My Dark Places

by James Ellroy

  Ellis owned the bungalows behind the Desert Inn parking lot. His pal Al Manganiello rented a flop from him. Ellis ran a small handbook out of the bar. He took action on all the races at Hollywood Park and Santa Anita.

  Ellis got popped for drunk driving in May of ’57. Two El Monte cops said he tried to bribe them—nice coin if they shit-canned the arrest report. A couple of Ellis’ buddies offered them backup bribes.

  The bribe offers were relative chump change. The thing escalated into a hick-town cause célèbre.

  Ellis was convicted for drunk driving. Appeals kept him out of jail for over a year. Ellis and his pals beat the bribery rap.

  The drunk driving appeals ran out on June 19th. A judge confirmed the conviction. Ellis was ordered to appear for sentencing on June 27th.

  The Desert Inn was venerably shitkicker—and high-class by El Monte standards.

  Spade Cooley played there on his way down from local TV. The quasi-Ink Spots played there on their post-Vegas slide.

  Negro customers got the bum’s rush. Spies got a wary welcome—if they didn’t show up en masse.

  The Desert Inn was a good place to drink and scout nookie. The Desert Inn was safe and civilized—by 1958 El Monte standards.

  Jim Bruton met Hallinen and Lawton at the bar. It was 6:30 p.m.

  They hit Al Manganiello up for the Desert Inn guest book. Al showed them a ledger filled with names and addresses. They skimmed it and found two men named Tom.

  Tom Downey: 4817 Azusa Canyon Road, Baldwin Park. Tom Baker: 5013 North Larry Street, Baldwin Park.

  Al said he didn’t know Tom Baker. Tom Downey was more their speed—sort of a slick dark-haired guy like the one they said was dancing with the redhead.

  Hallinen, Lawton and Bruton drove to Downey’s address. A woman answered the door and ID’d herself as Mrs. Downey.

  She said Tom was still at work—he sold Fords at El Monte Motors. He should be home in a few minutes.

  They told her they’d be back later and staked out the house in Bruton’s car. “A few minutes” stretched to nine and a half hours.

  They called it quits at 5:00 a.m. Bruton radioed the station and told them to dispatch a patrol unit to relieve the stakeout.

  A black & white arrived five minutes later. Bruton drove Hallinen and Lawton back to the Desert Inn to get their cars. Everybody dispersed and went home.

  The patrol guys watched the Downey house. Tom Downey showed up twenty minutes into their stakeout.

  The patrol guys grabbed him. They radioed the El Monte switchboard and told the operator to rouse Captain Bruton.

  Tom Downey was pissed off and bewildered. The patrol guys drove him to the El Monte Station and placed him in an interview room.

  Jim Bruton walked in. His first impression of Tom Downey: This guy is too stocky to be our suspect.

  Bruton questioned him. Downey said he was out chasing cunt—and boy was he tired. Bruton told him to run down his Saturday-night activities.

  Downey said he was at the Desert Inn on two different occasions. The first time was between 8:00 and 9:00. He sat at a table with Ben Grissman and another guy while they ate their dinner.

  Ben and the other guy left. He stayed another ten minutes or so. He hit a few more spots, returned to the Desert Inn and had two drinks. He cashed a 20-dollar check with the bartender and split just prior to midnight. He went to another bar and met up with a friend. They drove to a steak house in Covina and had a late supper. He got home real late.

  Bruton described the victim, the blonde and the dark man, and placed them at the Desert Inn roughly concurrent with Downey’s visits. Downey said he didn’t notice anybody resembling them.

  Bruton wrote down “Ben Grissman” and got the name of Downey’s other buddy. He told Downey that some Sheriff’s men might want to talk to him.

  Downey pledged his cooperation. Bruton sent him home in a patrol car.

  A letter arrived at the El Monte Station Tuesday morning. It was scrawled on the back of a bank deposit slip and an employee’s time clock sheet.

  El Monte Chief of Police 6/23/58

  Dear Sir,

  I would suggest, in relation to your latest rape murder (that I read about in today’s paper) you should question E. Ponce, a TV repair man, works for Dorn’s, lives in Monterey Park. This is rather near El Monte and my wife charges that he raped her in April of last year, in my home. He also threatened her at that time and the rest of the family. Our matter is in the courts at this time. He is a tall slim Mexican, very pronounced accent. Make him account for his actions and or any others of a similar nature, as he is so inclined.

