A while back I found this photograph of James DeBarth Shorb posing with a group of unnamed men in front of a train.
ebay
Shorb is the man in the middle with the large mustache and light-colored hat.
(he's also holding a cigar)
Today James DeBarth Shorb is mostly remembered as the man who named
'San Marino'. (and for his winery, the San Gabriel Wine Co.)
Did you notice the 'spectral' faces in the train windows?
detail
"James DeBarth Shorb and family, San Marino house."
http://hdl.huntington.org/cdm/single...id/6066/rec/21
"James De Barth Shorb is sitting next to the steps to the porch. An older woman, probably his wife, is sitting on the other side of the steps, between a young daughter and son (both look like they're between seven and twelve). Two young woman, probably also daughters, are on the steps, and one child of indeterminate sex, around four to six, is on the steps between them." -James DeBarth eventually had 11 children.
a closer look
detail
Click here to see a side view of the San Marino house:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...ostcount=19943
You can find a good description of James DeBarth Shorb's life here:
https://patch.com/california/sanmari...-on-d4ae05ae3b
PART TWO:
Don't confuse James with his cousin Dr. Andrew Stephen Shorb. His house was at 412 Justicia/Buena Vista.
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...postcount=8537
GW includes two biographical links for both Shorb cousins. (I've included some 'noirish' excerpts)
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...ostcount=16623
Dr. James Stephen Shorb M.D. was accused of murder (a botched abortion) in 1896.
It resulted in a total of three deaths. The dead woman's paramour committed suicide when he learned of her death.
(the 4 month old baby was found in the backyard 
)
Los Angeles Times Aug. 7, 1896
" The most shocking tragedy that has startled this community for a long time occurred in East Los Angeles yesterday. Lying cold and stiff in death in the morgue on Downey Avenue are the bodies of Jennie Snyder and William James Rellands [yet another spelling of his surname] and a babe that came to the light of day five months before its time.
The woman's death was caused, according to the verdict of a Coroner's jury, "by an external hemorrhage caused by a puncture of the uterus by an instrument in the hands of Dr. A.S. Shorb." Rellands blew his brains out evidently while in a fit of insanity, induced by the horrible events leading to the woman's death."
It continues.....
After the body had been opened a most revolting case of butchery was brought to light. Even the surgeons, inured to the most horrible of sights, were astonished. The body had been lacerated in a horrible manner, to be described only in a technical publications for physicians alone to read. The inquest was held immediately afterwards in the lower floor of a dance hall where "could be hear the rhythmic tap of the dancers' feet as they glided over the polished floor, unconscious of what was going on below. A Dr. Lasher testified that death had been caused by puncture wound "made with an instrument of considerable size . . . without much of a point."
Horrendous details for sure.....but I'm curious about the dance hall where the inquest was held. (it was probably located near the courthouse, right?)
Witnesses:
"John R. Paul, the undertaker, testified to having searched the premises where Mrs. Snyder died and to having found a little baby in the back yard. A crochet hook was found on the premises. Dr. F.W. Steddom, the Health Officer, then took the stand and described the horrible condition of the woman's body which the autopsy had revealed. He was followed Drs. S.S. Salisbury and J.K. Carson, who assisted at the autopsy, and they testified substantially the same as did Dr. Steddom."
" Dr. A.G. Forget [Sic] was the first witness called at the afternoon session. He said that he had examined the intestine which Dr. Shorb had brought to him, and indicated that it had not protruded naturally, but had been drawn from the abdominal cavity. Dr. Carson was recalled to answer certain technical questions, and then Coroner Campbell took the stand and testified that Dr. Shorb had told him that he had taken out the intestine and also as to the autopsy at which he was present."
I'm confused about the intestine. Why would it have been removed?
Verdict:
Dr. Andrew Shorb was eventually
acquitted (his lawyer convinced the jury the woman's lover could have killed her instead)
(reasonable doubt)
There's more........
Later it was revealed that the case in 1896 was not the only one resulting in the death of a patient after a botched abortion. Newspaper articles from 14 years before showed a pattern.
Reno Evening Gazette, Nevada, Feb. 21, 1882: "Held for Murder . . . Los Angeles, February 21 — The examination of Dr. A.S. Shorb, charged with causing the death of Guadalupe Garcia, by abortion, which has been in progress before City Judge Adams since the 11th inst., was concluded at noon to-day, and the accused committed for trial on a charge of murder."
Then a series appeared from Los Angeles that seemed like deja vu. Los Angeles Times, Feb. 14, 1882: "Shorb in court. How a Times Reporter is Fired, but is Assisted by a Ghost. Only Two Witnesses Examined Yesterday . . . The Probable Line of the Defence . . . A Long Siege Ahead . . . Yesterday morning at 10 o'clock every inch of room in Judge Adams' court room was taken up by curious spectators waiting for the examination of Dr. A.S. Shorb to begin. But the wise counsel who appeared for the defendant . . . "
Los Angeles Call, Feb. 16 1882: "The examination of Dr. A.S. Shorb, on the charge of malpractice on Guadalupe Garcia, who died from the effects, has been in progress before City Justice Adams, with closed doors, since Monday, and promises to consume the balance of the week. The examination, so far, has been principally confined to medical testimony."
"And in the same newspaper, Feb. 24 1882: "Los Angeles. Feb 23 Application for Habeas Corpus Denied In the case of Dr. A.S. Shorb, held on a charge of causing the death of Guadalupe Garcia, by abortion, Judge Hunt, of San Francisco, presiding, in Judge Sepulveda's branch of the Superior Court, to-day denied the application of the accused for a discharge on the writ of habeas corpus, and held him in $8,000 bail."
Then the verdict was announced, continuing the
deja vu.
Los Angeles Call, Apr 2, 1882: "Dr. Shorb Acquitted . . . Los Angeles, April 1--The jury in the Shorb case at 8 o'clock this morning brought in a verdict of 'not guilty.' " And
The Fresno Republican, California, April 8, 1882: "Dr. A.S. Shorb has been acquitted at Las Angeles on a charge of murder. He was accused of producing an abortion on a young woman who died from the effects of the proceeding."
An unanswered question is: how many times did his patients die gruesomely, between 1882 and 1896?
___
My post was intended to be about James DeBarth Shorp but it morphed into Andrew Stephen Shorp's life as new details emerged.
details from
http://www.skagitriverjournal.com/wa...03-shorb2.html
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