Adolph Rothman, a clerk at the Laurbank Liquor Store in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, was tragically killed on the night of September 16, 1964. Rothman was working at the store with his friend, Harry Wosk, who often visited him during his shifts. The two were engaged in a card game when the incident occurred. Around 11 p.m., two individuals, Joshua Nicholas Hill and Ben Madorid, entered the store under the pretense of purchasing alcohol.
They requested a bottle of whiskey and a six-pack of beer. When another customer entered the store, the suspects asked Rothman to serve the customer first. After the customer left, Rothman returned to assist Hill and Madorid, asking for identification. Hill presented a draft card, which Rothman deemed invalid. As Rothman turned to put the whiskey back on the shelf, Hill pulled out a gun and shot him in the back of the head, killing him instantly. Wosk, who witnessed the shooting, was also shot in the cheek by Hill but survived the attack.
Following the murder, Hill and Madorid stole $152 from the cash register and fled the scene in a car driven by their accomplice, James William Saunders. The trio then forced a friend, John Niehoff, to drive them to Las Vegas the following day. Niehoff managed to separate from the group and alerted a security guard at a casino, leading to the arrest of Hill, Madorid, and Saunders.
The case went to trial, where Hill, Madorid, and Saunders were charged with first-degree murder, assault with intent to commit murder, and robbery. The jury found all three defendants guilty on all counts. Hill and Saunders were sentenced to death, while Madorid received a life sentence. The appeals of Hill and Saunders were automatic, as required by law.
The murder of Adolph Rothman was a shocking and brutal crime that highlighted the dangers faced by store clerks and the impact of violent crime on communities. The swift apprehension and prosecution of the suspects provided some measure of justice for Rothman's family and friends, though the loss of his life remained a profound tragedy.
