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Fascinating True Stories From the Flip Side of History

On the WWW Since 1994

Podcasting Since January 2008

Footnote – 1947: Doctor Wins Bet but Client Dies After Paying Off

Published on June 24, 2022

Posted in: Death and Murder, Footnotes to History

Imagine losing a bet with a doctor and then dropping dead minutes after settling the bet. That happened to Allan Sharp.

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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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1964: A Painful Mourning

Published on March 29, 2022

Posted in: Death and Murder, Tidbits

Twenty-two people died after eating koliva, a traditional dish in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Clearly, something was wrong with the koliva...

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Anti-Roach Flour

Published on January 28, 2022

Posted in: Death and Murder, Tidbits

On December 11, 1957, Finis Kittinger accidentally used roach poison instead of flour to make fried chicken.

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The Forgotten Man – Archibald Herron – Podcast #159

Published on October 28, 2021

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

A New Jersey man was caught in a Catch-22 situation: As long as he remained on death row, he could live. If he attempted to get off of death row by challenging his sentence in court, he would likely die. Can you guess which option he chose?

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Footnote – 1899: 4 Cows Killed by Lightning

Published on August 18, 2021

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

In July 1899, farmer Charles Hulse had four of his cows killed at the same time by a bolt of lightning.

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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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Wrote Will on Petticoat

Published on June 5, 2021

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

In 1925, George W. Hazeltine was near death and wrote his will on the petticoat of one of his nurses. Would it hold up in court?

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Isabel McHie – A Fortune to the Dogs – Podcast #150

Published on May 29, 2021

Posted in: Death and Murder, Love & Marriage, Money & Financial, Podcast

When Isabel McHie was pulled off of a train in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1935, she confirmed to the world that she truly was eccentric. It was a reputation that continued long after she died.

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Badman Billy Cook – Podcast #148

Published on April 28, 2021

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Death and Murder, Podcast

There's a killer on the road. His brain is squirmin' like a toad. The mostly forgotten true story of the manhunt for mass murderer Billy Cook in 1951. His crime spree was the inspiration for a verse in one of classic rock's most famous songs.

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The St. Louis Diphtheria Tragedy – Podcast #147

Published on March 26, 2021

Posted in: Death and Murder, Podcast, Science, Technology & Medicine

The diphtheria vaccine saved many lives until children in St. Louis started dying from it back in 1901. One could say that it was all the fault of a horse named Jim.

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The Sleep-Walking Murderer – Podcast #144

Published on January 23, 2021

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Death and Murder, Podcast

In 1930, Michael Filosa slashed his half-brother Salvatore De Hall to death while he was sleep-walking. Could he have really done such a thing?

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Dead Man Helps Revive Wife

Published on October 7, 2020

Posted in: Death and Murder, Tidbits

On October 30, 1931, Llewellyn Hall slumped over in a rocking chair inside of his Cleveland home. On his way to the morgue, he suddenly awoke.

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Mummies Found in Attic

Published on May 23, 2020

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Death and Murder, Tidbits

In 1906, workmen in New York City discovered two boxes with mummified humans inside.

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Beet Salad Could Be an Influenza Cure

Published on May 18, 2020

Posted in: Death and Murder, Science, Technology & Medicine, Tidbits

Could beet salad be the cure for the influenza that spread worldwide back in 1918. One Austrian doctor believed so.

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