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Title
Smoking gun
Alternative Title
Los Angeles Herald Examiner Photo Collection
Date Created and/or Issued
1929
Contributing Institution
Los Angeles Public Library
Collection
Los Angeles Public Library Photo Collection
Rights Information
Images available for reproduction and use. Please see the Ordering & Use page at http://tessa.lapl.org/OrderingUse.html for additional information.
Description
Title supplied by cataloger.; Photograph was edited for publication purposes.
Edward L. "Ned" Doheny, Jr. was born on November 6, 1893 in Los Angeles. He was the son of oil magnate Edward L. Doheny. Doheny was an executive in his father's company and was expected to take charge when his father stepped down. On February 16, 1929, Doheny and his secretary Theodore Hugh Plunkett were found shot to death in Doheny's mansion in Beverly Hills. Officially ruled a murder-suicide, with Plunkett having killed Doheny, controversy surrounded the tragedy. Several theories circulated, especially after the story was out of the papers after thirty-six hours. The word was that Doheny Sr. was "too big to monkey with." It was speculated that Doheny killed Plunkett and then himself, that Doheny's wife killed both men, and that a hired gun may have been responsible. Both men had been implicated in the elder Doheny's Teapot Dome Scandal, the younger men having delivered bribe money to former secretary of the interior, Albert Fall, on behalf of Doheny Sr. Plunkett was set to testify in that case.
Pictured a close-up of the old-fashioned Bisley model .45 caliber gun with which Theodore Plunkett killed Edward L. Doheny Jr. and himself. Hand drawn smoke is coming out of the barrel of the gun. The Bisley model is made by Colt Manufacturing Company. The Colt logo, a horse rearing on its hind legs, can be seen on the handle. Photograph dated February 18, 1929.
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;18 x 28 cm.
Photographic prints
Identifier
00106560
Herald Examiner Collection
HE box 1822
CARL0005346014
http://173.196.26.125/cdm/ref/collection/photos/id/32104
Subject
Doheny, Edward L.,--Jr.--Death and burial
Plunkett, Theodore Hugh--Death and burial
Colt Manufacturing Company
Murder--Investigation--California--Los Angeles
Criminal investigation--California--Los Angeles
Evidence, Criminal--California--Los Angeles
Revolvers--California--Los Angeles
Firearms--California--Los Angeles
Colt firearms
Herald-Examiner Collection photographs

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