| JOHN HARVEY LATHAM Article 2 BRUTAL SLAYER RIFLES BODY, CASH REGISTER Father of Four Bludgeoned to Death with Iron Pipe The victim of a robber-murderer, the body of John H. Latham, 36 of 4584 W. Pt. Loma Blvd., his head bashed in by an iron pipe, was found early today outside the office of his salvage and tire-repair shop at 2190 Main St., police said. The cash register drawer to the small, crude office, which was believed to have held about $200.00 was empty except for a few coins and there were indications that Latham's clothing had been rifled. His wallet was missing. Near his body was discovered a three-foot length of bloody pipe which detectives believed had been used to bludgeon him to death, possibly last night. FAILED TO ARRIVE HOME Detectives and Drputy Coroner E.A. Turner said the victim evidently had been dead for about 12 hours. Detective Lt. Ed Dieckmann, head of the police homicide detail, said he learned Latham had turned off the switch, to tire mold, which also controlled an electric clock, and the clock read 8:50 p.m. indicating Latham had prepared to close at that time last night.Officers learned he had not gone home last night. FOUND BY EMPLOYE (note: as spelled in article) The body, lying in a pool of congealed blood, was found about 7 a.m. this morning by an employe of the yard, Frank Flynn of 2004 C st., who immediately notified police. Flynn said he usually arrived at the repair shop to turn on the recapping molds at that time. Flynn said Latham formerly operated a service station on Rosecrans st. near Canon st. Tire tracks led up to the door of the office, which was situated on the Main st. side of the yard, with the door opening on the inside of the main lot, around which were hundreds of scattered tire carcasses. A light was burning in the office, and Detectives Elmer Wadman and C.D. Hughes found records indicating Latham had completed his day's bookkeeping last night. Employes said he had sold about $114.00 worth of merchandise yesterday. FELT HAT CLUE No signs of a struggle were found, beneath which was found a bloody gray felt hat, which employes said probably did not belong to Latham. Latham, they said, was a "kindly boss" and that he had had no argument with either customers or employes recently as far as they knew. The victim was graduated from Pt. Loma High School and was well know in San Diego, where he had resided for many years, his friends stated. He is survived by his widow Helen, and four children, John, 6; Patrick, 4; Jacquelyn, 2-1/2; and Robert, 3 months. The body was removed by the Johnson-Saum mortuary. PHOTO OF NEWS CLIP ARTICLE 1 RELATED NATIONAL ENQUIRER ARTICLE HOME INDEX HELEN LATHAM PETERSON TREE PETERSON INDEX TRIAL NEWS SCOTT |
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