Book excerpt: Claudine Burnett has now written another book sure to be savored by those interested in Southern California history. Concentrating on a span of years covering the 1880's to 1920, Ms. Burnett has uncovered fascinating true stories of death and murder. Read about: - The bandit Sylvestro Morales who robbed and murdered his way through the Southland in 1889 and his capture at the Rancho Los Alamitos. - Violence and death amoung the Basque and Mexican sheepherders and sugar beet workers of Southern California. - Long Beach City Trustees hung in effigy and how their attempt to get rid of a local saloon in 1896 brought about the death of the city. - How the murder of a Long Beach policeman in 1912 led to additional tragedy and sorrow but also brought about the adoption of modern criminal investigation. - The kidnapping and torture of a Long Beah youth in 1916 by notorious, insane murderer Harry Thaw, whose killing of famed archtiect Stanford White made headlines around the world. Learn the origin of: - The towns of Long Beach and Los Alamitos - The Pacific Electric "Red Car" and jitney transport systems. - The Long Beach Municipal Band and Long Beach Police Department. Meet: - Lew-is the Light who believed he had a special delivery service to God. - "Whistling" Davis who refused to bury his dead daughter. - Cantankerous "Old Man" Ranous, killed and buried in a pile of manure. - W.L. Jennings, killed by a cat. - The spirits of murder victims who refused to rest. - Pete Labourdette, a notorious Los Alamitos saloon keeper, and the murders he worked to cover up. These are but a few examples from a book you won't want to put down until the very end.