Kurkjian

During the year 1963, St. James Armenian Church of Los Angeles (church) owned church property at 3200 West Adams Boulevard. Church was contemplating selling said property and acquiring another site for the building of a new church. John Kurkjian was the chairman of the parish council, the administrative body of the church. He was also chairman of a specially created building committee which was given the task of advising the council concerning the acquisition of the new church property.

Baxter Hallaian, a licensed real estate broker and an Armenian, though not a member of the church nor the holder of any official position therewith, was a friend and acquaintance of Kurkjian and other officials of the church. In early 1963, representatives of the Mount Sinai Baptist Church of Los Angeles indicated an interest in purchasing the church property on West Adams. In negotiations which followed it appears that the prospective buyers were represented by a real estate broker, one Foster Price, and the church was represented by Kurkjian, assisted by Hallaian.

On May 17, 1963, Kurkjian presented to the parish council for its approval an offer of purchase from the Mount Sinai…