California
• November 28: Coconut Grove Fire in Boston
– December 15: She left her mother, Mrs. Phoebe [Mae] Short, in Medford, Massachusetts and went to her father, Cleo A. Short at Mrs. Yankee's house on Nebraska Street, Vallejo, California.
– December 22: Bette and father move to 1028-1/2 W 36 St, Los Angeles [Note DA files list this date as 1/28/43]

1943
- January 29: She went to Camp Cook and worked in the P.X.(Post Exchange) handling small store and confections.: [Note: fingerprinted and photo ID]
• January: Bette living with Vera Green, 221 -C West Montecito St., West Cabrillo Beach, California
• February: Bette picked "Camp Cutie"
February: Bette living with Mr. and Mrs. Carl Stradder, Tomkins Ranch near Casmalia, California
• April: Cleo borrows key to Mary Booth's apartment in Los Angeles; Bette with him; Cleo encouraging her to be in movies
• June 3: Zoot Suit Riots in LA
• July: Mrs. Agnes L. Dixon befriends Bette in Los Angeles
• August: Bette in Lompoc, staying at Rancho Santo Antonio in Casmalia
• August 25: Bette ends employment at Camp Cooke
• September 23: Bette arrested at El Paseo Restaurant—minor where liquor is served; befriended by police woman, Mary Unkefer
- September 28: She left Camp Cook.
• October 2: Bette put on bus to Boston by Policewoman Unkefer
December 1: She went to Miami Beach and worked at Rosedale Delicatessen for a few months; lives at the El Mar Hotel

1944
She work's at Mammy's Restaurant until the latter part of 1944
– March: She took a trip to Atlanta, Georgia.
– April: She went to Miami Beach, Florida.

• September: Bette meets Gordon Fickling in Miami Beach Florida
• November: Bette back in Medford for a visit Thanksgiving
• December: Bette in Miami Beach, Florida: meets Matt Gordon New Year's Eve; living with Mrs. Devaul

1945
• Mid-January: Bette back in Medford waiting for fiancé Matt Gordan's retum.
March 30: Begins working at St. Claire's Restaurant, Boston
• May 7: V-E Day
• August 14: V-J Day—war is over
• August 22: Bette receives telegram Matt Gordon killed after war ended
September 1: She ends work at St. Claire's Restaurant
• September: Bette working in Belmont, Massachusetts at Schraff’s
December: She went to Jacksonville, Florida.

1946
– February: She went to her mother, Phoebe Short at Medford, Mass
• April: Bette leaves for Chicago from Medford (mother’s testimony at inquest)
May: Ann Toth moves into Mark Hansen home at 6024 Carlos, Hollywood
• May: Bette in Chicago, meets briefly with Gordon Fickling: he's on way to California
• May: Bette contacts Dr. John Olsen in Hammond, Indiana
• May: Letter to Bette from Fickling, "Have we been childish?"
June 1: Bette goes to Indianapolis, Indiana [Note: Mother testified at Inquest that Bette left Medford, Massachusetts in April, 1946. The District Attorney investigator could have relied upon the date her trunk was shipped from Medford. Another person could have arranged for the shipping.]
– June 1: Railway Express receipt addressed to Miss B. Short, 905 (street not legible), Indianapolis, Indiana
– June 24: She went to Chicago, Ill and registered at the Park Row Hotel.
– July 7: She left Chicago to go to Long Beach, California saying she was going there to marry Gordon Fickling. She did not marry him, but did live with him.

July: "Blue Dahlia" playing at theater in Long Beach, California
• July: Bette given "Black Dahlia" nickname

– July 22: She moved into the Washington Hotel, Long Beach with Gordon Fickling
• July 26: Bette living at Atwater Hotel in Long Beach
– August 8: She moved into several other small unknown hotels in Long Beach remaining approximately the five-day limit in each and living with Gordon Fickling.
– August 20: She went with Fickling and lived with him at the Brevort Hotel, Hollywood.*
– August 27: At 11:30 PM she checked out of the Brevort Hotel
– August 28: She moved into the Hawthorne Hotel, 1611 N. Orange Grove, Los Angeles*, with Marjorie Graham who was originally from 65 Winthrop Street, Cambridge, Mass.

