Howl Movie Completed Shooting Jon Hamm as Jake Ehrlich Sr.

Howl Movie Completed

Jon Hamm as Jake Ehrlich Sr.

Sundance Film Festival 2010 Opener

The movie Howl staring Jon Hamm as Jake Ehrlich along with James Franco as Allen Ginsberg has finished shooting and completed editing and the movie now heads to the Sundance Film Festival where it will be the opening movie to kick-off the 2010 Sundance Film Festival season.

The Howl movie features an excellent full-star Hollywood cast including Jeff Daniels and Marie-Louise Parker who starred in The West Wing TV series.

It also stars the ultra-talented David Strathairn as the prosecutor, as seen below sitting on the right. David Strathairn starred in The Bourne Ultimatum, L.A. Confidential, A League of Their Own and appeared in 3 episodes of the Sopranos as well as in the first episode of Miami Vice. He also starred as Edward R. Murrow in Good Night & Good Luck.

We see Jon Hamm below playing Jake "The Master" Ehrlich. Jon Hamm is the star of Mad Men, which is probably the best TV show today.

Jon Ham really looks like Jake Ehrlich Sr. and it looks like they got the wardrobe correct, but Jake Ehrlich Sr., would have never had white from his shirt showing under his vest like in the upper photo. Also, I don't see Jon Hamm's pocketwatch chain!?! They definitely got the handkerchief correct.

Jon Hamm of Mad Men fame plays San Francisco Attorney, Jake Ehrlich as seen above. Mad Men is considered by many, many people to be the best show on TV today, and Jon Hamm is considered to be one of the best actors of this generation. He also happens to be a dead-ringer for a young Jake Ehrlich.

James Franco (below) plays Allen Ginsberg and I heard he did a great job!!! James Franco is considered to be one of the greatest actors in Hollywood today. He starred most recently in Milk, and also in all three Spiderman trilogy movies and is and has a reoccurring role on General Hospital. He also played James Dean in a made-for-TV movie.

Allen Ginsberg's Howl poem represented the birth of the mid 1950s Counterculture Revolution that completely changed America, and some would say–the world. Allen Gisnberg was a Beat Poet in San Francisco and in 1955 he wrote him most famous piece named "Howl." It is important to understand the context of the mid-to-late 1950s. Dwight Eisenhower was the President of the United States at the time and the U.S. was very, very conservative.

Allen Ginsberg was close with other beat Poets that Jake Ehrlich defended, including Jack Kerouac who is most famous for writing On The Road. Anther famous Beat Poet and contemporary of Allen Ginsberg was William S. Burroughs who wrote Naked Lunch & Exterminator.

Power To The People

The poem Howl, was censored in San Francisco by the Police Department. The ACLU asked Jake Ehrlich to represent Allen Ginsberg and San Francisco City Lights Bookstore owner Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Jake accepted the case but insisted on handling the case pro-bono because he understood what amazing significance it would have for many generations to come and refused to be paid for his services.

Jake Ehrlich accepted the case primarily because he understood the significant First Amendment rights under Freedom Of Speech which were in jeopardy. Jake Ehrlich was a staunch believer in Jeffersonian Democracy and Thomas Jefferson's ideal of Power To The People. Jake Ehrlich also believed in revolution and Nobbles-oblige.

Jake Ehrlich was also staunchly apposed to McCarthyism and strongly believe that American's must be free to think and speak their own thought, no matter what.

Jake Ehrlich won the censorship case and had his clients acquitted and won their freedom, and that freedom paved the way for not only the Beat Poets, but also for the Hippie Movement in San Francisco which took place in San Francisco's Haight Ashbury that reached its crescendo in 1968 during The Summer Of Love. It also gave rise to the women's feminist movement and E.R.A., Movement as well as the gay and lesbian movement.

Jake Ehrlich stepped in to help people who were being unfairly persecuted for their belief systems because he knew that was what the founding fathers intended to achieve when they wrote the Constitution of The United States as well as–and most importantly–The First Amendment.

In the photo below we see Allen Ginsberg on the right side of the photo with his life-long companion Peter Orlovsky as depicted above in the movie Howl by James Franco as Allen Ginsburg on the right and Arron Tveit as Peter Orlovsky.

Here is a list of links to reviews of the movie:

• Ginsberg's Howl Resounds on Film [The UK Gaurdian] January 19, 2010

Sexiest Man Alive To Play Jake Ehrlich in "Howl"

Sexiest Man Alive To Play Jake Ehrlich

In 2008, People Magazine voted Mad Men TV Show star Jon Hamm to be on their list for the sexiest man alive. Jon Hamm will be playing Jake Ehrlich in the upcoming major motion picture named "Howl."

