William Westhause 1943

A black and white photo from the book, Death Scenes, is titled "JL Westhouse. Police Brutality case. Westhause  was arrested for drunk, died in city jail. Relation claim he was beat up in jail. The above photo and autopsy shows he died from filth, he had wine sores, scales and lice in his hair. "

William Westhause, aged 57 and residing at 639 South Main Street in Los Angeles, died in the General Hospital prison ward two days after his transfer from the City Jail in Lincoln Heights. Records indicate that Westhause was arrested for intoxication and initially booked at Central Jail at 9:05 a.m. He was subsequently transferred to the Lincoln Heights facility, where his condition rapidly deteriorated. He lost consciousness and was moved to General Hospital for treatment, but efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. The police homicide unit was called in to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death, and an autopsy was performed.

Doctors at General Hospital initially attributed Westhause’s condition to starvation and dehydration, both of which they believed were exacerbated by alcoholism. However, the autopsy revealed a fractured skull, which was ultimately determined to be the cause of death. This raised further questions regarding the events leading up to his passing, as Westhause had reportedly been unconscious since the morning he was due to appear in municipal court. He had been arrested on a Wednesday and never regained consciousness thereafter.

Born on September 7, 1885, in Missouri, William Emil Westhause had lived in California for eight years prior to his death. His last recorded residence was on East 5th Street in Los Angeles, and he was employed by the Gospel Mission. He had married Elizabeth "Lizzie" Reiser in 1907, who passed away in 1928. He is survived by his daughter, Viola Anna Westhause Clark of Van Nuys, his son, Reverend E.C. Westhause of Clintonville, Wisconsin, and four grandchildren. Funeral services were held at Pierce Brothers Valley Mortuary, with Reverend Thomas Nalback officiating, and he was laid to rest in Valhalla Memorial Park. William Westhause’s life, marked by hardship and a tragic end, concluded on February 14, 1943, in Los Angeles.

https://www.newspapers.com/image/689240180/?match=1&terms=%22westhouse%22%20jail

https://www.newspapers.com/image/380754053/?match=1&terms=%22westhouse%22%20jail

The Case of Mrs. Lolita Davis 1940

 Mrs. Lolita Davis, Age 36 yrs, killed her three children with a hammer then committed suicide, Chloe Davis, age 11 yrs, lived.

1211 West 58th Place

Los Angeles

4/4/1940

The Death of Miss Louise Teuber 1931

incorrectly reported as 1936 in book.

April 20, 1931.

Aged 17, san diego, killed by sex fiend. found naked and hung by the neck in a scene of a supposed tryst..

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"Eugene Underwood, age 14, accidental homicide, he was learning ju-jitsu and strangled his self while practicing, he had callous marks on his throat.  March 20, 1943 Los Angeles."

Mrs. Florence Honeycutt 11/13/1945

 Mrs. Florence Irene Honeycutt age 38, Killed by her husband John Thomas Honeycutt age 32.

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Minnie Rose Heidy was born on March 15, 1884 in Kansas to John William Heidy and Emily Lucinda Stebbins Heidy.

Charles Sieber (real name, Charles Siebert) was born Jan 1889 in Kansas to Benedickt and Friedericka Siebert.

Charles and Minnie Rose Sieber were married in May 8, 1912, within the ensuing year, a daughter, Virginia Marie was born. Not long after the birth of their child, the couple separated in June of 1913, but resumed marital relations in 1914. However, in 1916, they parted for the last time and went their separate ways. Charles Sieber enlisted in the US Army during the First World War, and soon after its close went to live in Los Angeles, where he entered the service of the city as a bricklayer. 

Mrs Vivian Riley 1945

Miss [sic] Vivian Riley, age 28, killed by Vernon Spangler, age 28, in his room at 705 West 6th Street. LA, Cal. 3/17/45. He took her body to the rear of a laundry at 703 West 6th Street. He was charged with 2nd degree murder and sentenced to 5 years to life at San Quentin Prison.

The Bluebeard of LA 1920

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Steve the Killer - a Jack the Ripper 1944

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Using the same idea he took Mrs. Lillian Johnson, age 38, of Compton Calif, to a hotel at 340 South Hill St. He choked her to death & carved her up with a razor blade. Wilson was arrested by Patrolman Harold E. Donlan in a Beer Parlor on South Hill St, only a few doors from the hotel where Wilsons second victim was found then arrested he was trying to date up another woman. La Calif 11/15/44. Sentenced to death in the San Quentin gas chamber 7/5/45. Died 9/20/46.

Death of Mrs. Irene McCarthy 12/1940

The Murders of William L. Johansen (alias Harry W. Gordon, alias Frank Gordon, alias Walter Johansen and William Johnston).