• August: short, dark man sometimes pays Bette's rent at Hawthorne Hotel
• August-November: Bette a regular at Brittingham’s — Columbia Studios
• September-November: Rumor that Bette going with someone at Columbia Studios
• September 20: Last time Lynn Martin saw Bette; argue over Lynn's activities
– September 20: She moved to the Figueroa Hotel with Marjorie Graham and Sid Zaid.
– October 1: She and Marjorie Graham moved into the home of Mark Hansen and Ann Toth 6024 Carlos Ave.
– October 12: She moved to the Guardian Arms Apartments, Apt 726 at 5217 Hollywood Boulevard, and lived with Marjorie Graham, Bill Robinson, her boyfriend and Marvin Margolis.
– October 22: She moved out of the Guardian apartments and spent the night driving around looking for a place to stay but found none. She dorove around in the car of Glen Kearns, 2332 Gale St, Los Angeles;
[Note: Glen took photos of her at Marshall High School.]
– October 23: Glen Kearns took her to the home of Mark Hansen and Ann Toth, 6024 Carlos Avenue, Los Angeles
• October: Robert S. Gessinger gives Bette ride to drive-in at Sunset Blvd and Vermont
– November 13: She moved from the last address to the Chancellor Apartments, 1842 N. Cherokee, Apt. No. 501. She lived there with Cheryll Haughlamb, Beverly Don'e, Pat Goff, Marion Schmidt, Dorothy Saffron and Mary Louise Pappe. Glen Wolfe was the manager of the chancellor Apartments at the time.
• November: Bette receives letter from Fickling, "pessimistic about the future," but will try to help her
• November: Bette’s trunk arrives at Railway Express
• December: Landlady Juanita Ringo holds Bette's suitcases for nonpayment of rent
– December 1: Maurice Clement bought Bette dinner at Brittingham’s; saw her 3 or 4 times that week
• December 1: Jimmy Harrigan takes Bette to Tabu Club
• December 2: Jimmy Harrigan takes Bette to Ontario for dinner at Sycamore Inn; she tells him she's leaving area
– December 6: She went with Carl Balsiger to Camarillo, California in his 1940 Oldsmobile car (According to Balsiger, he brought her back to Los Angeles and took her to the bus station.)
• December 8: Carl Balsiger brings Bette to Greyhound
- December 9: She arrived in San Diego on a bus from Los Angeles at 6 a.m. and moved in with Dorothy French at 2750 Camino Pradero, [Pacific] Beach, San Diego, Cal. She lived there with Mrs. [E]lvera French and her daughter dorothy French and her son [Cory] French.
• December 13: Bette has date with unidentified naval officer
• December c. 15: Bette writes letter to Ann Toth asking for $20 stake
• December 16: Bette meets Robert Manley (San Diego)
• Decembcr 21: Manley goes by Frenches looking for Bette (Pacific Beach)
• December 22: Bette receives letter and $100 from Fickling (Pacific Beach)
• December 24: Bette has dinner at home of Frank Dominguez (San Diego)
• December 25: Bette celebrates Christmas with the Frenches (Pacific Beach)
• December 31: Bette has date with Frank Dominguez (San Diego)

