Harry Cleveland Mervine ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8}

   Another name for Harry was Fuzzy Mervine.⁶

   FamilySearch ID: LV9W-JR2.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Census in 1900 in Mount Carmel, Northumberland, PA. ⁹ The 1900 census recorded living on Maple Street West: George W. Blue, coal miner, 29, born Feb 1881, living with wife Sadie, 29, born May 1881; and son Harry, 12, Mar 1888. George and Sadie were married for 5 years and she had birthed one child by 1900. Everyone and their parents were born in Pennsylvania.

2. Newspaper: Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb 1911, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA. ⁷ Redondo Beach, Feb. 5 - Miss Ethel Bahwell and Harry C. Mervine, two young people of this city, were married today at noon at the M. E. parsonage by Rev. A. C. Welch. Jesse and Clarence Howell witnessed the ceremony.

3. Residence: on 5 Dec 1911 in Redondo Beach, Los Angeles, CA. ⁷

4. Newspaper: Redondo Reflex: Mr. And Mrs. Harry Mervine and little child have taken their departure from Redondo Beach and gone to Hanford, California, to make their future home., 14 Dec 1915, Redondo Beach, Los Angeles, CA. ¹⁰

5. Residence: 135 1/2 S. Elena, Redondo Beach, CA on 5 Jun 1917 in Redondo Beach, Los Angeles, CA. ²

6. Census in 1920 in Redondo Beach, Los Angeles, CA. ¹¹ The 1920 census recorded at 139 Elena Avenue South: George W. Blew, widowed, coal miner, 49, as a stepfather-in-law in the household of Harry C. Mervine, lather, 31, and his wife Ethel M., 26 and their child Vandine M., 6. George and Harry and their parents were born in Pennsylvania. Ethel, her parents, and Vandine were born in Calfornia.

7. Court: Harry spent 57 days in jail for violating the Wright Act, which during prohibition punished possession or sale of alcohol in 1924 in , Los Angeles, CA. ¹²

8. Newspaper: Redondo Reflex: Divorce of Fuzzy Mervine and Ethel May Mervine, 21 Mar 1924, Redondo Beach, Los Angeles, CA. ⁶ FUZZY MERVINE LOSES HIS PRETTY WIFE BY DIVORCE
Harry C. Mervine. erstwhile known as "Fuzzy," who formerly conducted a transfer business in Redondo Beach, but lately has been employed in the oil fields, through a divorce action brought by his wife, Ethel May Mervine, was ordered to pay her alimony of $35 every month after she had produced evidence in Judge Summerfield's court at Los Angeles last Tuesday. She was also awarded the custody of a minor child. Mrs. Mervine stated that her husband was ultra-jealous of her and at times employed his father to spy on her and peep in the windows of her room after she had retired. She further testified that on different occasions he had swore at her and accused her of going out with other men, following this up with a tirade of abuse and vile names. On being asked the reason for his calling her vile names by an attorney, Mrs. Mervine replied: "I dont know, but it seems that every time a man came into the house my husband would accuse me." The Mervines resided at 515 Emerald street.

9. Newspaper: The Redondo Reflex: Harry Mervine Arrested for Bootlegging, 19 Dec 1924, Redondo Beach, Los Angeles, CA. ¹³ POLICE BREAK UP BOOTLEGGING RING WORKING IN THIS CITY
A relentless campaign carried on by the Redondo police during the past week against the purveyors of illicit liquor has resulted in the breaking up of one of the most active gangs of bootleggers ever to attempt operations in the south bay district. Paul Smaller was arraigned on the charge of selling a pint of liquor at the Commercial hotel for $2.50. Smaller, who lives in a tent in the rear of 305 Emerald street, signed an affidavit confessing to the sale of liquor and declaring that he was selling it for Harry Mervine of this city. In the affidavit signed on his own free will without threat or promise of reward, Smaller declared that the liquor he sold belonged to Mervine and was kept under the mattress in the latters room. Smaller, who was arrested by Officer Alder and Stiewell, pleaded not guilty in Judge Miller's court in spite of his signed statement. He was convicted of violating ordinance No. 590, however, and sentenced to ninety days in the county jail with the alternative of a $300 fine. Harry C. Mervine, declared by the others to be the director of operations in the illegal bootlegging profession here, was arraigned on the charge of possessing three pints of liquor. Mervine, who is familiarly referred to as Fuzzy, is well known in this city. Two weeks ago following evidence by the police of his bootlegging operations, Mervine was arrested on similar charges to which he pleaded guilty. At that time Mervine declared that he would turn over a new leaf if given a chance. He declared that if his sentence was suspended he would leave town. Judge Miller, who has known Mervine for many years, stated that he wanted Mervine to stay in town and to make good, which the latter promised to do. At that time Mervine escaped the county jail by the payment of a hundred dollar fine. Arraigned in court Wednesday, Mervine changed his tune. He pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and demanded a trial by jury, which was set for 10:00 o'clock next Monday morning. Before being taken back to the jail Mervine rebuked the officers for the lack of attention to his wants and loudly demanded that a heater be placed in his cell immediately. He was held on $300 bail. This morning changed his plea to guilty and was arraigned before Judge Miller and was sentenced to ninety days in the county jail with the alternative of paying a $300 fine.

