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. Photograph caption dated February 18, 1929 reads "L. T. White, left, fingerprint expert of the district attorney's office, and Ed King, investigator, are pictured examining the old-fashioned Bisley model .45 caliber gun with which Theodore Plunkett Killed Edward L. Doheny Jr. and himself." The Bisley model is made by Colt Manufacturing Company.
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;19 x 19 cm. on 21 x 21 cm. board. Photographic prints
Doheny, Edward L.,--Jr.--Death and burial Plunkett, Theodore Hugh--Death and burial California.--District Attorney (Los Angeles County)--Officials and employees 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 Men--California--Los Angeles Herald-Examiner Collection photographs
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.