1947
• January 1: Bette spends New Year's Day with the Frenches (Pacific Beach)
• January 2: Bette receives two phone calls (next door); one from Los Angeles
• January 7: Bette receives telegram from Red (Pacific Beach)
• January 7: Bette dates Sam Navarra (San Diego)
• January 7: Two men and a woman looking for Bette at French home
- January 8: She went to the Mecca Hotel in San diego with Robert Manley Note; They registered as Robert Manley, Mountain View and Eliz. Short, Chicago]
• Januery 8 or 9: Mark Hansen receives phone call from Bette.
• January 9: Fickling receives nine-page letter from Bette: tells Fickling she is going to Chicago for modeling job with "Jack"
• January 9: Robert Manley and Elizabeth Short stop at Sheldon's Café before leaving Pacific Beach; Robert Manley drives Bette to Greyhound Bus Depot in Los Angeles where she leaves her suitcase in locker: at 6:30 or 6:45 Manley drops her off at the Biltmore Hote1; three people see Bette in the lobby
– January 9: She was seen to leave the Biltmore Hotel and walk south on Olive Street by Harold Studholme, the Biltmore Bell Captain, residence, 427 Magnolia St., S. Pasadena
– January 9: At night she was seen by bartender and two other persons in the Crown Jewel Cocktail Lounge, formerly known as Broox's Cocktail Lounge at Eight and Olive, Los Angeles

• January 14: Lynn Martin visits Sunset Strip auto designer; heard sobbing in motel room
• January 15, 6:30 AM Bob Meyer sees 1936/37 black Ford sedan stop near vacant lot 39th and Norton
• January 15, 10:30 AM: Betty Bersinger sees "two pieces of mannequin" in vacant lot: calls police
• January 15: 10:54 AM: Communications Divisions of LAPD clocks in call of a "person without clothes on"
• January 15: Lynn Martin disappears from haunts
• January 16: Councilman Davies asks $10,000 reward for killer
• January 16: Headline: FEND TORTURES KILLS GIRL
• January 17: Headline: GIRL TORTURE SLAYING VICTIM IDENTIFIED BY EXAMINER -Elizabeth Short of Medford, Massachusetts
• January 17: Police going door-to-door
• January 18: Examiner reporter finds Elizabeth Short's trunk at Railway Express
• January 18, Headline. TRUNK FOUND IN LA, YIELDS PHOTOS LETTERS, CLEWS TO SLAYER VEILED BY GIRL'S SECRETIVE LIFE
• January 18: Mrs. Short takes plane to Los Angeles
• January 18: Cleo Short found by policeman
• January 19: Headline: BLACK DAHLIA AND RED-HAIRED YOUTH TRACED TO SAN DIEGO CAFE DAY BEFORE HER MURDER
• January 20: Headline: RED TELLS OWN STORY OF ROMANCE WITH DAHLIA, SUSPECT SQUIRMS AS SCIENCE TESTS ALIBI—Aggie Underwood by-line
• January 21: Reporter Aggie Underwood taken off Black Dahlia coverage
• January 22: Headline RED MANLEY RELEASED
• January 22: POLICE CHECK NEW CLEWS - Mr. & Mrs. William Johnson identify photo of Bette with unidentified man as couple who registered as Mr. And Mrs. Barnes at the Johnson’s hotel (LA Examiner)
• January 22: Inquest
• January 23: Finis Brown officially taken off Black Dahlia case and replaced by Jack
"Father" McReadie
• January 23: Aggie Underwood back on Dahlia coverage: byline Story: WILL DAHLIA SLAYING JOlN ALBUM OF UNSOLVED MURDERS?