10. Newspaper: Los Angeles Times; Harry Mervine Arrested for Auto Theft, 7 Nov 1927, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA. ¹⁴ SUSPICIOUS ACTIONS HIS DOWNFALL
Two Men Taken in Stolen Auto and Woman Jailed as Bigamy Suspect
If Harry C. Mervine, 39 years of age, of 759 Wall street, had not attracted the attention of Patrolmen Allen and Cope Saturday night by what the officers term his suspicious actions, he probably would not be in jail today on charges of grand theft of an automobile and suspicion of robbery. Nor would Mrs. Helen Kelly, 32, 1729 Sunset Boulevard, be languishing in the women's ward of the County Jail as a suspected bigamist, with the additional charge of grand theft of a motor car. However, Mervine, police assert, did act suspiciously and investigation revealed that he was driving a stolen car. With him was Charles W, Perry, 18, address not given, who also was booked on a charge of suspicion of robbery. In questioning Mervine, detectives say, he gave them reason to believe that the Kelly woman probably has three husbands and it is barely possible, they believe, that Mervine himself is No. 4. Detective Lieutenants Peterson and Driscoll went to the woman's home yesterday and after talking with her for a short time they arrested her as a bigamy suspect. The detectives say the woman rode to Los Angeles with Mervine from San Luis Obispo in a car which they believe to have been stolen.

11. Newspaper: Morning Tribune: Stolen Car Is Found In L.A., 10 Nov 1927, San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, CA. ¹⁵ Report has been received at the police office from the sheriff at Los Angeles stating that Harry Mervine alias Harry C. Lee, and Mrs. Helen Kelley have been apprehended in that city in possession of a Buick roadster rpeorted stolen from M. T. Alviso, 256 Pacific street on November 3.
A member of the sheriff's office will be be sent to Los Angeles to bring the prisoners here for trial. The car was captured by a representation of the Automobile Club of Southern California, and will be brought back to this city the club.

12. Court: Harry was sentenced for Grand Theft and imprisioned in San Quention State Prison on 26 Nov 1927 in San Quentin Prison, Marin County, CA. ¹² San Quentin State Prison
Reg. No. 44425
Harry C. Mervine alias Harry C. Lee
Received 26 Nov 1927
County: San Luis Obispo
Sentence: 1-10 years
Crime: Grand Theft
Occupation: Lather
Previous Record: 1924 L.A. Wright Act 57 days
Tatoo low R in - woman's head "Ruby"
Tatoo low R out - bathing girl "Margaret."

13. Court: Harry's mugshot photo appears in Book 13 on page 224 of the prision record book on 26 Nov 1927 in San Quentin Prison, Marin County, CA. ¹⁶ (photo)
Harry C. Mervine
Grand Theft - San Luis Obispo
1-10 Pennsylvania age 39 Lather 5 f 4 1/2
153 lbs. cpl. fair - eyes chest. - hair brown
Rec'd. 11/28/27
Paroled 11/8/29 Disch 8/4/1930
1924 - Los Ang. - Wright Act - 57 days.

14. Court: Harry was released from San Quentin prison on 4 Aug 1930 in San Quentin Prison, Marin County, CA. ¹⁶

15. Residence: 962 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA on 25 Apr 1942 in San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. ⁴

16. Cause of Death: Harry died at Los Angeles County Hospital from congestive heart failure, 22 Jul 1956, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA. ⁸

17. Residence: 520 Towne Avenue, Los Angeles, CA on 22 Jul 1956 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA. ⁸

Harry married Ethel May Bahwell, daughter of Benjamin Adam Bahwell and Minnie Kirkland, on 4 Feb 1911 in Redondo Beach, Los Angeles, CA.¹ The marriage ended in divorce on 20 Mar 1924. (Ethel May Bahwell was born in May 1893 in Visalia, Tulare, CA ¹⁷ and died on 25 Apr 1973 in Long Beach, Los Angeles, CA.)