For Sale on EBay

“escalante_sandy” is offering an original mug shot of Elizabeth Short, with bidding starting at $50. The seller says this mug shot, among a lot of 23 photos, belonged to a retired detective and is not a reproduction, a claim that appears true.

The most interesting thing about this copy of the mug shot (which was printed up in bulk and handed out freely during the investigation) is what’s written on the back. It’s obvious that the detective was assigned to sweep the neighborhood around the Biltmore in an unsuccessful attempt to see if anyone noticed her.

Note the inscriptions: “Hill St. 2nd to 8th St. W. to Fig. Hotels + Bars” Translation: Visit the hotels and bars between Hill Street and Figueroa from 2nd Street to 8th Street. Apparently the police were checking a period between 4 p.m. on Jan. 9, although Red Manley said he dropped her off at the Biltmore a few hours later, until daylight Jan. 15, the day the body was found.

I don’t recognize any of the other pictures, but one is identified on the back as underworld figure Nick Licata.

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