On This Day in True Crime History – 16th November

On this day in True Crime History, we revisit the 16th of November, a date filled with bullion heists, the Alphabet Murder Mystery, a tragic massacre in Queensland, a hanging for burglary in early Australia plus much, much more.

1795: 🔒 William Smith Hanged for Burglary in Sydney

On this day in 1795, William Smith met his fate at the gallows in Sydney. His execution followed a conviction for burglarizing the house of William Parrish at Prospect Hill.

Smith, with his accomplices, committed the crime by breaking into Parrish’s dwelling with force, stealing items valued at approximately 32 shillings, including a piece of cloth, a velvet waistcoat, three other waistcoats, two flannel jackets, and some brooches.

This would be equivalent to about $260 AUD in today’s money. 🏠⚖️🔒

This Day in True Crime History

1798: ⚓ British Seamen Kidnap and Press Gang US Sailors

On this day in 1798, British seamen boarded the U.S. frigate Baltimore and engaged in the controversial practice of impressment, often referred to as “shanghaiing.”

Thus 55 US sailors were press ganged into service (enslaved) onto a ship by compulsion, without notice, into the British Royal Navy. This contributed greatly to the tensions that eventually led to the War of 1812 between the United States and the United Kingdom. ⚓

This Day in True Crime History

1906: ⚖️ Notella Habibulla’s Arrest Unveiled by a Bolting Horse attached to a Bloodstained Buggy

On this day in 1906, Notella Habibulla faced the gallows at Adelaide Gaol, accused of murdering his wife, Edith, on Bristol Street.

The dramatic chain of events leading to his arrest began with a startling discovery by the police—an abandoned horse and buggy covered in bloodstains standing outside the residence of the victims mother. This ominous find raised immediate suspicions of a violent crime.

What made this discovery even more compelling was Habibulla’s own account. He reported to the authorities that his horse had bolted uncontrollably with the buggy. This seemingly innocuous explanation, however, only deepened the mystery. The police decided to detain him and delve further into the matter.

Their investigation took a gruesome turn when they dragged a nearby river, unearthing a bag containing the dismembered remains of a woman. This unfortunate victim was none other than his wife of 6 months Edith.

As the detectives continued their inquiry, they found damning evidence at the couple’s Bristol Street residence—a trail of marks indicating a body had been dragged and extensive bloodstains scattered across the backyard. To make matters worse for Habibulla, the victim’s blood-soaked garments were concealed beneath a bed.

The culmination of these chilling discoveries left no room for doubt. Notella Habibulla was promptly arrested and charged with the brutal murder of his wife, all uncovered owing to the powerful role played by a bolting horse. ⚖️🐎🔍

This Day in True Crime History

1911: 😢 The Ching Family Massacre

On this day in 1911, George Silva committed a heinous act that would come to be known as the Ching family massacre in the small town of Alligator Creek located 20 kilometres south of Mackay, Queensland.

George Silva, driven by malevolence, ruthlessly shot and bludgeoned to death six members of the Ching family. The victims included Agnes Ching, a 45-year-old mother, and her children Maud (15), Eddie (9), Dorrie (7), Hughie (5), and Winnie (1). This brutal act of violence shocked the community and left scars that would last for generations.

However, amidst the darkness, stories of survival and resilience emerged. Several family members managed to escape the assailant’s fury, including Charles and Agnes Ching’s three older children: Florence, Henry, and Henrietta. They had left home before the tragedy unfolded, and their absence spared them from the horrors that befell their family.

In the aftermath of the massacre, Charlie Ching, the lone survivor of the immediate family, found the strength to rebuild his life. Devastated by the loss of his wife and five children, he made the difficult decision to leave Mackay and Australia in 1915. He sought solace in Hong Kong, returning to his native village of Shataukok and seeing out his remaining years, where he remarried and welcomed another child.