Howl is being produced by Academy Award nominated dirctor, Gus Van Sant. Gus Van Sant directed, Good Will Hunting and most recently, MILK. The movie was written and will be directed by the Academy Award winning team of Rob Epstein and Jeffery Friedman.

"Howl" is taken from the famous 1956 poem written by Allen Ginsberg (1927-1997). In 1957, poet and owner of San Francisco's City Lights bookstore, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, who is 90 today, was Censored and charged with obscenity for selling "Howl."

Many major literary figures served as defense witnesses in the case. Jake Ehrlich defended Ginsberg and Ferlinghetti and won the case. Lawrence Ferlinghetti faced a $500 fine and 6 months in jail for publishing Allen Ginsberg's poem. The ACLU stepped in and hired Jake Ehrlich to represent Ferlinghetti. Jake Ehrlich took the case pro-bono and ended up writing a book about it named "Howl of the Censor."

James Franco (MILK) is set to play Allen Ginsberg and Jon Hamm (pictured below), the star of the TV show, "Mad Men," will play Jake Ehrlich, and the movie is set to open next year.

The Howl Trial

The fifth number in the Pocket Poets Series was Allen Ginsberg’s Howl. The book was seized in 1956 by San Francisco police. Ferlinghetti and Shig Murao, the bookstore manager who had sold the book to police, were arrested on obscenity charges. After charges against Murao were dropped, Ferlinghetti, defended by Jake Ehrlich and the ACLU, stood trial in SF Municipal court.

The publicity generated by the trial drew national attention to San Francisco Renaissance and Beat movement writers. Ferlinghetti had the support of prestigious literary and academic figures, and, at the end of a long trial, Judge Clayton Horn found Howl not obscene and acquitted him in October 1957.

The landmark First Amendment case established a key legal precedent for the publication of other controversial literary work with redeeming social importance.

The way Jake Ehrlich won the case was by reading from a bible that he had camouflaged to make it look like a normal book and he read vulgar excerpts from it without the jury knowing what it was.

Years later Jake Ehrlich got Jack Kerouac out of San Quentin on a writ of habeus corpus.

Jake Ehrlich is pictured above with Lawrence Ferlinghetti who owns City lights book store.

Jake Ehrlich on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson Video

Here is a video of Jake Ehrlich Sr., on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson back in New York in 1967.

Gene Roddenberry, DeForest Kelly & Jake Ehrlich 1960

Three different TV shows were based on Jake Ehrlich Sr:

• Perry Mason
  
• Sam Benedict
• 333 Montgomery

333 Montgomery was written and directed by Gene Roddenbury and DeForest Kelly played Jake Ehrlich.  As you can see from the photo below, DeForest Kelly was outfitted to look just like Jake Ehrlich.

After 333 Montgomery Gene Roddenbury and DeForest Kelly went on to work together in the science fiction mega-hit TV series, Star Trek.

Gene Roddenberry on the Set of Star Trek...

From Jake Ehrlich to Star Trek

The hand-signed photo from Gene Roddenberry to Jake "The Master" Ehrlich reads:

Master:

Greatest writing compliment ever received – "333 Montgomerey Steet" review which accused me of stealing the dialog from Ehrlich trial records. –Gene Roddenberry

Gene Roddenberry was close friends with Jake Ehrlich Sr. Gene Roddenbery wrote and directed the pilot for 333 Montgomery which starred Deforest Kelly playing the character based on Jake "The Master" Ehrlich. Just after 333 Montgomery Deforest Kelly went on to play Dr. McCoy on "Bones" on Star Trek which Gene Roddenberry wrote and directed.

You can watch the pilot for 333 Montgomery in the post below this one:

333 Montgomery TV Show Pilot Staring Gene Rodenberry...

333 Montgomery

333 Montgomery was one of three TV shows based on Jake Ehrlich's career.

It was written and produced by Gene Roddenberry and was named 333 Montgomery because that was Jake Ehrlich's Law Office address for many years.

The other two TV shows based on Jake Ehrlich's career were Perry Mason staring Raymond Burr and Sam Benedict starring Edmund O'brien..

Below you can watch the pilot for 333 Montgomery which stars DeForest Kelly playing The Master. DeForest Kelly went on to play Dr. McCoy (Bones) on Star Trek which Gene Roddenberry also produced.

