The camera peers through an open door and into the courtroom during Aimee Semple McPherson's preliminary hearing. Spectators sit in a row against a window-lined wall. At right, another photographer looks to camera while standing beside his camera.
At center, A. B. Murchison sits on the witness stand during the preliminary trial regarding Aimee Semple McPherson's disappearance. He sits facing towards the right and looks at a map unfolded in front of him. Two lawyers stand to the left of the witness box. Behind and to the right of Murchison, Judge Blake sits up at the bench and looks down towards the witness. In the foreground at right, a few lawyers sit at the counsel's table.
At center, an unknown woman in an apron stands and looks to camera. To the left of her, she holds up 2 cloths, the smaller one in front of the larger one. The smaller one is square and white. The larger one appears to be rectangular and is printed.
At left, a witness sits on the witness stand during the preliminary trial regarding Aimee Semple McPherson's disappearance. The witness sits facing towards camera and looks down at an open book in front of him. To his left, Judge Blake sits up at the bench and looks down towards the witness. In front of the bench, lawyers sit at the counsel's table. In the foreground, a man stands with his back to camera along the right edge.
At left, a witness sits on the witness stand during the preliminary trial regarding Aimee Semple McPherson's disappearance. The witness sits facing towards the right and rests her elbow on the box's ledge. To the right of her, Judge Blake sits up at the bench and looks towards the counsel's table. In the foreground at right, a few lawyers sit at the counsel's table.
At left, a witness sits on the witness stand during the preliminary trial regarding Aimee Semple McPherson's disappearance. The witness sits facing towards the right and rests a elbow on the box's ledge. To the right of him, Judge Blake sits up at the bench and takes notes. In the foreground at right, a few lawyers sit at the counsel's table.
At left, attorney Forrest Murray stands beside the witness box during the kidnapping case of Aimee Semple McPherson. He stands facing slightly right and holds up the dress worn by McPherson when found in the desert. To the right of him, Alonzo B. Murchison, a native of Douglas, Arizona, sits on the witness stand.
Related to numerous stories reported by the Los Angeles Times on Aimee Semple McPherson's alleged kidnapping in 1926. McPherson, evangelist for the Angelus Temple, disappeared for some time, and when she reappeared, saying she was kidnapped, she and her mother, Mildred Kennedy, were charged with criminal conspiracy, perjury, and obstruction of justice.
Attorney S.S. Hahn seated at table with his client, Lorraine Wiseman. Hahn is looking at a stack of papers. Wiseman is looking at him. This photograph was possibly taken in Hahn's office on September 13, 1926, where Wiseman spoke to the press after being arraigned for issuing checks without funds. Wiseman was a co-defendant in the Aimee Semple McPherson conspiracy trial, having admitted that she had falsely claimed to be Miss X, the woman believed to in fact be McPherson who had been with Kenneth G. Ormiston at a Carmel rental cottage.
At left, a witness sits on the witness stand during the preliminary trial regarding Aimee Semple McPherson's disappearance. The witness sits facing towards the camera and rests a elbow on the box's ledge. To the right of him, Judge Blake sits up at the bench and takes notes. In the foreground at right, a few lawyers sit at the counsel's table. A tall stack of documents sits in the middle of the table.