• January 23: Headline: DAHLIA CLUES FAIL: INQUEST CONDUCTED
• January c. 24: Finis Brown continues working on Black Dahlia case on own time, surreptitiously
• January 24: Killer calls Jimmy Richardson, editor of Los Angeles Examiner
• January 24: Headline: POLICE CERTAIN DAHLIA KILLER NAME IN FILES, DETECTIVES CHECKING OUT FLOOD OF TIPS
• January 25: Elizabeth Short buried at Mountain View Cemetery
• January 25: Headline: DAHLIA KILLER MAILS CONTENTS OF MISSING PURSE TO EXAMINER~
• January 26: Headline: FINGERPRINT CLEWS IN DAHLIA KILLING. AWAIT NEW LETTER
• January 27: Headline: NEW DAHLIA CLUE CHECKED, POLICE CHEMIST UNEARTHS LEAD IN 3RD LETTER
• January 28: Headline: POLICE AWAIT BLACK DAHLIA SLAYER'S PLEDGE TO SURRENDER
• January 29: Police and reporters wait on City Hall steps for killer to turn himself in.
• January 29: Headline DAHLIA CASE IDIOT'S DELIGHT, MORE CONFESSIONS AND LETTERS
• January 30: Judge Louis W. Kaufman sentences 16 false confessors, calls them “Confessing Willies”
• January 30: Headline: SELF-STYLED SLAYER CHANGES MlND, FAILS TO GIVE UP, LOST WEEK THE MISSING LINK IN HUNT FOR DAHLIA KILLER
• January 31: Aggie Underwood made City Editor: taken off Dahlia case
• January 31: Headline BRUTAL ARMY MP AT CAMP COOK HUNTED lN DAHLIA SLAYING
• February 1: Headline DAHLIA CLUES RECHECKED AS EXPECTED BREAK FAILS, DAHLIA CASE SHOULD BE LESSON TO OFFICIALS AND PARENTS
• February 1: District Attorney Simpson asks Assemblyman C. Don Fields to introduce bill for Registry of Sex Offenders
• February 2: Headline: SEARCH FOR BLACK DAHLIA SLAYER WIDENS
• February 2: Sheriff's deputies join search
• February 3: Headline: HUNT FOR DAHLIA'S SLAYERS MOVES TO LA HARBOR AREA
• February 4: Headline: HUNT RENDEVOUZ CLUE ON DAHLIA: DAHLIA SLAIN IN MORTUARY?
• February 5: Cpl Joseph Dumais confesses to Black Dahlia murder at Ft. Dix, New Jersey
• February 6: Headline: EXTRA—CORPORAL DUMAIS IS BLACK DAHLIA KILLER
• February 7: Headline: DAHLIA SEEN IN LOST WEEK (tips/sightings never substantiated)
• February 9, Headline: LA POLICE CHECK MURDER STATEMENT
• February 10: Headline: EXTRA—WEREWOLF STRIKES AGAIN, KILLS LA WOMAN
• February 11: Headline: WEREWOLF MYSTERY DEEPENS! WERE DAHLIA AND LIPSTICK MURDERS BY SAME MAN?
• February 12: Headline: BLACK DAHLIA CLEWS EXHAUSTED
• February 18: Assemblyman C. Don Fields introduces bill for Registry of Sex Offenders in California
• February 18: Headline: ELIZABETH SHORT, PUBLISHER MURDER CLUES COMPARED
• February 20: 59th suspect grilled by police
• February 25: Headline: QUIZ WAC FOR CLUE TO DAHLIA KILLER
• March: Cleveland Det. Merylo contacts LAPD about Cleveland Butcher
• March 6: Mildred "Billy" Kolian confesses
• March 6: man commits suicide in Venice, confesses to Black Dahlia murdcr
• March 19: Melvin Bailey confesses to Black Dahlia murder
• March 24: Life Magazine runs story: “'I KILLED HER" - BLACK DAHLIA MURDER CASE HAS PRODUCED A RASH OF PSYCHOPATHS WHO INSIST THEY COMMITED THE CRIME: Dr. Paul de River predicts the killer will sometime have to boast about the crime
– April: Ann Toth moves out of Mark Hansen home