333 Montgomery originally aired on June 13, 1960. Jake Ehrlich personally chose DeForest Kelly to play him. There were two different versions of the pilot that aired, and this is one of them:

The Master...

Jake Ehrlich Jr. Self Portrait at age 18...

My father Jake Ehrlich Jr., was extremely artistic and he drew this self portrait when he was 18 years old in 1938 for his father, Jake Ehrlich Sr.

Young Jake Ehrlich Sr., with Family...

Jake Ehrlich Sr., is pictured on the far right next to his mother. His father, Harry Ehrlich is sitting on the chair with his son Alvin Ehrlich on his lap. 

Myron Ehrlich is pictured on the far right and Easu Ehrlich is sitting to the lower right of Jake. Jake's younger sister Sarah Ehrlich was not born yet. Photo was probably taken around 1908 in Maryland.

Marjorie Mercer Ehrlich–Jake's Ehrlich's Wife...

This is a photo of Marjorie Mercer Ehrlich, Jake Ehrlich's wife and the mother of their daughter Dora Jane Ehrlich and Jake Ehrlich Jr. 

Marjorie Mercer was born in Spring Green Wisconsin on October 5, 1895 and died in San Francisco in September of 1982.

Marjorie graduated from college and was a dietician for the U.S. Army during World War I.

Captain Myron Ehrlich

Myron Ehrlich was one of Jake Ehrlich's younger brothers. 

Myron Ehrlich was also a lawyer and was a Captain and Judge Advocate in the U.S. Navy. 

After he retired from the Navy he went on to have a private practice in Washington D.C.

During World War II he was the legal officer to the commander of U.S. Naval Forces in Europe.

Myron was appointed inspector general of all naval courts. He also served as special assistant to both the judge advocate general and the under secretary of the Navy.

Myron Ehrlich was the Aid de camp to Admiral Halsey. Myron Ehrlich wrote the Japanese Surrender document for World War II. 

Myron Ehrlich practiced law for 40 years and tried many cases in front of the Supreme Court of the United States.

He once said "Judges have forgotten that they are nothing but lawyers with robes on."

IF JAKE WERE HERE TODAY

IF JAKE WERE HERE TODAY

BY

JAMES FARRAGHER CAMPBELL. ESQ.

I just finished a wonderful lunch with Nate Cohn, one of San Francisco’s great criminal lawyers. Nate related some extremely interesting stories of his life as a new and struggling criminal lawyer in San Francisco back in 1948 and how Jake Ehrlich helped and inspired him in his practice.

Nate Cohn & James Farragher Campbell in 2008

As Nate began his career, after passing the Bar in December of 1947, he had three jury trials under his belt before the early part of 1948. He remembered one case where he was retained for $150 to represent a black woman from Mississippi who was charged with assault. It was around Christmas time, and having possessed the instincts of a criminal lawyer, he sold the Christmas angel to a friendly judge. This client was also a bail jumper on a felony case, which he packaged together with the misdemeanor, and took it all to the felony judge and got both cases dismissed. Such sleight of hand at the Hall of Justice did not escape the notice of the reigning monarch of the criminal bar, Jake Ehrlich. He took note of Nate Cohn and monitored his progress.

Within a short time, Jake approached Nate and congratulated him on what he was seeing this young lawyer doing in the criminal courts. In those days a preliminary hearing (a hearing before a judge who had to determine if there was probable cause to hold the defendant over for trial in the superior court) usually only took about a half hour or so. Now Nate Cohn was conducting preliminary hearings that were taking half days, full days and on some occasions a week to complete. Nate was turning the PX, as it is referred to by criminal lawyers, into a mini trial. Jake expressed his admiration for such diligent and tenacious advocacy and told Nate: “You’re going to be a great lawyer. I never saw anyone put so much time and energy to try to win a case at the PX.” Jake was absolutely correct, Nate Cohn went on to be one of the greatest criminal defense lawyers in San Francisco and across the country.

Pictured above Melvin Belli, Jake Ehrlich & Nate Cohn in 1965

It is no small tribute to Jake Ehrlich that he was always extending a hand to other lawyers in which he saw promise. The same can be said of Nate Cohn. He did the same for me as a young lawyer as Jake did for him.

Nate fondly remembers one day he got a call from Jake inviting him to lunch. Now this was something because it was public knowledge that Jake Ehrlich had lunch every day with Lou Lurie at Jack’s Restaurant. They had a big table right inside the door; the movers and shakers of the City on public display everyday. Nate admitted he was a little intimidated to receive such an invitation but got up his courage and went nonetheless.

