Welby Hunt, murderer of C. Ivy Toms, with George Contreras and handwritting experts, Los Angeles, 1928

Item Overview

Title

Welby Hunt, murderer of C. Ivy Toms, with George Contreras and handwritting experts, Los Angeles, 1928

Date Created

January 5, 1928

Date

1928-01-05

Publisher

Los Angeles Times

Collection

Los Angeles Times Photographic Collection
OpenUCLA Collections

Notes

Description

Possibly related to the article, "Hickman Trial Forces Line Up," Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 1928: A1.
Chief Investigator George Contreras led a separate investigation into the death of Abner R. Driskell, grandfather of Welby Hunt, who was tried as an accomplice in the murder of C. Ivy Toms, a Rosehill California) pharmacist. His co-defendant was William Edward Hickman, who would soon be convicted for the kidnap and murder of Marion Parker, age 12. Suicide notes found on the body of Driskell initially appeared to have been written by more than one person. The handwriting was not analyzed when Driskell took his life (May 25, 1927), but his relationship to Hunt and Hickman brought his death into question. Both Welby Hunt and William Hickman are referenced in the notes. Contreras’ investigation concluded that the death was a legitimate suicide.
Welby Hunt, 16-year-old accomplice in the murder of C. Ivy Toms, seated next to George Contreras, Chief Investigator for the Los Angeles District Attorney's office. Hunt sits at a table with pencil and notepad. He appears to be providing a writing sample. Text written on the notepad states: "Welby L. Hunt. Jan 5, 1928, Los Angeles, Calif." The two men looming over them are probably handwriting experts (one of the men may be Milton Carson, a handwriting expert noted in a related Los Angeles Time article).

Caption

Text from negative sleeve: Hickman, William Edward.

Physical Description

Extent

1 photograph

Medium

b&w nitrate negative

Keywords

Genre

cellulose nitrate film
news photographs

Names

Hickman, William Edward, 1908-1928
Contreras, George, 1888-1945
Hunt, Welby Leeson, 1911-1995
Carson, Milton

Location

Los Angeles (Calif.)

Resource type

still image

Subjects

Criminal investigations--California--Los Angeles
Law enforcement officers--California--Los Angeles
Homicides--California--Los Angeles