Screenshot from a film used by the prosecution at the DeWitt Clinton Cook murder trial of Cook re-enacting his murder of Anya Sosoyeva, Los Angeles, October 11, 1939

Description

Text from original nitrate sleeve: McDonald, Q Campbell; Monfort, Frank; Stanley, Beulah Ann; Crowd at Inquest, Access to this collection is generously supported by Arcadia funds., Handwritten annotation from nitrate negative: Campbell McDonald, Screenshot from a film used by the prosecution at the murder trial of DeWitt Clinton Cook. The film showed Cook (right) re-enacting his murder of dancer Anya Sosoyeva, who he hit on the head with a 2x4. Cook willingly confessed to the murder, as well as the assaults of two other women, Delia Bogard and Myrtle Wagner. This was the first time sound motion pictures were used during a trial in California history. The trial was also considered very unusual because Cook never denied the murder, personally offer a not guilty plea, or put up any defense. Cook was sentenced to death and executed in the San Quentin gas chamber on January 31, 1941, at age 21