On this day in True Crime History, we revisit the 15th February.
1564: 🌌 Birth of the Heretic Galileo, aka the Father of Science
On this day in 1564, Italian scientist and astronomer Galileo Galilei was born.
Galileo Galilei would be found guilty of heresy by the Roman Catholic Inquisition in 1633. His support for the heliocentric theory, which posited that the Earth and other planets orbit the Sun, directly contradicted the Church’s geocentric view that placed the Earth at the centre of the universe.
Despite Galileo’s efforts to argue that his findings did not conflict with Scripture, the Inquisition ruled that he had violated a 1616 edict that forbade holding, teaching, or defending the heliocentric theory.
As a result, Galileo was forced to recant his views and spent the remaining years of his life under house arrest.
In the 18th century Galileo’s middle finger was removed from his corpse and is now currently on display in the Museo Galileo in Florence, Italy. 🌠🔭📚
1796: 🌳 The Death of John Black Caesar Australia’s First Bushranger
On this day in 1796, John Black Caesar, also known as Australia’s first bushranger and a figure from Australia’s early convict history, met his end.
Born around 1763, possibly in Madagascar, Caesar’s journey took him from servant in England, to being transported to Botany Bay for theft to notorious bushranger in the colony of New South Wales.
Despite being recognized for his diligence, Caesar’s insatiable appetite led him down a path of repeated theft, resulting in additional sentences and escapes into the bush, where he attempted to live off the land. His repeated efforts to sustain himself outside the confines of the penal colony saw him clashing with local Aboriginal groups and the colonial authorities.
His final escape in December 17-95, leading a gang of absconders, solidified his reputation as Australia’s first bushranger. The pursuit for his capture ended tragically when he was shot to death, but by this time, his legacy in Australian history had been secured.
1872: ⚖️Execution of the Outlaws Charcoal and Tommy
On this day in 1872, Charcoal and Tommy, were executed for the murder of Samuel Lazenby during a pearl fishing expedition in Port Walcott, Western Australia.
This excursion took a strange turn when Lazenby failed to return from the expedition, with his disappearance cloaked in betrayal and violence. The subsequent investigation resulted in the discovery of Lazenby’s body – partially buried and identifiable by peculiarities in his jaw and the clothing he was last seen wearing.
Captured and subjected to trial, Charcoal and Tommy faced overwhelming evidence against them. Witness testimonies, coupled with the recovery of Lazenby’s belongings and fragments of his boat in their possession, painted a damning picture. Despite their pleas of innocence, the jury delivered a swift and unanimous guilty verdict. 🎣⚖️🕵️♂️
