Except for the person who has never spoken, everyone will utter his or her last words. Those words may be an expression of surprise, such as Julius Caesar’s famous, “Et tu, Brute?” […]
Memorable Last Words of Famous People
The Horrifying Hanging of Mary, the Circus Elephant Who Was Executed for Murder
When the sentence of death is carried out, it is always noteworthy. Mary’s execution was no exception. This particular use of capital punishment attracted even more attention than usual. People gathered from […]
Can You Solve the Unexpected Hanging Paradox?
The Unexpected Hanging Paradox — also known by various names such as the Surprise Examination and the Surprise Drill — has stumped the most brilliant of thinkers. It has been debated in […]
Did a Monkey Get Hanged For Being a French Spy?
Just when we thought we had thoroughly combed the historical record and reported all interesting tidbits on a subject, we are reminded that there is no limit to strange stories from the […]
Dormie — The Dog That Went on Trial for Murder
The charges against the defendant were almost unimaginable. Prosecutors accused him of leaving a trail of twelve corpses. A dozen lives were tragically and unjustifiably cut short by an inexplicable killing spree. […]
The Prime Minister Who Got Eaten By His People
You know what they say about pursuing a career in politics. It is a vocation fraught with hazards. The public is so fickle and can love you one day, only to chew […]
Abraham Lincoln: Mystery Writer
Abraham Lincoln attempted many things in his life. He was a railsplitter, boatman, store clerk, soldier, surveyor, postmaster, lawyer, legislator, and President. Along the way, he tried his hand as an inventor, […]
The Scandalous Saga of the Ugly Man Who Was Executed for Fathering a One-Eyed Pig
Most people want their lives to be significant. We want to be remembered after we leave this world. It is downright depressing to consider the possibility of making so little of an […]
Law & Order – Hammurabi’s Code Division
In Babylon’s criminal justice system, the people were governed by a code of justice and the king who wrote that code. These are their stories. Welcome to Law and Order: Hammurabi’s Code […]
When Whistling Was a War Crime
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy describes the Marketing Department of the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation as: “A bunch of mindless jerks who’ll be the first against the wall when the revolution comes.” […]
The Russian Beard Preservation Law, Otherwise Known as the Russkaya Pravda
Facial hair used to be important in Russia. No, you don’t understand. It was REALLY important! We know this because of the Russkaya Pravda (Rus’ Justice or Rus’ Truth), one of the […]
The Surprising Unknown Life of Aviation Legend Anne Lindbergh
The name Lindbergh is inseparable from aviation. If you think you know about Lindbergh’s accomplishments, you might be surprised at what you never heard of. For example, you may be aware of […]
The Story of Two Trials that Launched a Life of Greatness
George Jacobs was arrested for an unspeakable offense. He was innocent, as he loudly proclaimed to anyone who would listen, but his protests fell on deaf ears. Whatever her reasons, George’s granddaughter […]
The Hangman Who Went to the White House
The sheriff of Erie County, New York had a nickname. “Big Steve” earned this monicker because of his size, but it also referred to his character. In an era when graft and […]
How a Little “Common Sense” Created the United States of America
Americans remember 1776 as the year of revolution, but it didn’t start that way. As 1775 turned into 1776, the people of the thirteen American colonies of the United Kingdom considered themselves […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 