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Inquest : TRANSCRIPT OF INQUEST
TRANSCRIPT OF INQUEST HELD ON THE BODY OF ELIZABETH SHORT AT THE HALL OF JUSTICE. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA JANUARY 22, 1947 At 10:30 A.M. Q: BY THE CORONER: Please state your name. A: Phoebe Mae Short. Q: Where do you reside? A: 115 Salem Street, Medford, Massachusetts. Q: Have you viewed the body of a deceased person in the mortuary here? A: I have. Q: Was that someone you knew in life? A: It was. Q: What was her name? A: Elizabeth Short. Q: Did she have a middle name? A: No middle name. Q: Was she related to you? A: My daughter. Q: Do you know her address? A: The address was in San Diego at the time. Q: That is the last address you had for her? A: That's right. Q: Do you recall what that was? A: 2750 Camino Padera Drive, Pacific Beach. Q: Did she have an occupation as far as you knew? A: As far as I know she was a waitress. Q: Where was she born? A: Hyde Park, Massachusetts. Q: What was her age? A: Twenty-two. Q: At the time of her death was she single, married, widowed , or divorced? A: Single. Q: And has never been married as far as you know? A: As far as I know she was not. Q: What is your information as to the date of her death? A: I was notified January 15. Q: That she died January 15? A: Yes. Q: Do you know where she died? A: She was murdered here in Los Angeles. Q: Is it your information that her body was found on a street out here in some part of Los Angeles? A: That's right. Q: Were you here at the time? A: No, I was not. Q: You were in Massachusetts? A: That's right Q: How long since you last had seen your daughter? A: In April, 1946. Q: Where did you see her then? A: At my own home in Massachusetts. Q: Did she remain with you for some time then, was she living there or just on a visit? A: She had come home from Florida in February and left in April the same year. Q: While she was at home did she tell you of any trouble or anyone that she feared or had any trouble with anyone or any enemies? A: No, she did not. Q: Or tell you of any love affairs? A: Yes, she was in love with Gordon Fickling at that time. Q: Have you since corresponded with her? A: I have. Q: And what address did you use for correspondence? A: Well, that one in Hollywood and this last one in San Diego. Q: Do you have the address in Hollywood? A: It is in my bag. That was the Chancelor Apartment in Hollywood. Q: Did you have a later address in San Diego? A: The one that I mentioned. Q: Has she corresponded or been in communication with any of your other relatives? A: No, she just regularly wrote me once a week. Q: And those were the last addresses you had for her? A: That's right. Q: Are you giving to the officers every assistance you can towards determining who the perpetrator of this crime was? A: I am. Q: BY THE CORONER; Please state your name. A: Jesse W. Haskins. Q: What is your occupation? A: Detective Lieutenant, Police Department, Los Angeles attached to University Detective Bureau. Q: Mr. Haskins, were you called to the scene of the finding of the body of the deceased person, Elizabeth Short, over whom we are holding the inquest? A: I was. Q: When did you receive that call? A: Approximately 11:05 the morning of the 15th of January. Q: And what time did you arrive at the scene? A: At 11:18. Q: And where did you go in response to the call? A: Went on Norton Street between Coliseum and 39 Street. Q: Where did you find the body of the victim in this case? A: Found the body on the west side of Norton. From Coliseum to 39 on the property line is 1200 feet, it's all vacant property. There is a fire plug in the center of that which would be 600 feet from Coliseum or 600 feet from 39 the other way. The body was 54 feet north of the fire plug toward Coliseum. Q: What is in that block, any houses or buildings? A: The nearest houses face on Claybourne and there is a back wall that comes up to the property line of Norton. Q: On the east side of Norton? A: Yes, and they are clear across the property lines of the houses that face east on Norton. Q: How wide is Norton Street? A: Sixty feet wide, and 120 feet east of the property line to the walls of the houses that face on Claybourne. Q: The body was found on the west side of Norton? A: Yes, and from that point it is 585 feet to Crenshaw, all vacant property. Q: Is that grown up with weeds? A: Weeds and grass and rose clippings and such. Q: Tell the Jury more definitely where you found the body, please? A: The location of the body when we arrived there was as I said, 54 feet north of this fire plug which was directly in the center of the 1200 foot space. The sidewalk is in on this street and the curbs in and also the indentations for the driveway are in and paved. The driveway measures five foot from the curb in the sidewalk. The sidewalk is five foot wide. The body was lying with the head towards the north, the feet towards the south, the left leg was five inches west of the sidewalk. The legs were spread out and the body was severed in two. The body was lying face up and the severed part was jogged over about 10 inches, the upper half of the body from the lower half. Q: Were there weeds at this location or grass? A: Just grass at this location. Q: High enough to hide the body? A: The body would not be hidden at all from the street on Norton. It could have been hidden from the other direction, Crenshaw, because there are some tall weeds between there and where the body was found. Q: Is this a sidewalk or is it a much traveled location? A: It is possible there is a great deal of travel on the street for cutting across to the two streets otherwise there is no reason for anybody to walk across there. Q: Did the body appear to have been dead for some time? A: From my observation it looked fresh. Q: Would you say death