On May 19, 1926 Aimee Semple McPherson, founder of the Foursquare Church and Angelus Temple, disappeared from Venice Beach. She appeared 5 weeks later in Mexico, claiming that she had been kidnapped. There was a grand jury investigation into the veracity of her account. It was speculated that she had run off to Carmel with Kenneth G. Ormiston, former radio engineer for the Angelus Temple. The trunk belonged to Ormiston and contained a woman's clothing. Ultimately all charges were dropped.
Photograph of Asa Keyes in his office, seated in a leather-upholstered desk chair reading a letter. Books in barrister bookcases line the wall behind him.
Interview with District Attorney Asa Keyes and Mrs. Lorraine Wiseman who claimed to be with Ormiston and her sister (Miss "X") in a cottage instead of Aimee McPherson, who was being charged with faking her own kidnapping.
Some text from the page: "Mr Keyes said he would have to call me later about that and asked if my sister had come. I told him I had seen my sister and that she saw the condition I was in and thought that he had been very severe with me and she did not think she could stand it. He asked me to go back to the Hotel and remain there until he called me. This was about 11:45. I remained."
Interview with District Attorney Asa Keyes and Mrs. Lorraine Wiseman who claimed to be with Ormiston and her sister (Miss "X") in a cottage instead of Aimee McPherson, who was being charged with faking her own kidnapping.
Asa Keyes (standing) and Forrest Murray (right), district attorneys, in court during the inquiry into the disappearance of Aimee Semple McPherson. S. S. Hahn, who sued McPherson for slander for his client Virla Kimball, is seated just to the left of Keyes.
This photograph is similar to a photograph of the arrival and opening of a crate of evidence captioned, As it Arrived and After Upper photo shows Ben Cohn, investigator for District Attorney's office, examining garments found in trunk. Lower shows (left to right) Dist.-Atty. Keyes, Dist.-Attys. Murray and Dennison, Chief Davis and Ben Cohn opening packing case in which trunk arrived. [Los Angeles Times, 02 Nov. 1926: A2]
In the near distance at right, Aimee Semple McPherson and her mother Ma Kennedy sit behind the counsel's table during a preliminary hearing regarding the evangelist's alleged kidnapping. Both women dress in dark, silky dresses and wear hats. Ma Kennedy sits nearer to camera. Also at the counsel's table are: Asa Keyes (far left), S. S. Hahn and W. I. Gilbert. Mrs. Lorraine Wiseman sits in the foreground at center.
Photograph of George Contreras (left), Los Angeles County investigator, holding what appear to be bone fragments, and district attorney Asa Keyes, seated behind a trench in a basement. A shovel with torn fabric draped over it is on the left and a man behind them holds a candle.