Mother Loans Her Son to a Stranger

• Published on August 27, 2021

• Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Law & Order, Tidbits

Mrs. Florence Parker made the mistake of loaning her son Billy to a woman who had lost her son. Mrs. Parker would not see Billy for five months...

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Helps Indict Himself (Footnote to History)

• Published on July 13, 2021

• Posted in: Footnotes to History, Law & Order, Tidbits

On January 24, 1914, James Severn had to sit on a grand jury and deliberate over his own indictment. Is that really legal?

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A Blind Eye – Helen Vasco – Podcast #151

• Published on June 28, 2021

• Posted in: Forgotten History, Law & Order, Love & Marriage, Podcast, Science, Technology & Medicine

In 1933, Helen Vasko was diagnosed with a malignant eye tumor that threatened her life. Her parents would not consent to surgery and the case ended up in court. Find out which side won this landmark case.

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Penned Will on Ladder

• Published on June 12, 2021

• Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Death and Murder, Law & Order, Money & Financial, Tidbits

Hermann Strathmann, of Los Angeles, wrote his will on a step-ladder shortly before he passed away. Eight other wills were found. Which would be the accepted one?

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Birth Control Leases Barred

• Published on April 10, 2021

• Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Law & Order, Tidbits

On April 20, 1946, New York State Governor Thomas E. Dewey signed into law a measure that forbid “birth control” leases.

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Theodore Roosevelt Declares War on the Banana Skin

• Published on April 2, 2021

• Posted in: Law & Order, Tidbits

In 1896, Teddy Roosevelt declared war on the slippery banana peels that were all over the streets of New York City.

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A Punishment That Went Horribly Wrong – Podcast #119

• Published on February 7, 2019

• Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Death and Murder, Law & Order, Podcast

The parents of Linda Marie Ault were in a panic when their daughter didn't return home after attending a dance. When she returned home the next morning, they came up with a punishment that would teach her a valuable lesson. Everything went horribly wrong.

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Dick the Dog – Podcast #111

• Published on April 30, 2018

• Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Law & Order, Podcast

Jacob Silverman made national headlines in 1922 for the crime of owning a dog named Dick. Pennsylvania's Alien Dog Law forbid unnaturalized residents from owning dogs and required the dogs be killed.

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Le Mars Trilogy: Part 2 – Farmers in Revolt – Podcast #104

• Published on July 7, 2017

• Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Law & Order, Podcast

The Great Depression was an awful time for farmers in Iowa, culminating with the near-hanging of Judge Bradley in Le Mars over a farm owned by T.M. Zink.

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Waiter Drugs Non-Tipper

• Published on June 30, 2017

• Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Law & Order, Tidbits

In 1964 waiter Herbert A. Talmud was accused of poisoning the food of customers at the Occidental Restaurant in Washington, DC.

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Permitted to Wear Van Dyke Beard

• Published on June 26, 2017

• Posted in: Law & Order, Tidbits

On July 24, 1955, the NY State Labor Department ruled that a man couldn't be fired from his job as a swimming pool attendant for having a Van Dyke beard.

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Eleuterio the Parrot

• Published on February 15, 2017

• Posted in: Animals & Pets, Forgotten History, Law & Order, Tidbits

Eleuterio the parrot was a national celebrity in Brazil. He was famous for his vulgarities and was nominated for city council.

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Vote Cacareco

• Published on February 1, 2017

• Posted in: Animals & Pets, Law & Order, Tidbits

In October of 1959, it was reported that a female rhinoceros named Cacareco had won the San Paolo municipal council election in a landslide.

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Millionaire for a Day – Podcast #99

• Published on November 28, 2016

• Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Forgotten History, Law & Order, Podcast

What should a political party do if they do not want the winner of the primary on the ballot? Butch McDevitt was such a man back in 1911.

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The Trick-or-Treat Dentist – Podcast #98

• Published on October 19, 2016

• Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Holidays & Celebrations, Law & Order, Podcast

Back in 1959 dentist William V. Shyne was charged with giving laxative pills to trick-or-treaters. Find out what happened next...

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