Jake introduced a young Nate Cohn to Lou Lurie (Powerhouse of the City). “Lou, this is Nate Cohn, an outstanding lawyer.” Lou took an immediate liking to Nate and a new history began.

Jake advised Nate: “Beware of the ‘B & Ps”. The expression stands for “bleeders and pleaders.” These are unscrupulous lawyers who take money and then just plead the client guilty without giving them any defense.

Jake Ehrlich told Nate, “If you want a jury to go with you, look like a lawyer. Knock yourself out to look good for them, show them you respect them, they will respect you. Present yourself with a professional image. Have your clothes and case in order.” As we all know Jake was always impeccably dressed. He was a standout and there was no mistake on what his profession was to any onlooker. You knew immediately he was a top shelf lawyer.

One story about Jake that really touches my heart, and which hits close to home, is the time Nate went over to see Jake at his house in Marin. Upon arriving at the house he was shown out to the back yard to find Jake sitting next to the pool completely dressed in French cuff shirt, necktie and suit pants. Nate told Jake, “This is Marin; it’s very causal over here, why are you dressed like that?” Jake replied, “I don’t have any casual clothes.”

Even if you never met Jake Ehrlich, you would know him immediately. He had the most distinguished look of any lawyer in the City. He always sported a very bright white and exaggerated pocket square. To this day, I have had older people on juries tell me that they remember Mr. Ehrlich and how great he dressed.

Nate related that Jake told him a story about himself and how he tried to attract clients when he was starting out as a lawyer. When Jake was a young lawyer himself he would wait until he had a hundred dollars. He would then get a one hundred dollar bill, go to a good bar in the tenderloin (not like it is today), put the one hundred dollar bill on the bar and announce to the entire bar, “The drinks are on Jake Ehrlich the lawyer.”

Jake was named the “Ring Master” of a charitable group called the Saints and Sinners. Tommy Harris was the Jester and started referring to Jake as “Master.” Some say this is how Jake’s moniker (“The Master”) came about. One of their projects was to raise money for a school milk program. Nate had arranged for his mother to come down to Montgomery Street outside his office at 105 Montgomery Street and set up a small card table to sell tickets for this program. She would sell the tickets two or three days a week from 11:00 to 3:00 each day.

Jake would make it a point to stop by after his lunch and sit down and chat with her. Nate remembers how impressed his mother was that the “Master” would be so nice and spend this time with her.

Jake Ehrlich made favorable impressions on thousands of people in his life. He helped thousands of people. These are just a few little tales of his lasting magic on the City and its people.

Happily, I can report that if Jake were here today he would see his fine tradition of helping his fellow man being practiced by many San Franciscans. He would also see that many of his colleagues in the criminal defense bar practice what he did so well–extend a helping hand to our newer members who are just getting started.

Indeed, when he helped Nate Cohn, little did he know he was helping a young lawyer who went on to become one of the greatest criminal lawyers in the City’s history. Nate Cohn would go on to start the American Board of Criminal Lawyers (http://www.abcl.us), the most prestigious group of criminal lawyers in the country.

Jake may have thought he was helping one lawyer, but it turned out he was helping hundreds.

The one statement that stood out in my mind that Nate made about Jake Ehrlich, as we were finishing our lunch, was:

“Jake was a great lawyer, a great gentleman and his word was his bond.”

What more could a lawyer hope to have as an epitaph?

[James Farragher Campbell has been a California based defense attorney since 1975. You can learn more about James by clicking here.]

Jake Ehrlich & Loius Lurie with San Francisco's Finest...

Jake Ehrlich Standing behind his lifelong best friend, Louis Lurie and San Francisco's Finest. This photo is taken in Louis Lurie's office. 

Nancy Reagan First Lady of The United States & Friend...

Jake Ehrlich was close friends with Nancy and Ronald Reagan. Jake's wife, Marjorie was very close friends with Nancy's mother.

Dinner Party with Family & Friends...

Jake Ehrlich Sr., is pictured sitting on the far left with his granddaughter Cynthia sitting on his lap. His brother Esau is sitting on the right side of him, next is his son Jake Ehrlich Jr.; his wife Marjorie Mercer Ehrlich and standing between Jake Jr., and Marjorie in the white dress is his daughter, Dora Jane Horton next to her husband Edgar Waverly Horton III. The man standing on the far left is Paul Baker.

Letter From Attorney Jerry Giesler...

