Title supplied by cataloger.; Photograph was edited for publication purposes. Darby Day Jr. and Bernice Lundstrom were from Chicago. He was the son of the wealthy head of the Life Insurance Underwriter's Association and she was a 21 year-old divorcee looking for another husband. They met in 1924, married and moved to Beverly Hills, California to escape the cold Chicago winters. Her family and his mother also moved to Beverly Hills. Lundstrom grew demanding and erratic in the marriage, insisting on a separate home for herself and threatening suicide. In February, 1925, Lundstrom threw nitric acid into Day's face at his home. The acid permanently damaged his face and he lost vision in one eye. Lundstrom was later arrested and stood trial. Defense experts claimed she had the mind of a ten-year-old, but when the jury saw the gruesome photos of Day's injuries, she was convicted and sentenced to 1 to 14 years. Her appeal was denied and she was sent to San Quentin Prison in Northern California in August, 1926. Day divorced her in December, 1926. Shocking those who knew him, Day made a plea to the Gorvernor to pardon Lundstrom, but he was denied. She served 14 months and was out by the end of 1927. Day died in Santa Monica, California on February 4, 1928 during surgery to remove an abdominal abcess. Photograph caption dated July 12, 1926 reads "'And he's going to drop that foolish suit for divorce,' said the former Beverly Hills 'acid bride' in Chicago. Neither of us wants it to go through.' Above is Mrs. Day, at left, as she appeared with her sister, Caroline Lundstrom, in Los Angeles court." The women are standing in front of a counter and a man is partially hidden behind them.
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;22 x 19 cm. Photographic prints
Day, Bernice Lundstrom Day, Bernice Lundstrom--Family Day, Bernice Lundstrom--Divorce Day, Bernice Lundstrom--Trials, litigation, etc Day, Darby,--Jr.--Trials, litigation, etc Day, Darby,--Jr.--Divorce Trials (Divorce)--California--Los Angeles Crime--California--Los Angeles Criminals--California--Los Angeles Sisters--California--Los Angeles Women--California--Los Angeles Men--California--Los Angeles Courtrooms--California--Los Angeles Downtown Los Angeles (Los Angeles, Calif.) Herald-Examiner Collection photographs
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