The Ching family massacre of 1911 remains a haunting chapter in Mackay’s history, a somber reminder of the enduring impact of such senseless acts of violence on survivors and communities. 😢🏠⚖️

This Day in True Crime History

1971: 🕵️‍♂️ Carmen Colón, Victim of the Alphabet Murders Disappears

On this day in 1971, Carmen Colón, a 10-year-old girl, tragically disappears and becomes a victim of the Alphabet Murders.

The Alphabet murders (also known as the Double Initial murders) are an unsolved series of murders that occurred between 1971 and 1973 in Rochester, New York.

The Alphabet Murders involved a series of killings where the victims had surnames that began with the same letter as that of their first name. Each victim had been murdered in like manner before each of their bodies were discarded in or near a town or village with a name beginning with the same letter as the victim’s name. 🕵️‍♂️🔍

This Day in True Crime History

1989: 💔 Salvadoran Army Death Squad’s Brutal Attack on Jesuit Priests

On this day in 1989, a horrific tragedy unfolded at Jose Simeon Canas University in El Salvador. A Salvadoran Army death squad launched a brutal attack, resulting in the deaths of six Jesuit priests and two others. 💔🕊️🙏

The Salvadoran Civil War, which lasted from 1980 to 1992, was marked by intense conflict between the government and leftist rebel groups. During this turbulent time, various factions within the military and government resorted to violence, including extrajudicial killings and human rights abuses, to suppress dissent and maintain power.

The six Jesuit priests killed in this tragic incident were known for their advocacy of peace, social justice, and human rights in El Salvador. Their deaths sent shockwaves throughout the international community and drew attention to the human rights violations occurring in the country. 🌍🕯️✝️

This Day in True Crime History

2001: 💰 Brinks-Mat Bullion Heist Member Murdered

On this day in 2001, Brian Perry, a key figure linked to the infamous Brinks-Mat bullion heist, met a violent end.

The Brinks-Mat heist, a 1983 robbery at the Heathrow International Trading Estate in London, yielded approximately £26 million in gold, diamonds, and cash.

Detectives had certain clues pointing to Mickey McAvoy’s involvement in the Brinks-Mat heist. Notably, McAvoy’s two Rottweiler dogs at his newly acquired mansion were named ‘Brinks’ and ‘Mat.’ As McAvoy’s trial approached, he entrusted his share of the stolen gold to contact Brian Perry. However, Perry never returned the gold to McAvoy, and instead, he served time for handling it.

Upon Perry’s release from prison, and while returning from a shopping trip, he was ambushed and shot three times in the back of his head, resulting in his immediate death. This murder added another layer of mystery to the complex and shadowy world of the Brinks-Mat heist, leaving investigators and the public eager to uncover the truth behind his killing.

Despite extensive investigations and efforts, the whereabouts of a significant amount of the stolen bullion remain a mystery. 💼🔍🔫

This Day in True Crime History

 

That’s all for the 16th of November in history. Perhaps something will happen on your 16th November that will go down in history, never to be forgotten. Have a great day! In the meantime, be sure to book in to go on a Dark Stories True Crime Tour soon!

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On This Day in True Crime History – 26th October

On this day in True Crime History, we revisit October 26th, a date filled with interesting times. Reflecting on these moments in time reminds us that each date holds a story waiting to be explored and understood.

1881: 🌵 Gunfight at the O.K. Corral 🔥

On this day in 1881, one of the most famous🔫 shootouts in history unfolded at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona Territory. Three Earp brothers – Wyatt, Morgan, and Virgil – along with the infamous Doc Holliday, faced off against the Clanton and McLaury families in one of the most legendary events of the American Wild West.

