The Fixers by E. J. Fleming

Author:E. J. Fleming
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General Fiction
Publisher: McFarland
Published: 2012-05-01T16:00:00+00:00

Thelma Todd with Zeppo (left) and Harpo Marx during 1932 filming of Horse Feathers. She was murdered less than three years later.

Strangely, Wallis and Wagner then let photographers enter the garage and posed for photos with Todd’s body. For over an hour the crime scene was trampled by photographers and reporters. The death certificate indicated death due to carbon monoxide poisoning, but made no mention of the numerous physical injuries. There are dozens of problems with the official version. Todd was legally drunk but her blood alcohol level was only .13, barely above the legal limit. That would not be nearly enough to make Todd pass out. She would not have climbed up the steep concrete stairwell, a difficult and tiring trek, in the dark and cold. In the unlikely event she had, her shoes would have been scuffed; hers were pristine. Also, she would not have slept in the car. She would have driven somewhere to sleep, or awakened her accountant Charles Smith, who lived in the small apartment above the garage.

Todd was clearly beaten to death and placed in the car. D.A. Fitts probably knew that as well as the police and coroners, and probably would have let it die at Wallis and Wagner’s hands had it not been for Todd’s mother. Alice Todd warned him, “You know my daughter was murdered. I know my daughter was murdered. There’s going to be an investigation. Either you solve this or I’ll do some investigating of my own.” Only after she slammed the door and stormed out did Fitts open even a halfhearted investigation.171 Fitts did not want to tangle with Lucky Luciano. When Luciano had begun killing L.A. drug dealers earlier, he sent an emissary to Fitts’ office with a five-word message: “Stay out of the way.” Fitts never investigated Luciano, but to make sure, Luciano had two employees planted in Fitts’ offices. He knew what Fitts was doing every minute. Even so, publicity forced Fitts to convene a grand jury.

A minor autopsy note threw the Todd investigation into a frenzy. There were traces of recently eaten peas and carrots in her stomach, but neither was served at the Lupino dinner Saturday night, supposedly her last meal. Todd’s peas and carrots were eaten within six hours of her death on Sunday night. The entire Wallis-Wagner version crumbled under the vegetables and the question, “Where was Thelma Todd Sunday?”

Her relationship with Luciano led to rumors that he wanted her Sidewalk Café as a casino, and to an often-repeated legend that she refused Luciano’s demands, so he had her killed. She allegedly said he would get her café “over my dead body,” and he replied, “That can be arranged.” That conversation probably never took place. Gambling was a low priority for Luciano. He was making millions from mob-controlled movie unions and even more selling drugs. Between 1929 and 1934 Luciano had taken over L.A. drug territories by bribing or murdering competing dealers. The studio dealers were replaced by Luciano’s thugs, with access from DiCicco.

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