The Death of Ned Doheny

The Doheny family, pivotal figures in the early 20th-century U.S. oil industry, lived a legacy intertwined with wealth, oil, and influence.

Wealthy Doheny Family Dominated Early 20th-Century U.S. Oil Industry

Edward Doheny Struck Oil In California In 1892, Amassing Fortune

Edward Doheny, a name synonymous with the oil boom of Southern California, was one of the most influential industrialists of the early 20th century. In the spring of 1892, he purchased swampland near downtown Los Angeles. After months of toil and drilling, he discovered oil on April 20, 1893, igniting an oil fever in Southern California and ultimately overshadowing other magnates, even becoming wealthier than John D. Rockefeller at one point.

The oil boom corresponded with the rise of the automobile industry, and cars like the Model T demanded vast quantities of oil. This serendipity played into Edward's hands, allowing his wealth and influence to burgeon alongside the need for oil. By 1910, Edward’s annual earnings soared to an estimated $10 million, and his accumulated fortune reached as high as $75 million.

Wealth Used to Buy Mansion, Build Pan American, and Raise Son As Successor

The same year he struck oil, his son Edward Doheny Jr., commonly known as Ned, was born. Edward invested in a future for his son as grand as his newfound oil empire, pledging the best of everything, from a luxurious upbringing to an integral role in the family business. The family's display of wealth was epitomized by their 10,0 ...

The Teapot Dome scandal was one of the most notorious bribery scandals in U.S. history, and it implicated several individuals, including Ned Doheny and his associate Hugh Plunkett.

Ned Doheny and Hugh Plunkett Implicated In Teapot Dome Bribery Scandal

Ned Doheny and Hugh Plunkett visited Albert Bacon Fall, Secretary of the Interior and an old friend of Edward Doheny, Ned's father, in Washington, DC. This visit resulted in Albert receiving $100,000, which was alleged to be a bribe for federal oil leases, specifically the right to drill in Elk Hills, California's naval reserves, which were under Albert's control. Not long after this transaction, Edward Doheny's Pan American company obtained exclusive drilling rights to these naval reserves in April 1922.

Ned and Hugh Accused Of Delivering $100,000 Bribe to Official For Federal Oil Leases

The $100,000 given to Fall was claimed by Albert to be a personal loan, supported by a promissory note that was never repaid. However, the timing of the payment and the subsequent granting of drilling rights led to suspicion and a Senate inquiry into potential corruption. Other evidence also indicated that Harry Sinclair may have bribed Fall, as his financial status improved after Sinclair's visit.

Ned Granted Immunity in Scandal Trials to Testify Against Others

In the unfolding legal drama, both Edward and Ned Doheny were indicted on charges of bribery and conspiracy in June of 1924, with Ned facing a minimum of 15 years if convicted. To mitigate Ned's legal jeopardy, his legal team accepted an offer for his immunity in exchange for his testimony against Harry Sinclair. With immunity, Ned was to testify in Sinclair's trial, which would also bring him to speak against Albert Fall. Hugh ...

The intriguing case of Ned Doheny and Hugh Plunkett's deaths at Greystone Mansion remains a topic of speculation and mystery, leading some to suspect a cover-up.

Ned Doheny and Hugh Plunkett Found Dead Suspiciously

In the twilight hours of February 16th, 1929, tragedy struck Greystone mansion as two men were discovered dead within its esteemed walls.

Officially a Murder-Suicide: Hugh Killed Ned, Then Himself

The lifeless bodies of Ned Doheny, the mansion's oil heir resident, and Hugh Plunkett, his confidant and personal secretary, were both found with fatal gunshot wounds to the head in a guest bedroom. Hugh was fully attired in a pinstripe suit, while Ned donned a green silk dressing gown, suggesting he was readying for bed.

Accompanying the scene, detectives noted an empty glass, an open bottle of Johnny Walker, and cigarettes next to the men's hands. Hugh's cigarette, in particular, had burned down significantly, hinting he was smoking when he died. An unsettling warmth lingered on the gun tucked beneath Hugh's body, suggesting recent discharge.

Ned's wife, Lucy Doheny, and Dr. Fishbaugh, arriving at the scene posthaste after a sudden summons, encountered the grim tableau, leading to the initial assumption that Hugh had shot Ned and, in turn, ended his own life in despair.

Detective Leslie White surveyed the fatalistic diorama with notable skepticism. Inconsistencies plagued the narrative; the servants' testimonies seemed eerily rehearsed, the staff were unfazed by the initial gunshot, and the peculiar temperature of the gun spawned questions about the true timing of events.

Adding to the enigma, Hugh's preparation for testimony in a volatile legal dispute was abruptly curtailed by his death. The turmoil preceding, an argument and an urgent phone call, culminated in his sudden, fatal meeting with Ned in the estate's chambers.

Yet White found the official verdict of murder-suicide improbable. A solitary hand lighting a cigarette while simultaneously managing the cumbersome task of executing two precise shots defied plausibility.

Gunshot Wound Placement Contradicted Crime Scene Narrative

Discrepancies emerged regarding the placement of the gunshot wounds. Ned bore signs of a close-range execution, evident by powder burns near his ear indicative of a shot fired from less than three inches away. Conversely, Hugh's wound, situated at the back of his head and notably devoid of powder burns, contradicted self-infliction theories, suggesting an assailant was responsible for his demise.

Despite these inconsistencies, law enforcement res ...

The deaths of Ned Doheny and Hugh Plunkett have prompted numerous theories that challenge the official narrative, leaving many to question what truly transpired that fateful night.

Ned's Suicide After Killing Hugh Reverses Narrative

While it has been commonly accepted that Hugh Plunkett killed Ned Doheny and then himself, this narrative has faced scrutiny. Evidence such as powder burns on Ned's temple indicated that the gun was fired close to his skull, suggesting the possibility that Ned could have been the one holding the gun to his own head. The rapid closure of the case by the district attorney, without a formal autopsy on Ned and in the absence of a thorough investigation, only adds to the speculation.

Grave Placement and Lack of Catholic Burial For Ned Question Alleged Suicide

Questions arise from the grave placement of the young men in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, particularly the decision of Edward Doheny to be laid to rest far from Ned and Hugh. Ned's unmarked, lavish Italian sarcophagus juxtaposed with Edward's separate resting place adds another layer of mystery to the family dynamics. Given the Catholic Church's stance on suicide at the time, the burial details feed into the conjecture around the true nature of Ned's death.

Rushed Investigation Closure and Doheny Influence Fuel Cover-Up Concerns

The abrupt end to the investigation of Ned and Hugh's deaths, with the district attorney announcing the inquiry was over within mere hours and with no formal autopsy, stirs doubts and concerns over a potential cover-up. The loss of Edward Doheny's personal papers, reportedly burned by his wife after his funeral, has made it difficult for historians to piece together what may have happened. Speculation that the powerful Doheny family could have influenced the quick closure of the case persists.

Key Evidence, Witness Suppression: Ned and Hugh's Deaths Remain a Mystery

Detective White found the crime scene puzzling but noted that the witnesses' stories matched up remarkably well, though the gun found under Hugh's body conspicuously lacked fingerprints. The discrepancies in the warmth of the gun re ...