  Ask Ponce if he was acquainted with the nurse that was raped & murdered. Find out if she ever bought a TV or had other dealings with Dorn’s, and if Ponce had ever repaired sets or any other appliance for her. Look at Dorn’s books and hours. Make him account for his time on the night of the crime. Substantiated. Ask me to identify him, just as if I had seen her with him. Let me get a close look.

  The letter was signed “Lester A. Eby, 17152 Cires Avenue, Fontana, Calif.” The Chief’s secretary called Information and got the accompanying phone number: VA2-7814. She wrote it at the bottom of the time clock sheet and called Information back.

  She asked for a listing on “E. Ponce” in Monterey Park. The operator gave her the only one she had: Emil Ponce, 320 East Fernfield Drive, PA1-3047. She wrote the information down below the informant’s name and placed the letter in Captain Bruton’s box.

  Ruth Schienle called Sheriff’s Homicide Tuesday morning. She left a detailed message for Ward Hallinen and Jack Lawton. The phone man wrote it down on the back of a teletype slip.

  Miss Schienle rptd that Henry Kurtz, 4144 Irving PL, Culver City, NE8-5888, did not rpt for work last night and had phoned in that he would not be in tonight (6/24/58). Henry F. Kurtz / MW/ 39-42/5′-8″—220 / brown hair

  The phone man placed the slip in Jack Lawton’s box.

  Jim Bruton called Frank Godfrey Tuesday morning. He told him to hustle down to Brea and talk to a Mexican girl named Carmen Contreras. They got a tip that she knew a Desert Inn habitué named Tommy. The girl’s address was 248 South Poplar.

  Godfrey drove to Orange County and found the address. The girl’s mother sent him over to the Beckman Instrument Company—Carmen’s place of employment.

  Godfrey talked to Carmen. Carmen said she knew a man named Tommy—but she didn’t know his last name. He was a Caucasian, 30 to 40, 5′6″ to 5′7″. He was dark complected and had brown eyes and dark curly hair.

  Carmen thought he lived in Baldwin Park. He was married—but was trying to obtain a divorce. He drove a ’57 Mercury coupe, pink over white. He told her he used to own a ’52 Olds. He worked for a floor-installation company in Temple City. He hung out at the Ivanhoe in Temple City and the Desert Inn in El Monte. He liked to sit at the bar or table-hop. He took her to an Italian place on Valley a couple of times. She hadn’t seen Tommy in a while.

  Godfrey gave her a card. He told her to call him if she dredged up Tommy’s last name. Carmen said she would.

  Godfrey called Jim Bruton and ran the interview by him. Bruton said he’d check out the Ivanhoe.

  An anonymous tipster called the Temple City Sheriff’s Tuesday morning. He said this “Johnny” guy might be the one who choked that nurse.

  The tipster said Johnny frequented the Desert Inn. He drove a pink-and-white Olds Holiday and considered himself a “lover boy.” He was white, 30 to 35, 5/8// with a medium build. He had black hair and a dark complexion. He had an ex-girlfriend named Patricia Fields.

  The desk sergeant relayed the information to Bill Vickers. Vickers found a phone listing for Patricia Fields and called her.

  Miss Fields told him that Johnny had been working overseas since December. She’d been corresponding with him since that time. Vickers asked her if she could verify it. Miss Fields told him to call Peggy Narucore. Her number was GI3-2638.

  Vickers called the number. Peggy Narucore
confirmed Miss Fields’ story.

  It was mid-afternoon.

  Frank Godfrey and Bill Vickers were canvassing bars and restaurants. Ward Hallinen and Jack Lawton were reinterviewing the victim’s ex-husband and son.

  Their apartment was small and hot. They sat around a small kitchen table.

  Armand Ellroy mentioned the funeral next week. He’d arranged for a minister and burial at Inglewood Cemetery. Jean’s sister and her husband were flying in from Madison, Wisconsin. He’d be taking his boy back to El Monte next Monday to pick up his things.

  Hallinen and Lawton asked the boy some questions.

  Did your mother know a blond woman with a ponytail? Did you ever see her with a Mexican man or a dark white man? Who were her friends at work? Did she make any friends since you moved to El Monte? Why did she move to El Monte?

