A hundred-year-old murder in Elysian Heights

This week’s Flashback Friday comes to us courtesy of L.A. Creek Freak, an incredibly informative and unique blog that addresses both the ancient and the modern history of Los Angeles’ rios and arroyos, many of which are currently “degraded and forgotten.” The writers speak out and seek to educate readers on L.A.’s ecology, believing that “our rivers and creeks are vital to our communities and our planet.”

A few months ago, Jessica Hall of the Creek Freak website posted a fantastically creepy story about a murder that occurred in Elysian Heights over one hundred years ago. The story came from an old L.A. Times article, found by reader David Kimbrough. Here’s the story, as summarized by Jessica:

On the evening of December 27, 1904, Columbus C. Champion, 67, committed fratricide, shooting down his brother Thomas in a “deadly fusillade…in front of the Elysian Springs bottling plant,” for whom Thomas worked as a water delivery man. Columbus, called “Lum,” lived on property next to the bottling company.

Lum had already been abandoned by his wife, son and father several months previously, and neighbors believed it was “worth almost any effort to keep on good terms. It is said he has terrorized the neighborhood on numerous occasions…” Earlier in the day, he fired BB shot at his niece, threatening to kill the entire family, which precipitated the deadly confrontation with his brother.

Thomas, returning to the Elysian Springs Bottling Company, rode his wagon with his son Sam past Lum’s property:

“At once the old man rushed out of the house and began to abuse his brother. Sam Champion, fearing for his father’s safety, secured a revolver from the home, and started up to where his father and uncle were quarreling.  The younger brother (Thomas) was trying to ward off the attacks of Lum, and just as Sam arrived his father told Lum to go back into his own lot and leave him alone, or he would knock him down.  With an oath, Lum started toward the cottage, crying out that he would kill the whole outfit. He quickly reappeared with his gun, and when within twenty feet of this brother fired the load of shot into his breast. Thomas sank to the ground and expired almost immediately.”

The villain was unrepentant and actually joking with the police who carried him away.

Creepy! So if you’re ever wondering about possible hauntings in Elsyian Heights, this might be a good place to start.

Also, how cool is it that there was a bottling plant in Elysian Heights?

471 replies
« Older CommentsNewer Comments »
  1. Adella says:

    I am about to start a blog. Along with numerous other hopeful’s, I hope to eventually earn money off it. I saw a lot of sites do not enable you to earn money of google advertisement sense and also things like that. What are some sites I can begin my blog on that will permit this given that it seems to be one of the most lucrative way to generate income off a blog site?.

  2. minecraft says:

    I love what you guys are usually up too. This type of clever work and reporting!

    Keep up the amazing works guys I’ve added you guys to
    blogroll.

  3. Travel Websites says:

    Definitely believe that which you said. Your favorite justification seemed to be on the net the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I certainly get irked while people consider worries that they just don’t know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top as well as defined out the whole thing without having side effect , people can take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thanks

  4. operating system says:

    Thanks for sharing superb informations. Your website is so cool. I’m impressed by the details that you¡¦ve on this web site. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for more articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found simply the info I already searched all over the place and simply couldn’t come across. What an ideal website.

  5. Insurance Company says:

    I think this is one of the most vital information for me. And i’m glad reading your article. But want to remark on few general things, The website style is great, the articles is really great : D. Good job, cheers

  6. Auto Car says:

    I will immediately snatch your rss as I can not to find your e-mail subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service. Do you have any? Please let me realize in order that I may just subscribe. Thanks.

  7. Ariana says:

    In fact my blog name is not pertinent to my blog specific niche. in this time i intend to convert my blog to a web site via blogger. yet i don’t recognize if i will do it, then just how much will influence my blog site web traffic?.

  8. Clark Byther says:

    Chaga mushroom coffee been recently brought to plenty of everything about simply because of the Ukrainian article author Alexandr Solzhenitsyn by it’s new ‘Cancer Ward’ in which traditional qualities is generally cured of a tumors on the help consume. Siberian Chaga

  9. meet new people says:

    Usually I don’t read article on blogs, however I would like to say that this write-up very compelled me to check out and do so! Your writing style has been surprised me. Thank you, quite great post.

  10. g says:

    Heya terrific blog! Does running a blog similar to this take a large amount of work?

    I have absolutely no expertise in coding however I was hoping to start my own blog soon. Anyway, should you have any recommendations
    or techniques for new blog owners please share.

    I know this is off topic however I simply had to ask.
    Thank you!

  11. g says:

    I know this site presents quality based articles and additional stuff,
    is there any other website which offers such information in quality?

  12. g says:

    I’m now not sure where you’re getting your info, however good topic.
    I needs to spend some time studying more or figuring out more.
    Thanks for great info I used to be on the lookout for this information for my mission.

  13. house building says:

    Hello there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it’s really informative. I’m gonna watch out for brussels. I’ll appreciate if you continue this in future. Many people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

  14. science and technology says:

    I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great. I don’t know who you are but definitely you are going to a famous blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!

  15. dog adoption says:

    A lot of thanks for your entire effort on this website. Debby really likes working on internet research and it is simple to grasp why. Many of us notice all relating to the compelling method you render worthwhile tricks on this web blog and as well as cause response from other ones on that subject while our own simple princess is now learning a lot of things. Have fun with the rest of the new year. Your doing a fantastic job.

  16. adaptive education says:

    Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I have truly enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. After all I’ll be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again very soon!

  17. Pauline says:

    I am preparing to relocate to Australia permanently. Ideally, my migration procedure will be finished this year and I will move in the beginning of 2011. Can someone suggest some excellent sources and also blog sites concerning making the prepare for clearing up in Australia?.

  18. kitchen design says:

    My husband and i ended up being absolutely happy John could do his research through your precious recommendations he grabbed from your web site. It’s not at all simplistic just to be giving freely solutions which usually some others could have been making money from. And we also discover we now have the blog owner to be grateful to for that. These illustrations you made, the simple website navigation, the friendships you will give support to create – it is everything superb, and it’s helping our son in addition to our family do think that subject is exciting, which is truly essential. Thank you for all!

  19. home improvement says:

    Thank you for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbor were just preparing to do a little research about this. We got a grab a book from our area library but I think I learned more clear from this post. I’m very glad to see such fantastic info being shared freely out there.

  20. proposal investment says:

    I have been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or weblog posts on this sort of space . Exploring in Yahoo I finally stumbled upon this website. Studying this information So i am happy to convey that I’ve an incredibly excellent uncanny feeling I found out exactly what I needed. I most without a doubt will make certain to don¡¦t disregard this web site and provides it a glance on a constant basis.

  21. Health & Fitness says:

    I must express my love for your kind-heartedness for people that need assistance with this important concern. Your real dedication to passing the solution all over appeared to be unbelievably functional and has consistently permitted most people just like me to reach their targets. Your entire invaluable instruction means a whole lot a person like me and far more to my fellow workers. Thanks a lot; from everyone of us.

« Older CommentsNewer Comments »

Comments are closed.