Jerry Giesler served as co-council on the Alexander Pantages case and later wrote this letter to Jake Ehrlich.

Click on letter to enlarge:

IF JAKE WERE HERE TODAY

IF JAKE WERE HERE TODAY

by

James Farragher Campbell

I am honored that Jake Ehrlich III would invite me to write a quarterly column for the Never Plead Guilty Blog.

Why? Because his grandfather, the Master, Jake Ehrlich, was the person who started me thinking of becoming a lawyer. Let me set the scene.

I was a senior in high school attending Marmion Military Academy in Aurora, Illinois, just out side of Chicago. I had my heart set on becoming a sea captain and was ready to enter the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point.

I was on guard duty, which was exciting because that meant I could lawfully skip some of my classes. Somehow, I came across Jake Ehrlich’s book, Never Plead Guilty. I started to read it and couldn’t put it down. I was hooked!

Good-bye to the Merchant Marine Academy and hello to college, the liberal arts and onto law school. After reading The Lost Art of Cross-Examination by Jake Ehrlich, I knew it was the life of a lawyer for me. 

And, after I read the rest of his books, including Ehrlich’s Criminal Law, I knew it was the life of a criminal defense lawyer for me. I have never regretted my decision.

It was these books that lead me to other books by San Francisco lawyers, including a series of books, Criminal Law Seminar, by Nathan Cohn. 

Nate has his own unique story and place in the great history of the San Francisco criminal defense bar as well as the nation’s criminal defense bar. He is a living legend and I am so honored that he sponsored me to join the American Board of Criminal Lawyers. The ABCL is by invitation only and you must pass very strict standards in order to be considered for membership. Your admission into this prestigious group is only by a unanimous vote of approval by the Board of Governors. 

Not only did I get in, but in 2007 I was elected President of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers. Somehow I know this all started with Jake writing a book, me reading the book, and being nurtured by all the other lawyers who Jake also brought along the path of criminal defense.

It was Jake that also made me think of coming to San Francisco. I have never regretted that decision either.

My San Francisco office is housed in the historic and very beautiful Stock Exchange Tower at 155 Sansome Street in the heart of the old financial district. On my walk to my office I feel the spirit of those that made San Francisco. I still feel the buzz of commerce, the gamblers from the gold fields, the Big Four, Black Bart, Emperor Norton and yes, the Master, Jake Ehrlich. Who would not be energized coming down the street from Nob Hill into the canyons of the financial district?

As I sit in my office chair behind my desk I can easily recall memories of cases and people I have come across in the practice of criminal law. Hung on the walls, or set about the office, I see all significant objects, mementoes and pictures of my practice and my life. I believe memories should be seen and not put away in the attic. There is also a touch of the opulent for added drama, red walls with grand damask curtains and gilded chairs. I refer to my decorative style as “eclectic opulence.”

One object hanging on my wall is of special interest with regard to Jake Ehrlich. It was given to me by his grandson as a memento of how Jake has influenced my life. This object was originally given to Jake Ehrlich many years ago by the warden of San Quentin Prison as a present to Jake for his work in the criminal justice system. It is the lock and key to the front prison gate. A gate that never had to be opened for any of Jake’s clients!

So, my quarterly column will be “If Jake Were Here Today.” It will describe changes in the City, the law, and certainly changes in the sartorial splendor since Jake left us. I will ponder what would Jake think and what would Jake say?

I hope to hear from all of our readers as well on what they think Jake might make of the changes today in our society and our little sanctum of San Francisco. 

I also hope to interview other lawyers that Jake had helped along their way, influencing them in the process. This will be a true labor of love.

Until next time,

All the Best,

James Farragher Campbell

www.SFCriminalDefensePro.com

James Farragher Campbell has joined the Editorial Staff of The Never Plead Guilty Blog...

James Farragher Campbell, Esquire.

I am so excited to announce that top-notch San Francisco Trial Attorney, James Farragher Campbell will be joining the Editorial Staff of the Never Plead Guilty Blog.

James is, in many ways, the Jake Ehrlich of today and is a senior partner in Campbell, Demetrich & Jacobo located in San Francisco.

Fascinatingly, the reason James became an attorney was because he read one of Jake Ehrlich's books when he was a young man and was so inspired by The Master's career he decided to become an attorney and follow in Jake's footsteps.

James is the President of The American Board of Criminal Lawyers which is an exclusive members-only society of the nation's best criminal defense lawyers.  

James is also an extremely elegant and dapper Gentle Man who believes strongly in sartorial splendor as well as the notion that elegance knows no pain.

