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) 825-4988
Description
Access to this collection is generously supported by Arcadia funds. Access to this collection is generously supported by Haynes Foundation funds. Laura von Briesen (right) and an unidentified woman, possibly Dorothea Charmion Daley, stand outdoors, arms around each other. An X has been drawn over the left woman's face. Related to numerous stories in the Los Angeles Times on the fatal car crash caused by Busby Berkeley on September 9, 1935. The trials lasted until September 26, 1936. On January 2, 1936, Laura Von Briesen won $30,000 in a civil suit against Busby Berkeley (she had sued for $100,000), for injuries received in the crash--a broken pelvis, lower jaw, and four ribs. On September 9, 1935, Busby Berkeley, a film dance director, hit the Von Briesens' car and caused multiple fatalities and injuries. Ada Von Briesen and Dorothea Charmion Daley both died within a few days, and William Von Briesen died about a month later from complications. William's wife Manon Von Briesen and his sister Laura Von Briesen both survived, but both were critically injured. Berkeley went to trial three times charged with three counts of second-degree murder, which resulted in two deadlocks and a final acquittal. The jury was told there could be three verdicts--acquittal, murder (if he was drunk), and manslaughter (if he was not drunk, but driving recklessly). Handwritten on negative sleeve: 2004 12-24-35 Laura Von Brieson- Bus Berkeley Crash victim Other woman in photograph possibly Dorothea Charmion "Peggy" Daley, Laura's sister-in-law. Her name appears as Dorothy Shannon Daley, Dorothy Charmion Daley, Peggy Daley. Name spelled mostly as Laura Von Briesen in LA Times articles. Handwritten on paper slip in photograph: Laura Von Brieson. Copy photo
Type
image
Format
b&w nitrate negative
Identifier
uclamss_1429_8343 ark:/21198/zz002dg6jh
Language
No linguistic content
Subject
Trials (Murder)--California--Los Angeles Traffic accident victims--California--Los Angeles Traffic accidents--California--Los Angeles Trials (Manslaughter)--California--Los Angeles Von Briesen, Laura, 1916 or 1917- Daley, Dorothea Charmion
Source
Los Angeles Times Photographic Collection OpenUCLA Collections
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