had occurred after midnight of the 15th or prior to midnight or would you be able to form any opinion? A: My opinion would be that it would be since midnight of the 15th. Q: Did you find any blood or tracks or anything of that nature at the scene? A: [Dropped line of words]... body was found to the street there was a tire track right up against the curbing and there was what appeared to be a possible bloody heel mark in this tire mark; and on the curbing which is very low there was one spot of blood; and there was an empty paper cement sack lying in the driveway and it also had a spot of blood on it. Q: Any other container or sack or cloth that the body might have been transported in? A: There was not. Q: From your examination of the body would you be able to form any opinion as to whether the crime had been committed at this scene or brought there from some other location? A: It had been brought there from some other location. Q: Was there any clot of blood on the body or did it appear to have been washed? A: The body was clean and appeared to have been washed. Q: Do you know who reported the finding of the body? A: All I know is how our Communication Division was notified of it and we were unable to locate the party. It was a woman's voice which called the Communication Division at approximately 10 minutes before we received the call from them; and their statement at this time was that there was a nude body on the west side of Norton about half way from Coliseum to 39th and the flies were bothering it and it needed attention and the call necessarily was put over the air as a 390 down. Q: Is there anything else you can tell the Jury with regard to the facts surrounding the finding of the body or what you found at the location? A: No, I don't recall of anything else that would help the Jury. Q: Do you have the name of any witnesses who have been found to have been with the body or the person of Miss Chort recently? A: I do not. Only from investigation of other officers. Q: Did you have the name of one, Robert Manley? A: I have. Q: Is he here this morning? A: He is. Q: I'll call him later that's all then, thank you. Q: BY THE CORONER; Please state your name. A: Robert Manley. Q: Where do you live? A: 8010 Mountain View. Q: Your occupation? A: Salesman. Q: That is Mountain View in South Gate? A: That's right, sir. Q: Were you acquainted with the deceased in this case, Elizabeth Short? A: Yes, sir. Q: How long had you known her; approximately how long? A: Approximately, a month. Q: When did you see her, meet her the last time. A: I saw Miss Short January 9th, which was the last time. Q: Where was that? A: I left Miss Short at the Biltmore Hotel at 6:30 P.M., January 9, 1947. Q: Where had you picked her up from? A: I had driven her to Los Angeles from San Diego. Q: Had you met her in San Diego and brought her to Los Angeles? A: Yes, sir. Q: Had she asked you to bring her to Los Angeles? A: Yes. Q: Did she say why she wanted to come to Los Angeles? A: She said she didn't like San Diego. Q: Did she say what she was going to do when she got here or where she was going? A: She said she was going to meet her sister in Los Angeles and was going to spend a couple of days up in Berkeley with her sister and then go to Boston which was her home. Q: And you left her at the Biltmore Hotel? A: That's correct. Q: Did she give you any address where she was expected to stay here? A: No, sir. Q: And that was the last time you saw her? A: That was the last time. Q: And that was January 9th? A: Yes, sir. Q: At what time? A: 6:30. Q: And you haven't seen or heard from her since? A: No, sir. Q: Is there anything else you can tell the Jury for the benefit of the officers that might aid in determining the perpetrator of this crime? A: No, sir. Q: You have given them every assistance you can, have you? A: Yes, sir. Q: BY THE CORONER; Please state your name. A: H. L. Hansen. Q: And your occupation? A: Police Officer, City of Los Angeles, attached to the Homicide Division. Q: Mr. Hansen, have you made a follow-up investigation of the deceased, Elizabeth Short? A: Yes, we have. Q: Have you been able to determine as to any possible identification of the death of the person who may have committed this crime? A: As to now, we have no definite information as to who perpetrated it. Q: And you are following all clues you receive? A: Every effort to locate the criminal is being made. Q: Is there anything else that you can say that might assist the Jury in arriving at a verdict? A: I think it has been pretty well covered. Q: BY THE CORONER; Please state your name. A: Frederick D. Newbarr. Q: What is your occupation? A: Physician and Surgeon. Q: And you are the autopsy surgeon for the coroner? A: Yes, sir, chief autopsy surgeon, Los Angeles County. Q: Did you perform an autopsy on the body of Elizabeth Short over whom we are holding the present inquest? A: Yes, sir. Q: When did you perform the autopsy? A: January 16, 1947 at 10:30 A.M. Q: From your examination of the body would you be able to form any opinion as to the date of the death as to whether it was on the 15th or prior to the 15th? A: It was my opinion that the appearance of the body was such that the death occurred not more than 24 hours previous to the 15th, probably less. Q: So that the death would have occurred either on the 14th or 15th? A: Yes, sir. Q: Will you please state to the Jury either briefly or in full as you like, the result of your autopsy findings, please? A: The immediate cause of the death was hemorrhage and shock due to concussion of the brain and lacerations of the face. The body is that of a female about 15 to 20 years of age, measuring 5'5" in height and weighing 115 pounds. There are multiple lacerations in the midforehead, in the right forehead, and at the top of the head in the midline. There are