1948
• January, Agnes Underwood begins working with Dr. Paul de River on the Black Dahlia murder case QT through the 1950s

1949
• January: Grand Jury convened to investigate Black Dahlia murder and police corruption
• April 6: Police Commission Meeting to investigate Dr. Paul de River and his qualifications
• May: Gerry Ramlow breaks news of Brenda Allen scandal
• July 17: Mark Hansen shot by Lola Titus
• October 10: Jeanne Spangler disappears (actress, former Florentine Gardens showgirl)
• November: Harper's Magazine publishes "Butcher's Dozen" about Cleveland torso killer
• November 3: Grand Jury files interim report
• December, Chief of Police CB Horrall takes early retirement, wholesale transfers, firings of police personnel (approximate date)

1950
• William Parker new police chief: institutes reforms
• January 12: The 1949 Grand Jury Report released: exposes police corruption: recommends further investigation of Black Dahlia murder
• Movie, Sunset Boulevard, released, directed by Billy Wilder (references to Black Dahlia)

Detailed autopsy

According to autopsy reports, there was quote, "a deep laceration on the face 3" long, which extends laterally from the right corner of the mouth.....There is a deep laceration 2 1/2" inches long extending laterally from the left corner of the mouth." (Those who witnessed the body lying in the ditch said that it appeared Short was smiling.) Severe bruising was present in several places on Short's head and neck, and there were also several small cuts on her upper lip. However, the hyoid bone was intact and there was no evidence of trauma near the thyroid glands or trachea, which would be indicative of strangulation. Multiple cuts and scratches also marked her chest, torso, and arms. A small, square shaped piece of skin was missing from her thigh - it was later found shoved far into her vagina, along with a fair amount of grass. For whatever reason, her killer or killers had cut off the small rose tattoo on her thigh and placed it inside her body. It also appeared that Short had been brutally sodomized post-mortem. Her stomach was also filled with quote "greenish brown granular matter, mostly feces and other particles that could not be identified." Perhaps surprisingly, there was no precense of sperm anywhere on her body.

Elizabeth Short was no doubt subjected to some form of torture before and after she died, as brusing only occurs in the living. In the end, the injuries to her face and head were listed as the cause of death. Her injuries display obvious signs of overkill...the cuts to the face and head injuries are hallmarks of overkill. The extent of her injuries could mean one of two things: Elizabeth Short was killed by someone who knew her, someone close to her, in a fit of rage. (Overkill is often present in crimes where the killer and victim are close to one another, as are injuries to the face and head, and other forms of mutilation.) On the other hand, her killer may have been a psychopath who chose her as his next victim. But if this were true, the murder of Elizabeth Short would not be such a person's first victim. It takes years of festering madness to reach the level of brutality achieved in her death. Serial killers evolve over time and modify how they kill. If an act gives them gratification, they will build on that. If a roaming killer murdered Elizabeth Short, this was no fledging criminal.

 

 

 

In 1945 age would be

Jacob Leonard Eichelbaum    aka jack warner

Joseph M. Schenck ....russian

Samuel Goldywyn......Schmuel Gelbfisz.....to a Polish Jewish family

Cecil Blount DeMille....... jewish mother

Darryl Francis Zanuck ----42

William Goetz .....42

louie b mayer Eliezer Meir russia .. 60

B.P. Schulberg ... 55

Irving Grant Thalberg 43

Harry Cohn 52 ---gangsters

Cukor Adolf .....65.... hungarian
William Fox (born Wilhelm Fuchs ......hungary... 63

Carl Laemmle Jr ......35..... universal

Selznick -- 40 ---was born to a Jewish family in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,


1929 is where sound comes in

 

 

 

Black_dahlia_photographs

detectives_theorize

Considering the perfection and difficulties of the slices, a very large, freshly sharpened knife had to be used to cut the body in half; by at least two people skilled in the use of the large cutting MACHINE (a circular blade on a large table for butchering pigs, cattle and horses, so I would say the 'slaughter' of the body was done by at least two employees of the slaughter house near by where the body was laid out on the ground, in proper, packaging  order.

Slaughtering a steer takes hours without professional equipment, and even at that the slicing would be messy (very few clean cuts). The animal's carcass is often cut in half, but cut the length of the carcass, and even at that the animal is gutted first, so since the girl was not "gutted", they knew it had to be done side to side. It definitely had to be done by a presently-working/skilled employee, because of the "Use it or lose it" factor.

Just like Postown, Pa, the "near-by" slaughter and/or butcher facility had to be owned and operated (because of the Kosher factor) by a "Jewish"; Christianish do not own such (as a rule),  anyway it just has to be . . . on the other hand it could have been a grave-stone cutter that did it . . . because the blade was soooooo sharp the entrails weren't disturbed during the slicing, but under normal, butchering procedure, would have been pulled out all over the place, then shoved back in.

Because of the time element no surgeon could have done it. I wonder if a DNA detective/specialist could find something? . . . DNA testing was frowned on back then . . .