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 are occasionally spelled John F. Starns, David Searcey. A different photograph taken during the same day appears in "Strange Killing During Hold-up Admitted," Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar 1936: A2. John Starnes Sr. is on the left, gesturing at his son, John Starnes Jr. Starnes Jr. seems relaxed, hands in his pants pockets, smiling at his father. Detective Lt. C. A. Gillan's left arm is around Starnes Jr.'s shoulders. Gillan is looking away from the camera. Two unidentified men are in the background. Starnes Sr. and Gillan wear suits. Starnes Jr. wears an unzipped leather jacket and a button down shirt. 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] Handwritten on negative: John F. Starns Jr. John F. Starns Sr. 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.
Type
image
Format
b&w nitrate negative
Identifier
uclamss_1429_14067 ark:/21198/zz002j7kmc
Language
No linguistic content
Subject
Fathers and sons Police--California--Los Angeles Murder--Investigation--California--Los Angeles Robberies--California--Los Angeles Suspects (Criminal investigation)--California--Los Angeles Detectives--California--Los Angeles 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-
Source
Los Angeles Times Photographic Collection OpenUCLA Collections
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