Dr. Benjamin Blank and Sergeant Howard L. Barlow analyze the fingerprints of William Edward Hickman, Los Angeles, 1928

Item Overview

Title

Dr. Benjamin Blank and Sergeant Howard L. Barlow analyze the fingerprints of William Edward Hickman, Los Angeles, 1928

Date Created

1928

Date

1928

Publisher

Los Angeles Times

Collection

Los Angeles Times Photographic Collection

Notes

Description

Hickman was executed at San Quentin, October 19, 1928.
Dr. Benjamin Blank, County Jail physician, stands next to a seated Police Sergeant Howard L. Barlow who points to one of several photographed hand and finger prints laid on the desk before him. Barlow was responsible for matching prints found in the apartment of William Edward Hickman with those found on ransom notes sent to the father of Marion Parker, 12-year-old kidnap and murder victim. Dr. Blank tested Hickman's blood for "all signs of disease and insanity" before his trial, which began January 25 and ended less than two weeks later.
Dr. Benjamin Blank's role in the trial is related in the article, "Hickman Drops Insanity Pose and Answers Questions by Alienists: Slayer Likely to Be Witness," Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 1928: A3.

Caption

Text from negative sleeve: Hickman, William Edward.
Handwritten on negative: H L Barlow Dr Blank

Physical Description

Extent

1 photograph

Medium

b&w nitrate negative

Keywords

Genre

cellulose nitrate film
news photographs

Names

Hickman, William Edward, 1908-1928
Blank, Benjamin, 1899-1973
Parker, Marion, 1915-1927
Barlow, Howard L., 1891-1938

Location

Los Angeles (Calif.)

Resource type

still image

Subjects

Kidnappings--California--Los Angeles
Detectives--California--Los Angeles
Physicians--American--California--Los Angeles
Homicides--California--Los Angeles