the city's government became intense. Cryer elected not to run for re-election in 1929, and a new reform-minded mayor took office that year. With the Parrot-Kane machine no longer in power, Crawford's power waned in the early 1930s. In 1929, Crawford was charged with "framing" a city councilman, Carl Ingold Jacobson. Prosecutors alleged that Crawford had conspired with five police officers and others to arrest the councilman on a trumped-up morals charge. The charges against Crawford were ultimately dismissed. In 1930, Crawford was indicted for bribery in connection with a securities scandal involving the Julian Petroleum Corporation. Prosecutors alleged that Crawford and the former State Corporations Commissioner conspired to accept bribes in exchange for business privileges. Those charges were dismissed in October 1930 when the government's main witness refused to testify. Conversion and relationship with Rev. Briegleb With Cryer and Parrot no longer in a position to assist him, Crawford sought legitimacy by opening an insurance and real estate office in Hollywood. He also funded a periodical magazine called "Critic of Critics" operated by newspaperman Herbert Spencer. The magazine was devoted to "diatribes against numerous individuals prominent in the public eye." In June 1930, shortly after his indictment on bribery charges, Crawford was baptized and admitted into the membership of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church. The pastor at St. Paul's was Rev. Gustav A. Briegleb, the noted minister portrayed by John Malkovich in the 2008 film Changeling. On the day of his baptism, Crawford placed a ring set with two large diamonds, and valued at $3,500, in the collection plate at Briegleb's church. Accompanying the ring was a note from Crawford asking Briegleb to sell the ring and use the proceeds to help build a parish house. In November 1930, Crawford made a further gift of $25,000 to be used in building a parish hall to be named Amelia Crawford House in honor of his mother. The press had noted that Crawford's conversion followed shortly after his indictment on bribery charges, but Briegleb noted that the $25,000 gift was not announced until after the bribery charges had been dismissed. Assassination In May 1931, Crawford and Herbert Spencer were shot and killed during a daylight meeting at Crawford's private office at 6655 Sunset Boulevard. Crawford died several hours later at the hospital, as the bullet had ruptured his liver and one of his kidneys. Crawford regained consciousness before undergoing surgery, but declined