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 used for an article dated February 18, 1929; the caption reads "Photo shows Theodore Hugh Plunkett, secretary and slayer of Edward L. Doheny Jr., when he was a chief machinists mate on a submarine chaser during the World war. He was 33 years old and had been in the employ of the Dohenys for 16 years, starting out as chauffeur and rising to confidential secretary. He was treated by Mr. Doheny Jr. more like a friend than an employe (sic)." Plunkett is shown seated, wearing a white double-breasted uniform with a bow tie and white hat and shoes.
Type
Image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;35 x 11 cm. on 36 x 13 cm. board. Photographic prints
Plunkett, Theodore Hugh United States.--Navy--Machinist's mates Sailors--United States Men--California--Los Angeles Portrait photographs Herald-Examiner Collection photographs
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