Document kma6gRR7BxgaQq8YVr2wV494V

Mr. S, M. ":e.gner Carl Abell Los-Angeles Los Angeles i^eath of alleged lead poisoning rom drinking ethyl fluid December 21, 1944 i^&r Mr. Vagner * In line with Mr. 0. B. Lewis's request of Dec. IS, 1 hare investigated this matter, aadhave the following to report : IH[|truck driver, died in the general Hospital, Los Ange^W^osBov. 27, 1944, of what appeared to be acute lead poisoning. I have seen the hospital's record of his illness and death, the police report covering the case, and the entire file on his case in the coroner's office. They are not entirely in agreement. The hospital record opens with the statement that he had taken a mouthful of concentrated tetraethyl lead fro a bottle which he found in a drawer at the service station at 3800 East Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, when he opened the station at about 8 a.su on Bov. 27. It was a whiskey bottle, so he believed he was taking ad rink of liquor. (He was unable to read English). He said it tasted bad, and made him sick at his stomach, which contin ued. The hospital record also noted a condition of violent diarrhea. A later note by one of the doctors stated that a bottle of Hu-power had been found near him, which appeared to be slightly less than full. It also commented that the station operator had had a whiskey bottle containing Ethyl Gasoline in the station, but that he reported he was unable to find l&isTlater in the day. Death occurred at 8j30 p.m. of that same day. The reason given in the hospital records was "acute lead poisoning" 3800 East Olympic Blvd. is the address of a large superservioe station operated by Albert Manookian. I am quite familiar with the station, as it has been dealing 100^ in Associated products (How Tidewater) as far baok as I can remember. I bought gasoline there quite frequently through the years as far back as 1931, and has been under the same management all that time. There do not appear to be any living quarters on the premises, but Aroff has given this as his home address on a number of previous occasions when h was in the General Hospital. They have four sheets in the hospital record of his last illness, but the file covering his previous stays in the hospital is about three quarters Of an inch thiek. He was without family, and always gave Manookian'a name as 2 hi* closest friend. At the Coroner's office I ms shown the entire file on the ease, which included the police report and the report of the autopsy surgeon. The police report noted that JBB^was found suffering at 8s10 a.si., amd was sent to the Georgia St. Receiving Hospital in the Hollenbeck Police Station ambulance immediately. According to this report, he had taken a swallow from a bottle of "Ku-Power Pep". From Georgia St, he ms transferred to the General Hospital at ubout 11.25. This is police Pile Ho., DR*A 24,968, Hollenbeck Station, signed by officer F.F.Earl, Badge 576. Copy of the autopsy surgeon's report is attached. There Was no record of any chemical analysis in connection with the Autopsy. Feceipt for the body was signed by Manookian. Throughout the hospital and the coroner's records, there appeared to be a confusion in the spelling of the man's name. Jt was written as Aroff on both the police and the hospital records, but was filed asegpd^ and we had difficulty locating the file, it was also writtenas ^00^- in the coroner's office, tut changed to Groff. I drove down to the station to look around, but did not interview the manager on this subject. As I approached thes tatioa, Ed Roedel, city sales supervisor of Tidewater, and Kr. Kunferel, manager oft heir Vernon distributing plant, were just driving out. I stopped them,- and discussed it with them. Aunkel was Pass!liar with the incident through previous conversations with 'anoofcicn. The latter had vi&ited^BBMFat the hospital the day of his death. Apparently s "T"Heavy drinker, and had asked fanookian for a bottle of whiskey, which had not been forthcoming. I'anookian is regarded very highly by Tidewater. They report that his conduct during the rationing period, and at all previous times, has been exceptionally pie&n. They know o oases whan he has been offered truckloads of Ethyl Gasoline by drivers for Independent companies, andhas turned them davn. I went into the station later and bought gasoline. The attendant regretted that there was no Ethyl Gasoline available, so I bought five gallons of regular. Trent into the station house, ostensibly to phone the office, bdt actually to see what was on the shelves, which I had ample time to do, as there was another party Using the telephone. There was absolutely nothing questionable in sight - not even Nu-Power. I believe, but could not prove, that what drank was Ethyl Fluid. I suspect that Manookian had a small bottle, probably a flat whiskey bottle, of the fluid on hand for his own us, as there is no evidence to date that he was peddling it. I doubt if he would peddle it. It appears to ae that h disposed of it as soon as he knew of (Bl illness, to prevent becoming involved in any consequences of his friend(s death. Should any addiditonal information be desired, I will be glad to carry the investigation further. HE 0016380 Pile So. 17,448 OFFICE OF THE COUNTY COBONER I performed an autopsy on Sam male, age 45, on 11- 29-44 at the Los Angeles County Coroner's Mortuary, and found the imoediate cause of death : Acute Lead Poisoning. Due to: Ingestion of tetraethyl lead solution. Examination ; The lungs are practically consolidated from intense hypostatic congestion. The heart is normal in sise and appearance and the coronaries are thickened, the right to the point off occlusion. The aorta shows slight atheroma. The liver is extra large, firm to hardness in consistency, pinkish yellow Inj color. The kidneys are swollen on cut section, the surface appears granular and structural characteristics of cortex and medulla are gone. The stomach mucosa appears dark drafcCjtt^eolgr./. | (Signed)- Frank E. D. Chief Autopsy Surgeon. \\ i1 J/ HE #016990 N20927.01