# crime
The Notorious Men of the Wild West
Although the Wild West was never as wholly anarchic and wild as Hollywood likes to depict it, it was wild…
The Town That Got Away With Murder and Other Largely Forgotten Historic Events
In 1981, the people of tiny Skidmore, Missouri (pop. 441 then, about 280 now) got together to figure out what…
Poorly Thought Out Plans that Went Bad Very Quickly
For every good idea that changes things for the better, there are many, many, many more that should have been…
The First ‘Confidence Man’ And Other Historic Cheats
Since the dawn of history – and probably even back when our hominid ancestors were still figuring out the whole…
These Times History Took a Turn for the Batty
Did you know about the time Thomas Edison went on an electrocution jag, publicly frying dozens of animals to death…
Terrible Schemes that Governments and People Have Tried
Most brainstorms come nowhere near to producing useful and practical ideas. Indeed, if we are honest with ourselves, most brainstorms…
The ‘Baron’ of Arizona and Other Historic Hucksters
Back in the 19th century, a huckster laid claim to most of Arizona. In of itself, that would not be…
Lesser Known But Intriguing Historic Criminals
Most criminals and their crimes are pretty pedestrian and unremarkable, but some crimes and criminals cannot help but attract attention…
Mistakes That Helped Shape U.S. into What it Is Today
Countries, like people, are the sum total of the experiences encountered en route to the present, be such experiences good,…
History’s Deadliest Relatives
We can easily choose our friends, but choosing our relatives is a different matter. That is sometimes unfortunate, seeing as…