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February 16, 1929: Hugh Plunkett shoots and kills Edward L. Doheny Jr., only son and heir of the fabulously wealthy oilman Edward L. Doheny Sr. Plunkett then turns the gun on himself, committing suicide.
The Assailant:
Hugh Plunkett, born in Kansas, moved to L.A. in 1912. He met the Doheny family while working at a service station owned by the father of Lucy Smith, who later married Ned Doheny. After the younger Doheny's marriage in 1913, Plunkett became the family chauffeur. He served in the Navy during WWI, and after the war became an incrasingly close confidante to Ned Doheny, eventually serving as personal secretary. In the months prior to February 1929, Plunkett had divorced his wife and had been exhibiting signs of a nervous disorder. He had been taking medication, but there was talk among his doctor and the Dohenys of sending him to a sanatorium.
The Facts:
On the night of February 16, 1929, Hugh Plunkett arrived at the Greystone mansion. He called the house from the gates, and was told by Lucy Doheny that he should not come in. Ignoring her words, he apparently used his pass key to enter the grounds and the house, going to the guest bedroom on the first floor where he often stayed. Ned Doheny found him there around 10PM. At 10:30, the Doheny family physician. E.C. Fishbaugh, who was in Hollywood attending a theater performance, received a call from his maid, who told him that he was needed urgently at the Doheny home. Fishbaugh arrived a little before 11PM, and was greeted by Lucy Doheny, who told him that Plunkett and her husband were in the guest bedroom. As they proceeded down the hallway to the bedroom, they saw the door standing ajar, and Plunkett standing by it. He warned them to come no closer, then shut the door. Immediately after a shot rang out. When the doctor entered the room, he found Plunkett lying on the floor by the door, shot through the head, the gun lying by his side. Doheny lay on the floor by the beds, next to an overturned chair, barely alive with a gunshot wound to the head. Homicide and suicide. Investigators determined that Plunkett had taken a .45 caliber revolver from the Doheny garage and had shot Doheny, then had turned the gun on himself. Testimony about Plunkett's unstable behavior over the previous six months, and Dr. Fishbaugh's testimony about the family's concern for Plunkett's sanity, reinforced this finding. No formal inquest was held.
Over the years, questions have arisen about the events of that February night. Various rumors surfaced: that Plunkett and Doheny were more than just good friends, and that Lucy killed them in a fit of jealousy; that Plunkett shot Doheny in a quarrel over his salary. Questions were raised about the timing of the killings: was there a delay between the time of the deaths and the arrival of the police? Were the bodies moved to better suit the story told to the police? Was there an effort made to make Plunkett look crazy, to make the murder/suicice story more plausible? The undeniable wealth and influence of the Dohenys added to the public's fascination with the tragedy.
Any other theories or ideas? Why was no inquest held? Obviously the Doheny family were very wealthy and able to cover up what they wanted and avoid publicity. The case was open and closed in 36 hours. If Plunkett was just a murderer and a nut then surely there would be no need for the secrecy and covering up. There must be more
(Thanks to University of Southern California for above)
The Assailant:
Hugh Plunkett, born in Kansas, moved to L.A. in 1912. He met the Doheny family while working at a service station owned by the father of Lucy Smith, who later married Ned Doheny. After the younger Doheny's marriage in 1913, Plunkett became the family chauffeur. He served in the Navy during WWI, and after the war became an incrasingly close confidante to Ned Doheny, eventually serving as personal secretary. In the months prior to February 1929, Plunkett had divorced his wife and had been exhibiting signs of a nervous disorder. He had been taking medication, but there was talk among his doctor and the Dohenys of sending him to a sanatorium.
The Facts:
On the night of February 16, 1929, Hugh Plunkett arrived at the Greystone mansion. He called the house from the gates, and was told by Lucy Doheny that he should not come in. Ignoring her words, he apparently used his pass key to enter the grounds and the house, going to the guest bedroom on the first floor where he often stayed. Ned Doheny found him there around 10PM. At 10:30, the Doheny family physician. E.C. Fishbaugh, who was in Hollywood attending a theater performance, received a call from his maid, who told him that he was needed urgently at the Doheny home. Fishbaugh arrived a little before 11PM, and was greeted by Lucy Doheny, who told him that Plunkett and her husband were in the guest bedroom. As they proceeded down the hallway to the bedroom, they saw the door standing ajar, and Plunkett standing by it. He warned them to come no closer, then shut the door. Immediately after a shot rang out. When the doctor entered the room, he found Plunkett lying on the floor by the door, shot through the head, the gun lying by his side. Doheny lay on the floor by the beds, next to an overturned chair, barely alive with a gunshot wound to the head. Homicide and suicide. Investigators determined that Plunkett had taken a .45 caliber revolver from the Doheny garage and had shot Doheny, then had turned the gun on himself. Testimony about Plunkett's unstable behavior over the previous six months, and Dr. Fishbaugh's testimony about the family's concern for Plunkett's sanity, reinforced this finding. No formal inquest was held.
Over the years, questions have arisen about the events of that February night. Various rumors surfaced: that Plunkett and Doheny were more than just good friends, and that Lucy killed them in a fit of jealousy; that Plunkett shot Doheny in a quarrel over his salary. Questions were raised about the timing of the killings: was there a delay between the time of the deaths and the arrival of the police? Were the bodies moved to better suit the story told to the police? Was there an effort made to make Plunkett look crazy, to make the murder/suicice story more plausible? The undeniable wealth and influence of the Dohenys added to the public's fascination with the tragedy.
Any other theories or ideas? Why was no inquest held? Obviously the Doheny family were very wealthy and able to cover up what they wanted and avoid publicity. The case was open and closed in 36 hours. If Plunkett was just a murderer and a nut then surely there would be no need for the secrecy and covering up. There must be more
(Thanks to University of Southern California for above)
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