Thicker'N Thieves: The 1950 Factual Expose of Police Pay-Offs, Graft, Political Corruption and Prostitution In Los Angeles and Hollywood

by Charles Stoker, Steve Hodel (Foreword)

From the The 1950 Factual Expose of Police-Pay-Offs, Graft, Political Corruption and Prostitution in Los Angeles and Hollywood is the full, fearless expose by former LAPD vice-squad Sgt. Charles Stoker. Twenty-years before SERPICO there was STOKER. The Stoker Story originally published in 1951 and written by a rank-and-file LAPD vice-cop, reveals 1940s Los Angeles as it was—“THE CITY OF ANGLES.”Inside these pages you will read how a Main Street street-walker, Marie Mitchell, zoomed to national fame as Brenda Allen—L.A.’s notorious vice queen—with the help and protection of the “city fathers” in cahoots with the underworld. You will “listen in” on the wire-tap recordings of Brenda getting her instructions from the high brass on the police force…you won’t believe the conniving, crime-full corruption, that cost Stoker his job when he finally trapped, call house madame, Brenda Allen.Sgt. Stoker’s expose provides us with a real-time ride-along with LAPD as they secretly wire-tap gangster Mickey Cohen’s mansion, then demand $20,000 in extortion monies for the incriminating tapes. You are present in the jury-room as Sgt. Stoker presents his secret testimony to the 1949 Grand Jury, detailing police corruption and pay-offs. His whistle-blowing revelations resulted in a felony indictment and the forced retirement of LAPD Chief of Police, C.B. “Cowboy” Horrall as well as causing formal charges to be filed against four of Horrall’s top command officers.T’NT is dynamite! In writing this story, and in his long fight to have it published most publishers considered it “too hot to handle”—the highest compliment paid to Stoker was the frequent remark, “Publish this book and it will cost you your life!” The 1949 Grand Jury Foreman agreed. Here is the actual headline from the Los Angeles Times dated. July 8, 1948: "Grand Jury Chief Fears for Life of Stoker After He Testifies Again"The L.A. Times article goes on to quote grand-jury foreman Harry “Stoker is the real informer in this case. Brenda Allen is just peanuts compared to what he has given us. He should be under guard. If he continues to name names and situations like he did today he will be found dead on the curb within five days.” Pub. Note- The original 1951 hardback limited edition of T’NT by Sidereal Company, Los Angeles, is long out of print. (The few rare copies listed for sale on the Internet, are priced between $300-$500) This republished paperback edition makes Thicker’N Thieves – The Stoker Story - available to the general public for the first time since its original limited printing some sixty-years ago. This 2011 edition is true to the original. None of the author’s words have been changed or edited. Additions to the 2011 edition A Foreword by Steve Hodel, NYT bestselling author and retired LAPD homicide detective; photographs and “Line-Up” of many of the original “players” named in the Stoker Story.

Genres: History

404 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1951

Reviews

[Maria Manvik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, wow, wow! I think I've found my new favorite book... it is exquisite! The author is fearless, naming names, dates, locations, and specifics like it's nothing and I love it! Even though the author might come off as kind of chauvinistic and homophobic (he obviously sees the world as black-and-white), this just adds to the effect of his book. He uses LAPD 1940s terminology, such as "B-girls", "square apples", "juice", and "programmed raids", which also adds to the effect and takes the reader right back to L.A. in the 1940s, a time when prostitution and gambling ran rampant and the LAPD - whose motto was "To Protect and To Serve" - did nothing to stop it. In fact, they did the opposite, by encouraging and protecting these illegal activities. This book adds unique insight into the police-scandal, with cold, hard facts and first-hand knowledge from the person who stood at the center of it all. This book is definitely one-of-a-kind. A riveting read, with a unique perspective into the police-scandal, Brenda Allen, Mickey Cohen, an LAPD-protected abortion ring, as well as gambling, vice, corruption, and grafting within the City of Angels.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

First person singular highly stylized voice in film noir style. Like Hollywood Babylon for the LAPD. Reads almost like a copy of Confidential Absolutely riveting entertaining furiously paced exposé that surprises and enlightens. True story and the consequences of truth to power.

[Chris A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book on LA corruption of the 40's. It was interesting, informative and believable. The pace and accessable writing made this an easy read.