US UCLA Library Special Collections, A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library, Box 951575, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575. Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu. Phone: (310) 825-2575
Description
Access to this collection is generously supported by Arcadia funds. Robert S. James' real name was Major Raymond Lisenba. He was known as Robert S. James during his marriage to Mary Emma Busch James and at the time of her death in 1935, and, after her murder by rattlesnake bite and drowning, as "Rattlesnake James." Robert S. James sitting in the witness stand with a map of his home behind him. An unidentified man is visible in front of him. He was most likely testifying in his own defense for the murder trial of his wife Mary Emma James. He purportedly had an affair with his niece, which spurred him to tie down his wife and have a rattlesnake bite her, and then later drown her in their fish pond. He was supposedly helped by his friend, ex-sailor Charles H. Hope, who was also charged with murder. Text from original nitrate sleeve: James, Robert S.
Type
Image
Format
b&w nitrate negative
Identifier
uclamss_1379_13427-20 13427 ark:/21198/zz0027x8rb
Language
No linguistic content
Subject
Criminals--California--Los Angeles Judicial proceedings--California--Los Angeles Crime Legal People James, Robert S., 1895-1942
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