James Farragher Campell is pictured above in his San Francisco office.  Notice the walls are red like Melvin Belli's office.

James is going to have a column on the Never Plead Guilty Blog named "If Jake Were Here Today" where he will share what he thinks Jake's perspective would be today on many issues.

James is also going to share his legal expertise with us on different issues and bring us up to date on how legal issues have evolved since The Master practiced law.  

James will also be conducting some fascinating interviews with friends of The Master.

James Farragher Campbell is an excellent San Francisco attorney and has been a loyal friend over the years.

I am looking forward to his insightful participation in our exploration into the life, career and times of Jake "The Master" Ehrlich.

Welcome on-board James!!!

Jake Ehrlich III

Howard Hughes On The Phone...

I remember having a conversation with a receptionist from my grandfather's office.

She said one time the phone rang and she answered the Phone "Garfield 1-4530"

She said a  man with a very masculine voice said "Jake Ehrlich, Please."  

She asked "May I tell Mr. Ehrlich who is calling?"  The voice on the phone responded "Tell him it is 'The Man.'"

She respond "Uh, who?"  The voice repeated "Tell him it is The Man!"  She asked, "Is Mr. Ehrlich expecting your call?"  He said yes.  "May I give Mr. Ehrlich your first name?"  

The voice said, "Just tell him it is The Man.  He will know who it is"

She put the stranger on hold and called my grandfather and told him she had a man on the phone who kept insisting that he wanted to speak with Jake and that his name was "The Man."

Jake said, "Oh, that is Howard Hughes.  Put him through."  So from that point forward whenever she answered the phone and the voice said it was "The Man" she would put him through.

Howard Hughes talking on the phone while shaving

Years later Jake was having a conversation with one of his proteges named Harry Waynright.  

Jake was complaining to Harry that he had not been sleeping well because his home phone would ring at 2 or 3 in the morning all the time and it would be Howard Hughes wanting to ask Jake for advice about one thing or another involving Howard Hughes' acquisition of Las Vegas casinos.

Harry said to Jake "I am always up late, why don't you give him my number?"  Jake did and Harry started taking the late night calls.  

After Jake told Harry about how Howard Hughes kept calling in the middle of the night, Harry asked Jake if he had sent Howard a bill?  Jake said no.  Harry said, "Why don't we send him a bill for $50,000 and see if he pays it?"  Jake agreed.

So they sent Howard Hughes a bill and he paid it.

Jake represented Howard Hughes for four decades.

Harry Wainwright...

Harry Wainwright was one of Jake Ehrlich's proteges. 

When Harry first became an associate of Jake's, Jake said in confidence to a family memeber, "Harry is the only man I have ever been afraid of.  He is so talented and smart, I had to keep him close because I did not ever want to have to go up against him in a court of law."

Harry was tuff as nails and damned proud of it.

As a matter of fact, Harry was an ace Air Force Pilot in World War II, and got shot down out in the Pacific Ocean.  The Japanese collected Harry from the ocean and put him in a Japanese concentration camp.

Of course, Harry escaped and was soon back up in the skies shooting down Mitsubishi fighter planes and bombers. When Harry retired from the Air Force he was a Major.

Harry Wainwright at the San Francisco Hall of Justice 

Harry was best friends with my father, Jake Ehrlich Jr.  

When I was a little kid I could not stand Harry because he was always really rough with me.  I remember he and my father Jake would watch Monday night football and drink Coors beer and scream at the TV set.

On day when I was 18 years old I had a conversation with Harry and and I said something about a friend of mine. 

Harry interrupted and said, "You think you have friends!?!"

I said yes.

Harry asked me how many true friends I thought I had?

I defensively said, "Well, quite a few."

Harry laughed and asked "How many!?!"

I said, "Probably about 6 or 7 true friends."

Harry responded "Look, you are lucky if you can count all of your friends on one God dammed hand–and that is if you have three of your fucking fingers blown off!!!!"

Years later when I was in law school, I had  another conversation with Harry where I asked him some serious questions.

I said "Look, I want to know the bottom line on my Grandfather Jake.  I know there is much more to him than meets the eye but I can't figure it out?"

Harry said, "I am not going to spell it out for you.  You are going to have to figure it out yourself, but I will give you a clue to get you started:  Murder Inc."

In my Naiveté, I asked Harry what Murder Inc., was?

He said, "I am not going to spell it out for you.  You are in law school, go look it up. It is all there in the California Reporter.  All you have to do is look it up!!!"