Poison From a Secret Admirer

Sept. 7, 1909: Car shopping a century ago.

A bottle of wine from a secret admirer nearly kills Mrs. J.G. Cash, Reno telephone operator. Cash went to the hospital because she felt ill and when a doctor prescribed some wine as a treatment, she sent to her home for the bottle. Cash shared a drink with two nurses and all three become quite ill. The torso of a woman about 20 is found tied in a bag in Ecourse [Ecorse] Creek, near Detroit ... and in Spain, peasants beat a bicyclist to death because he shot a dog.

4 Children Hurt in Runaway by Frightened Horse

Sept. 4, 1919: "Somebody Is Always Taking the Joy Out of Life" by Clare Briggs (1875-1930). I would imagine the anti-union message resonated with The Times' editorial policy.

Turner Hall at 321 S. Main St. becomes the Los Angeles Men's Club, a "dry saloon" mainly for servicemen returning from World War I ... A horse frightened by a piece of paper runs away with a wagon that is "smashed to splinters" at Alameda Street and Florence Avenue, injuring four young passengers.

Officer Finds Interesting 'Pet'

Sept. 4, 1909: Times artist Edmund Waller "Ted" Gale draws J.P. Burns. Note Miss Los Angeles. In later cartoons, Gale drew her like this: March 19, 1933: "Fair and Hot Under the Collar."

A police officer finds an interesting animal on his beat at 5th and Los Angeles streets and sells it to an Asian doctor, not realizing that it was poisonous ... Speaking of found objects, the police would like to hear from the owner of a splendid artificial leg. Evidently, the man used his peg leg during the week and kept his "cork leg" for Sundays.

Detective Captures Elusive Chicken Thief

Aug. 28, 1899: Mullen and Bluett, 1st and Spring.

Karl Schillinger is an elusive chicken thief, but Detective Auble tracked him down.

Humane Officer Shoots Injured Horse

Aug. 23, 1899: Miracle electric belt restores vitality as you sleep!

The old newspapers are full of stories about terrible things happening to horses. Think about the way some people treat their cars and then imagine what it would be like to abuse an animal that way.

Train From Santa Monica Plows Into Cows on Tracks

Aug. 19, 1889: Would you trust your shirts to a place where the "N" is backward?    The train from Santa Monica plows into a herd of cattle on the tracks a few miles outside town ... a prank with a fire hose ... and police are looking for a man who shot himself in the leg.

Chief Abolishes Vice Squad

Aug. 17, 1939: USC football player Al Kreuger keeps in shape over the summer by milking cows.

Above, in a radical move, Police Chief Arthur C. Hohmann abolishes the LAPD's vice squad and transfers all the officers to other divisions. He also forms an intelligence unit. Hohmann, part of Mayor Fletcher Bowron's reform movement, served as chief for a relatively brief time and was replaced in 1941 by Clemence C.B. Horrall. Former stagecoach driver Prestley A. "Bud" Swinney dies at the age of 82. Artur Rodzinski and Jan Peerce perform at the Hollywood Bowl in a program including "El Salon Mexico" and a suite from "Der Rosenkavalier." ... and human sacrifice in "Tarzan."

The Wrong Body

Aug. 17, 1889: Patented poultry powder ... but stay away from the gasoline stoves! A body found on Fire Island is not missing aeronaut F.D. Hogan, who lost a propeller on his airship and drifted out to sea. Below, a little background. Bonus item: Jack the Ripper.

Husband, Wife Try to Arrest Each Other

Aug. 16, 1889: The shoe extension.   Everything seemed well at the household of attorney W.W. Stewart after the husband came home early and chased away his wife's drinking companion with a few gunshots. Then after a night of drinking, the Stewarts decided to have each other arrested ... and beware of the wild cow.

Whale Frightens Boaters

Aug. 14, 1899: A group of boaters is terrified when a whale surfaces nearby.