  The boy said his mother lied about the move to El Monte. She said she wanted him to live in a house, not an apartment. He knew she was lying.

  He liked Santa Monica. El Monte scared him. He didn’t understand why they moved so far away.

  He didn’t know any blond woman. He didn’t know any Mexican guy or dark white guy. He didn’t know his mother’s work friends. He already told them about Hank Hart and Peter Tubiolo. Mrs. Krycki was his mother’s friend—he knew that.

  Lawton asked him if his mother drank liquor.

  The boy said she drank a lot of Early Times bourbon.

  Jim Bruton got a call Tuesday evening. The Temple Sheriff’s forwarded a tip: Tommy just showed up at the Ivanhoe.

  Bruton arranged for a Sheriff’s unit to transport him to the El Monte Station. He set up an interview room with a one-way glass mirror and called Myrtle Mawby. She agreed to come in and view the suspect.

  Two deputies brought Tommy in. It was Tom Baker from the Desert Inn guest book. Bruton had him run down his Saturday night.

  Baker said he went to the races at Hollywood Park. He stayed through the seventh race and drove to a restaurant on Florence and Rosemead. He had a burger and drove to his place in Baldwin Park. He spent the rest of the evening watching TV with his landlord and the landlord’s son. He was not at the Desert Inn Saturday night.

  Myrtle Mawby observed Tom Baker. She told Bruton that he was not the man she saw with the redhead.

  Tom Baker was released. A patrol car drove him back to the Ivanhoe.

  It was 8:00 p.m.

  Vickers and Godfrey were over at Temple—calling bartenders and carhops at home. Hallinen and Lawton were calling out from the El Monte Station.

  They were trying to locate Margie Trawick and Mike Whit-taker. They needed them to submit formal statements tonight.

  They found Margie at her parents’ house. They found Mike at the Melody Room and told him they’d send a car for him. They arranged for a Sheriff’s stenographer to come out to the station.

  The desk sergeant interrupted them. He said a tip just came in—a carhop at Stan’s might have seen something Saturday night.

  Lavonne Chambers was wearing a red-and-gold uniform. Hallinen and Lawton interviewed her in the manager’s cubbyhole.

  Stan’s was circular and space-age modern. A neon spire poked out of the roof. The lot behind it was huge—cars could stack up three rows deep and flash their lights for service.

  Lavonne said she heard a radio broadcast. She hemmed-and-hawed for a day or so and told her shift boss what she knew. He called the Sheriff’s for her.

  Hallinen and Lawton coaxed her a little. Lavonne relaxed and told them her story.

  She recognized the description on the radio. She remembered the redhead—from her dress down to her pearl ring. She was certain that she served the redhead and her date twice— Saturday night and Sunday morning.

  They came in shortly after 10:00. The woman ordered a grilled cheese sandwich; the man ordered coffee. The man was driving. The car was a ’55 or ’56 Olds sedan. It was two-tone green—with the lighter green probably on top. The man was very thin, 35 to 40, with black hair combed straight back. He looked like he might be of Greek or Italian extraction.

  The woman acted lighthearted. She might have been intoxicated. The man acted bored and reserved.

  They ate and drove off. They returned between 2:00 and 2:45 a.m. They parked in one of her stalls again.

  The redhead ordered chili and beans. The man ordered coffee. She was still lighthearted. He was still bored and reserved. They ate, paid up and drove off.

  Hallinen and Lawton displayed the victim’s coat—covered with forensic tags now. Lavonne Chambers ID’d the lining immediately. She ID’d a photo of the victim just as fast. She agreed to submit a formal statement tomorrow—but only at her house. She couldn’t leave her children alone.

  Hallinen and Lawton set up a 3:30 appointment. Lavonne went on and on about the redhead—she was so pretty and seemed so nice.

  Mike Whittaker’s formal statement was a mess.

  He kept pleading drunkenness. He pegged the 43-year-old redheaded victim as a brunette in her 20s. He called the pony-tailed blonde a Mexican girl.

  His story was vague and filled with memory gaps. He kept contradicting his Sunday-night statement. His one chronological frame of reference was the moment he fell off his chair.

  The interview concluded at 9:35 p.m.

