No. 463
Crime, Eccentricity, and the Sporting Life in 19th Century America.
February 29, 2020
They Are a Bad Lot.
The frightful picture of crime and debauchery which has given notoriety to Mary Jane Cawley’s backwo
July 27, 2015
alias: STEVE MARSHAL
FORGER, GENERAL THIEF
Ohio State University professor Dr. James Howard Snook was electrocuted on this date in 1930. The eggheaded veterinary lecturer, Snook was an Olympic gold medalist in pistol shooting.* On a site like Executed Today one would presume that sidearms appear with a Chekhovian purpose, but it will transpire that different instruments cause his downfall. Beginning, […]
More...
Executed Today - 2/28/2020
Fifty-nine years ago in February 1961, thousands of avid fans trudged through 20 inches of snow to Carnegie Hall to see comedian Lenny Bruce—in a show that was recorded and released in a three-record set, The Carnegie Hall Concert. This famous show, “was the moment that an obscure yet rapidly rising young comedian named Lenny […]
More...
Ephemeral New York - 2/23/2020
"The Witches' Cove," Follower of Jan Mandijn
It's time for this week's Link Dump!
Let the show begin!
Angkor Wat and the collapsed reservoir.
Shorter version: Jack Parsons was one weird dude.
Jolly Jane Toppan, the last person you would want at your sickbed.
A museum that's pure torture.
The mystery of the Breton inscription.
The posset: good for whatever ails you.
Yet
More...
Strange Company - 2/28/2020
Beginning on January 1st, W&W will begin featuring fascinating short clippings from the Fall River papers and other newspapers from …
More...
Lizzie Borden: Warps and Wefts - 12/29/2019
Nellie C. Bailey.
William Dodson led a drive of 2300 head of sheep from Kansas through Indian Territory to their new home in Texas in October 1883. A mile behind them the owner of the new ranch, a widower named Clement Bothemly, and his sister Bertha traveled in a wagon outfitted with bedrooms. Pulled by two yoke of oxen, the wagon was so large that observers compared it to a railroad car.
More...
Murder By Gaslight - 2/22/2020
Letter to Mary from Jeff R. Smith II
Artifact #63
February 15, 1897
Jeff Smith collection
(Click image to enlarge)
rtifact #63
Soapy Smith's letter to wife Mary, dated February 15, 1897 reads, in a large pen hand,
Feb 15th 1897
Dear Wife
This far on my journey to the North
God bless you
Jeff
Owl Saloon
Spokan
A quick note from husband to wife, written on Russ House
More...
Soapy Smith's Soap Box - 2/27/2020
[Editor’s note: Guest writer, Peter Dickson, lives in West Sussex, England and has been working with microfilm copies of The Duncan Campbell Papers from the State Library of NSW, Sydney, Australia. The following are some of his analyses of what he has discovered from reading these papers. Dickson has contributed many transcriptions to the Jamaica Family […]
More...
