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| Press Photo $17.99 |
Charles Older, born September 29, 1917, was a Los Angeles area native, graduating from Beverly Hills High School where he was student body president. He then went on to graduate from UCLA with a major in political science. After college he went to US Navy flight training class and passed first in his class at Pensacola NAS April, 1940. He served with Marine Fighting Squadron One. By 1941 he had resigned his commission with the Marines to join the American Volunteer Group (AVG), a private military contractor, which was hired by the Chinese nationalist government to combat the Japanese invading China before the United States was actively involved in WWII.
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| Autographed Fighter Pilot Photo $599.00 |
Older then joined the Army Air Corps where he served from February 24, 1943 until January 14, 1946 during the US involvement in WWII. August 10, 1950 he re-enlisted in the Air Force and served in Korea until January 6, 1951. While serving in these two branches of the military he flew 18 more aerial victories earning the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, the British Distinguished Flying Cross and several Chinese Air Force Medals. Between and after his military service he had enrolled in USC Law School and got his law degree in 1952.
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| Law Degree $174.99 |
Older first worked for the law firm Arnold and Zack, from 1952 to 1954. He was a partner in Keatinge and Older from 1954 until 1962 and in the firm Older, Hanh, Cazier and Hoegh from 1962 until 1968. Okay, that last firm sounds a little like a take-off on Dewey, Cheatham and Howe!
Older was appointed to the bench in 1967 by Ronald Reagan, then governor of California. He served as a judge until his retirement in 1987. He died June 17, 2006 after complications from a fall at his West Hollywood home.
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| The Judge's Robe and Gavel $650.00
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After Older's retirement from the bench he apparently took up painting, which brings us to the point of this post. Loyal blog reader Trilby clued us into a number of things belonging to Judge Older that were up for bid on Ebay. I noted that every listing for the judge's things included the statement that he was the presiding judge in the Charles Manson trial. Not all the items were listed by the same seller, there were multiple sellers. Imagine all of his time in the military as an ace fighter pilot and 20 years on the bench and it comes down to defining him by one very high profile trial!
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| Oil Painting untitled $650.00 |
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Watercolor "The Foundry" $99.50 |
5 comments:
It should be obvious, Mr. Older was the exact opposite to the Evil Ex-con Charles Manson, Now, was it just a coincidence that he was chosen to rule over the "King of Bad" or was it by the Establishment's design ?
Either way, the subliminal message is clear. Heros conquer evil, but in reality, it's the last man standing who's considered the winner.
I have seen those items, and I am very skeptical of the robe and gavel. No way to prove that this was his. The paintings possibly, but robe and gavel I doubt it. Only my opinion.
Ben, I added a picture of the inside label of the judge's robe to my post. Above the manufacturer's label the judge's three initials are sewn in, I suppose for a laundry mark or so the different judges could keep their robes straight. The label and initials both look old and kind of yellowed. I'm thinking this really was the judge's robe.
The gavel, I have no idea, it looks kind of wimpy to have been used in the courtroom. Maybe it was a decoration on his desk though.
Ever notice that the D.A. Younger got the trial set in the Judge Older court?
8a179, I've pondered that one myself. Sort of like a TLB/George Carlin moment.
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