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Fascinating True Stories From the Flip Side of History

On the WWW Since 1994

Podcasting Since January 2008

Marty, the Marijuana Mouse – Podcast #190

Published on February 2, 2023

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Bizarre & Oddities, Crime & Punishment, Humor, Podcast

The crazy true story of Marty, a mouse who was stealing marijuana and other drugs from the evidence room of the San Jose police department in 1974.

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1915 – That Must Have Been One Hungry Cat

Published on January 26, 2023

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Tidbits

A stray cat spotted its next meal sitting in a goldfish bowl on a table. The only thing in its way was a glass window...

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1961 – A Stewed Duck Is Too Saucy to Suit Cops (Footnote)

Published on August 29, 2022

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Bizarre & Oddities, Footnotes to History, Humor

Two policemen set out to capture a drunk duck. It wasn't as easy as they had hoped...

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1950 – Dogs Shoot Owners (Footnote)

Published on July 29, 2022

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Bizarre & Oddities, Footnotes to History

It's rare that a dog shoots its owner. Yet, it happened twice in one month in Olney, Texas.

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1957 – Ottawa Newspaper Finds Pet Parakeet

Published on July 18, 2022

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Bizarre & Oddities, Tidbits

When Mrs. Ann Recoskie lost her pet parakeet Joey, she called the Ottawa Journal to place a Lost Pet ad. They had some good news for her.

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1927 – Unidentified Body Found by Hartford Police

Published on July 11, 2022

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Crime & Punishment, Death and Murder, Tidbits

A man told police that he had witnessed someone being murdered. Investigators raced to the scene, saw the blood, and then discovered a very unusual corpse.

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Footnote – 1950: Dog Saves Lives of 60 Men College Students

Published on May 10, 2022

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Death and Murder, Escape and Survival, Footnotes to History, Tidbits

The lives of 60 dormitory residents were endangered by carbon monoxide poisoning. A pooch named Piedmont was credited with saving their lives.

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Footnote – 1949: Nimrod Gives Bizarre Excuse

Published on May 6, 2022

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Crime & Punishment, Footnotes to History, Tidbits

Can you tell the difference between a deer and a groundhog? These two hunters in Maryland apparently could not.

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Footnote – 1935: Tarantula in Britches

Published on May 3, 2022

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Footnotes to History, Tidbits

A Montgomery, AL officer had to deal with an erratic banana truck driver who had a tarantula in his pants!

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Footnote – 1934: Cat Becomes Flaming Torch

Published on April 29, 2022

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Footnotes to History, Tidbits

Just how much damage can a flaming cat do to a home? Mrs. Victor Barbaglia of Vineland, NJ witnessed what could happen.

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Footnote – 1911: Jealous Husband Guards Wife With Rattlesnakes

Published on April 26, 2022

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Footnotes to History, Tidbits

James Stoner used rattlesnakes to keep other men away from his wife. His attempts to do so backfired on him.

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1942: Pigeons Sabotage Tires

Published on April 22, 2022

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Tidbits

It was a strange crime: Nails kept appearing in the alley behind a Woolworth store in Minneapolis. The criminals may have been the birds.

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Footnote – 1959: Guinea Pigs Stolen

Published on March 22, 2022

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Footnotes to History

Just who would steal four guinea pigs? A very odd robbery, although these guinea pigs were highly valued.

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Footnote – 1939: A Surprise In A Bottle

Published on February 16, 2022

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Footnotes to History, Tidbits

Tom Gilroy can teach you an important lesson: Don't ever stick your finger on a bottle that has a wasp in it it!

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Footnote – 1949: Ontario Boy Given Snake by Museum

Published on December 21, 2021

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Holidays & Celebrations, Tidbits

A couple from Ontario drove 125 miles so that their son could purchase a snake, only to find out that the museum had none for sale. Would his heart be broken for Christmas?

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