multiple tiny abrasions, linear in shape on the right face and forehead. There are two small lacerations, 1/4" each in length, on each side of the nose near the bridge. There is a deep laceration in the face 3" long which extends laterally from the right corner of the mouth. The surrounding tissues are ecchymotic and bluish purple in color. There is a deep laceration 2&1/2" long extending laterally from the left corner of the mouth. The surrounding tissues are bluish purple in color. There are five linear lacerations in the right upper lip which extend into the soft tissues for a distance of 1/8". The teeth are in a state of advanced decay. The two upper central incisors are loose and one lower incisor is loose. The rest of the teeth show cavities. Upon reflecting the scalp, there is ecchymosis in the right and frontal areas of subarachnoid hemorrhage on the right side and small hemorrhagic areas in the corpus callosum. No fracture of the skull is visible. There is a depressed ridge on both sides and in the anterior portion of the neck. It is light brown in color. There is an abrasion irregular in outline in the skin of the neck in the anterior midline. There are two linear abrasions in the left anterior neck. It is light brown in color. There are two depressed ridges in the posterior neck, pale brown in color. The lower ridge has an abrasion in the skin at each extremity. The pharynx&larnyx are intact. There is no evidence of trauma to the hyoid bone, thyroid or cricoid cartilages or tracheal rings. There is a small area of ecchymosis in the soft tissues of the right neck at the level of the upper tracheal rings. There is no obstruction in the laryngotracheal passage. There is an irregular laceration with superficial loss in the skin of the right breast. The tissue loss is more or less square in outline and measures 3 & 1/4" transversely and 2 & 1/2" longitudinally; Extending toward the midline from this irregular laceration are several superficial lacerations in the skin. There is an elliptical opening in the skin located 3/4" to the left of the left nipple. The opening measures 2 & 3/4" in a transverse direction and 1 & 1/4" in a longitudinal direction in its midportion. The margins of these wounds show no appreciable discoloration. Q: Doctor, I don't believe it will be necessary for you to read all this. It is rather long and I don't think we need to read all of it here. The essential findings with regard to cause of death have already been expressed; and that is the concussion of the brain and the lacerations of the face. The portion of your findings with regard to the chest, would you read that on the second page there, the organs of the chest, were they in a normal position? A: The left lung is pink in color and well aerated. The right lung is somewhat adherant due to fairly firm pleural adhesions. The lung is pink in color and well aerated. There is calcified thickening of the 9th rib on the right side in the scapular line. The heart shows no gross pathology. Q: Then the next paragraph with regard to the severing of the body? A: The trunk is completely severed by an incision which is almost straight through the abdomen severing the intestine at the duodenum and through the soft tissues of the abdomen passing through the intervertebral disk between the 2nd and 3rd lumbar vertebra. There is very little ecchymosis along the tract of the incision. There is a gaping laceration 4 & 1/2" which extends longitudinally from the umbilicus to the suprapubic area. On both sides of this laceration there are multiple superficial lacerations. There are multiple criss cross lacerations in the suprapubic area which extend through the skin and soft tissues. No ecchymosis is seen. Q: Was there evidence of any sexual assault? You might read the last paragraph, and I believe that covers it, on the next page. A: The stomach was filled with greenish brown granular material, mostly feces and other particles which could not be identified. All smears for spermatazoa are negative. Q: Is there anything else which would contribute to the medical cause of death? A: No, sir, I don't think so. Q: Your finding is that the real cause of death was hemorrhage and shock due to blows to the head? A: Blows on the head and face. VERDICT OF CORONER'S JURY STATE OF CALIFORNIA, County of Los Angeles In the Matter of the Inquisition upon the body of Elizabeth Short, Deceased, Before BEN H. BROWN, Coroner. We, the Jurors, summoned to appear before the Coroner of Los Angeles County at room 102, Hall of Justice, Los Angeles County, California, on the 22nd day of January A.D. 1947, to inquire into the cause of the death of Elizabeth Short, having been duly sworn according to law, and having made such inquisition and hearing the testimony adduced, upon our oaths, each and all do say that we find that the deceased was named Elizabeth Short, a female, single, native of Mass., aged about 22 years, and that she came to her death found on the 15th day of January, 1947 at Norton St. Between 39th and Coliseum Drive, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, and that this death was caused by hemorrhage and shock due to concussion of the brain and lacerations of face; and from the testimony introduced we find said injuries to have been inflicted on the deceased by some person or persons unknown at this time to this jury and at some location unknown to this jury; and we find this to be a homicide and recommend that every effort be made to apprehend the perpetrator or perpetrators responsible therefor, all of which we duly certify by this inquisition in writing, by us signed this 22nd day of January, 1947. Choteau W. Paul, Foreman Paul I. Todd Robert Kessler H. W. LaChat S. R. Moore R. W. Rose Fred Weller H. E. Brier F. D. Tucker |
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