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Day eight: A murder contract on a nightclub owner
November 9th, 2009, 3:00 am · 16 Comments · posted by Larry Welborn
Sheriff’s deputy and matron work to revive Della Rosoto, sister of convicted murderer Joseph Rosoto, who first sobbed hysterically, then fainted, then went into hysterics again after she heard the death penalty verdict for her brother. Register File Photo
Donald Glen Franklin, "Big John" Vlahovich and Joseph Rosoto, descend the steps of Orange County Courthouse after hearing death penalty verdict. Register File Photo
1958: The owner of Orange County’s most famous nightclub was murdered in his driveway and his wife had her hands blasted off by a shotgun-wielding gunman.
The suspects and their motive soon had reporters practically swooning to get in on the story.
Leslie Simpson was the owner-operator of the South Seas, the best known nightclub of its day, when the joint was hit by masked robbers in 1957.
Simpson, 46, was able to identify Joseph “Little Caeser” Rosoto as one of the bandits because of his distinctive limp – and that led to his murder.
Rosoto was a known mobster who attended the infamous Mob Summit at Little Appalachia in 1957.
Rosoto was not about to go down on a robbery beef.
So the little (he was 5-foot-1) gangster hired his bodyguard, John “the Big Fisherman” Vlahovich (he was 6-foot-7), and Donald Glen Franklin, a burly loner, to arrange the murder of Simpson to keep him off the witness stand.
Simpson was gunned down – and his wife Fern seriously wounded – early one morning in 1959.
Rosoto was acquitted of the robbery charge, but he was later arrested, with Vlahovich and Franklin, and charged with gunning down Simpson to keep him from testifying.
The trio was convicted after a headline-making trial in 1960 and sentenced to death.
The three men were once 20 minutes from execution in 1964, but a last-hour stay was issued.
Eventually their sentences were commuted to life in prison.
All three were paroled in 1975 after serving only 16 years for first-degree murder.
Rosoto, the mastermind of the plot, was later bludgeoned to death at his home in San Gabriel in 1978.
Starting second left- Donald Glen Franklin, “Big John” Vlahovich (white shirt) and Joseph Rosoto arrives at court on September 30, 1960. Register File PhotoJoseph Rosoto talks with his sister and another unidentified female in the courtroom before his death penalty verdict on September 29, 1960. Register File Photo
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Only 16 years for a murder for hire plot and one of them also committed a robbery???
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We love you Missy Fern - it’s been a hard go for you…
Fern, I am so sorry to learn the bad guys got so few years after you lost your husband and your arms. I remember when it all happend! I remember you bowling with your prostetics. How brave you were!
I was only a little girl and my daddy was the Capatin in charge of the PD then. How is your daughter doing?
The bullet holes have long been covered up but I remeber……..
She does have spunk, even after such a tragedy. I admire her greatly and I am always sad to hear this story and am sorry for her loss.
who is the female deputy….anyone have any ocsd history info?
Yeah, but look how he ended up.
What a charming story. The B &W auto ad at the bottom was a nice touch.
He paid one way or another. Down 16 years, then his face was smashed in. Justice delayed but justice none the less.
“Rosoto, the mastermind of the plot, was later bludgeoned to death at his home in San Gabriel in 1978.” I love a story that has a happy ending.
I hope the other two goons received a similar bludgeoning, as well.
[...] those on the list: The 1958 slaying of Leslie Simpson in [...]
Where was the “South Seas” the most famous nightclub in OC?
So a mentally ill beekeeper is executed seven years after raping and killing a 15 year old but a known mobster who kills is paroled? Me thinkst the justice system was screwed up even then.
A lot of it depends on evidence, and if the mobster case had more circumstantial than direct evidence, that could be why. The bee keeper also confessed. It’s unfortunate, but still happens today.
I grew up at the house on Haven Drive in Anaheim where Mr. Simpson was shot down. My parents bought it 1963. There was always a “feeling” in the house and whenever no one would fess up to somethng broken or a light left on we would always say it was Mr. Simpson. My brothers claim to have seen a prize ribbon floating through the air in what was considered the Rumpus Room.