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. On December 23, 1935, John Starnes Jr. and David Searcy robbed a liquor store and killed the owner by forcing him to drink a pint of brandy. On March 22, 1936, the two were arrested and confessed to the crime. Searcy was eventually found guilty of second degree murder, kidnapping, and second degree robbery. Starnes Jr. was found not guilty by reason of insanity. Names occasionally spelled John F. Starns and David Searcey. Five men are walking down a hallway. In front, left to right are John F. Starnes Sr., John F. Starnes Jr., and Detective Lieutenant C. A. Gillan. In back are David Searcy and Detective Lieutenant Ralph N. Davis. Starnes Sr. holds something cupped in his hands and is bending forward, looking at it. The detectives and the father are wearing suits and hats. Starnes Jr. wears an unzipped leather jacket, button down shirt, and belted slacks. Searcy wears a sweater vest over a collared shirt. A different photograph taken during the same day appears in "Strange Killing During Hold-up Admitted," Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar 1936: A2. Handwritten on negative sleeve: 4824. John F. Starns Jr. John F. Starns Sr. [circled:] Carlotta Starns. missing neg? Liquor Killing "Brandy murder" [stamped:] Apr 15 193[illegible] Text accompanying photograph in newspaper: A bizarre murder by brandy during a liquor store hold-up was confessed yesterday by these two youths, John Starnes, left, and David Searcy. Behind them are Detective Lieutenants R. N. Davis, left, and C. A. Gillan, who traced them for three months. Handwritten on negative: John F. Starnes Jr. John F. Starns Sr.
Type
image
Format
b&w nitrate negative
Identifier
uclamss_1429_14066 ark:/21198/zz002j7kkv
Language
No linguistic content
Subject
Fathers and sons Police--California--Los Angeles Murder--Investigation--California--Los Angeles Robberies--California--Los Angeles Detectives--California--Los Angeles Searcy, David, 1917- Starnes, John F., Jr. (John Fillmore), 1913-1946 Starnes, John F. (John Fillmore), 1858-1944 Los Angeles (Calif.). Police Department Gillan, C. A. (Clifford Arthur), 1900- Davis, Ralph N., 1899-1962
Source
Los Angeles Times Photographic Collection OpenUCLA Collections
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