  Mike Whittaker walked out. Margie Trawick walked in.

  STATEMENT OF MARGIE TRAWICK. TAKEN AT THE EL MONTE POLICE DEPARTMENT, 505 EAST VALLEY BOULEVARD, EL MONTE. PRESENT: SERGEANT W. E. HALLINEN, SERGEANT J. G. LAWTON. 9:41 P.M., JUNE 24, 1958. FOR FILE #Z-483-362. REPORTED BY: DORA A. BRITTON, STENOGRAPHIC REPORTER.

  BY SGT. HALLINEN:

  Q What is your full name?

  A Margie Trawick.

  Q Do you have a middle name?

  A Yes, the middle name is Lucille.

  Q Are you sometimes known by another last name?

  A My maiden name was Phillips.

  Q Where do you live?

  A 413 Court Adair Street, El Monte.

  Q Do you have a telephone?

  A Gilbert 8-1136.

  Q May I ask your age?

  A I was thirty-six a week ago last Saturday the 14th of June.

  Q Who do you live at that address with?

  A My parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Phillips.

  Q Are you working at the present time?

  A Right now, no. I do have an employer. I’m off on sick leave at present.

  Q Who is your employer?

  A Tubesales, 2211 Tubeway Avenue, Los Angeles 22.

  Q Did you have previous employment as a waitress?

  A Yes. Waitress. Mostly hostess at the Desert Inn, 11721 East Valley Boulevard, El Monte, right.

  Q How long were you employed there?

  A Approximately nine years. Not steady at any time, whenever they needed me. When business was real good.

  Q When was your last date of employment?

  A Let’s see, I went to the hospital May 6th and it was the Saturday night before that Tuesday.

  Q Referring to Saturday night, June 21st in the evening, do you recall this date?

  A Yes, I do.

  Q Would you tell us your movements starting with approximately 10:00 p.m. of that date?

  A I left my home at about, between five and ten minutes after 10:00, went directly to the Desert Inn.

  Q Pardon me, what type of place is the Desert Inn?

  A It’s a night club, strictly. Dancing and dinner house.

  Q What time did you arrive at the Desert Inn?

  A I would say about 10:15, to 10:20. Just what time it would take me to drive from here straight there.

  Q Where did you sit?

  A The table directly in front of the bar next to the service station.

  Q By service station you mean there where the girls obtain their drinks for service to the customers?

  A That’s right.

  Q While sitting at that table did you view the room and it’s customers?

  A Yes, as it’s habit with me.


  Q Could you tell us about the condition as to movement of customers and anyone in particular that you noticed?

  A There were six people at two tables pulled together directly on the front row next to the dance floor.

  Q Did you recognize any of these people?

  A As regular customers of the Desert Inn, yes.

  Q Can you name them?

  A I can not.

  Q Did you notice anyone at the bar?

  A Yes, there was the colored singer sitting on the stool next to the service station. There was two other men at the bar.

  Q Would you know their names?

  A Only one that I know as Cliff. He’s the man that left with meat 11:30.

  Q You are referring to when you left the Desert Inn at 11:30 p.m.?

  A Yes, that’s right.

  Q Any others you recognized or can name, sitting at any of the tables within your view?

  A There was a dancer that used to dance at the Pioneer, a stripper, I mean, and I don’t know whether it’s her husband or agent, but he is always with her, sitting directly next to me. There was another regular sitting at the center table under the mirror on the side wall. They were regulars. There were four people at the third table next to the dance floor. I don’t know them, but they have been in there a number of times. There was a young couple directly behind them. The young fellow I’ve seen. The girl I had not.

  Q As you recall these people within your view at the tables, approximately what time was it?

  A This was at the time that I went in.

  Q Did anyone else seat themselves or come into the place that you took particular notice of?

  A Two girls. One a redhead and one is, I call a dishwater blonde, came in and sat down at the center table, center row.

  Q Would you describe these two ladies?

  A The redhead was very attractive. I call it a Titian red. I don’t know what you might call it. Not a dark red, not a light red. Very nicely dressed and a navy blue duster dress. Dress of print, the duster lined with the same material as the dress. The outside of the duster navy blue. At the time that they sat down, the waitress, which is a very dear friend of mine, was talking to a customer at the bar.