Peter Pianezzi with his lawyer Nathan O. Freedman, at a trial where he is charged with the murders of George (Les) Bruneman and Frank A. Greuzard, Los Angeles, 1940s

Item Overview

Title

Peter Pianezzi with his lawyer Nathan O. Freedman, at a trial where he is charged with the murders of George (Les) Bruneman and Frank A. Greuzard, Los Angeles, 1940s

Date Created

between February 5, 1940 and April 20, 1941

Publisher

Los Angeles Daily News

Language

No linguistic content

Collection

Los Angeles Daily News Negatives

Notes

Description

Ex-convict Peter Pianezzi (left) and his lawyer Nathan Freedman at one of two trials where Pianezzi is charged with the murders of gambler George (Les) Bruneman and Frank A. Greuzard. Allegedly, Pianezzi shot Bruneman 16 times in a cafe and then shot cafe employee Greuzard as he tried to take down the license plate of Pianezzi's car. The murder of Bruneman, which occurred on October 25, 1937, is thought to have been gang-related. The first trial ended with a hung jury, 9-3 for the acquittal of Pianezzi. In the second trial, Pianezzi received a life sentence for the murders. Later, at age 80, Pianezzi received a pardon based on innocence.

Caption

Text from original nitrate sleeve: Huddle, Roy; Huddle, Elaine -Mrs.; Pianezzi, Pete; Freedman, Nathan
Handwritten annotation from nitrate negative: Peter Pianezzi

Physical Description

Extent

1 photograph

Medium

b&w nitrate negative

Keywords

Genre

news photographs
cellulose nitrate film

Subjects

Lawyers--California--Los Angeles
People
Homicides--California--Los Angeles
Shootings--California--Los Angeles
Gangs--California--Los Angeles
Judicial proceedings--California--Los Angeles

Names

Freedman, Nathan O., b. 1891 or 2
Bruneman, George Les (Leslie), 1897-1937
Pianezzi, Peter

Location

Los Angeles (Calif.)

Resource type

still image