This intense confrontation, known as the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, was a pivotal moment in the ongoing feud between these two groups, resulting in the deaths of Tom McLaury, Frank McLaury, and Billy Clanton from the Clanton-McLaury faction. At the same time, Virgil and Morgan Earp were wounded but survived. 🔫💥🤠🏜️

This Day in True Crime History

1944: 🗳️ Harry S. Truman Denies Membership in Ku Klux Klan

On this day in 1944, Harry S. Truman, while campaigning as the Democratic vice presidential nominee, made a significant statement to reports to address serious rumours, allegations and innuendos. He emphatically declared, “I never was, am not, and never will be a member of the Ku Klux Klan. Truman would later serve as the 33rd President of the United States. 🗳️

This Day in True Crime History

1964: 🔪 Perth Serial Killer Eric Edgar Cooke Executed in Fremantle Prison

On this day in 1964, 🔪 Eric Edgar Cooke, one of Australia’s most infamous serial killers, faced execution. Cooke confessed to a string of crimes, including eight murders and fourteen attempted murders, showcasing an exceptional memory for the details of his offences. He even confessed to more than 250 burglaries, providing precise accounts of what he had stolen, including the coins’ number and denominations. 💼💰

Cooke was ultimately convicted on a charge of murdering John Lindsay Sturkey, one of the victims in his string of crimes, which included five Australia Day shooting victims. His confessions not only shed light on the gruesome nature of his crimes but also appeared to exculpate two men who had already been tried separately, convicted, and imprisoned for murder.

Despite initially pleading not guilty on the grounds of insanity during his trial, he was convicted, sentenced to death by hanging, and subsequently executed in Fremantle Prison, Western Australia. ⚖️🔒

This Day in True Crime History

1979: 🌍 South Korean President Park Chung-hee Assassinated 🔫

On this day in 1979, shockwaves went through the South Korean nation after a dinner gathering at the Blue House (South Korea’s Whitehouse). South Korean President Park Chung-hee was assassinated by Kim Jae-kyu, who had served as the head of the country’s Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA).

The assassination was in response to growing discontent, as President Park’s long-standing authoritarian rule had sparked widespread protests and allegations of corruption. Kim Jae-kyu’s was executed for this crime in 1982 along with several others involved in the assassination. 🍽️👥

This Day in True Crime History

1991: 🔪 Serial Killer Extradited – Discovery of Hostage Bunker

On this day in 1991, serial killer Charles Chitat Ng, was extradited to the United States. 📅 This case is particularly infamous as it involves one of the few instances where shoplifting 🛒 played a significant role in the downfall of both perpetrators.

Charles’s partner in crime, Leonard Lake, was arrested for shoplifting 🛒, which eventually led to his suicide. This event triggered a chain of events that uncovered the shocking truth: the existence of a ‘hostage bunker’ 🏢 in Calaveras County, California.

Inside the bunker, investigators found evidence of brutal murders 🔪 and torture, including victims of all ages. The discovery of this bunker and its gruesome contents sent shockwaves through law enforcement 🚔 and the public. 🕵️‍♂️

Following Lake’s suicide and the revelation of the bunker, Charles fled to Canada but, in an ironic twist, was apprehended after resisting arrest during a shoplifting incident 🏪.

This Day in True Crime History

2002: 🕊️ Russian Spetsnaz Ends Moscow Theatre Hostage Crisis

On this day in 2002, 🕊️ Russian Spetsnaz special forces stormed the Moscow Theatre, ending a harrowing hostage crisis that had gripped the city for three days. The crisis began when Chechen terrorists 🏴‍☠️🔫 had seized the theatre, taking both the audience and performers hostage.

The dramatic and high-stakes rescue operation resulted in a tragic loss of life. While the Spetsnaz successfully neutralized the terrorists, approximately 150 hostages 🙍‍♂️🙍‍♀️ lost their lives during the assault, mainly due to the effects of a narcotic gas ☠️ used by the Russian forces. Fifty of the terrorists were also killed during the operation.

This Day in True Crime History

That’s all for October 26th in history. What will happen to you on this day, Oct 26th, 2023? Hopefully, you might book in to go on a Dark Stories True Crime Tour soon!

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On This Day in True Crime History – 19th October

Today we circle back to the challenges that have existed for 19th of October on This Day in True Crime History.

1216: 👑 The Mysterious End of King John: Poison and Betrayal? 🍐🍺

On this day in 1216, King John of England, notorious for the signing of the Magna Carta, met his end at Newark Castle. Rumours suggest that a monk from Swineshead Abbey, resentful of the demands placed upon the abbey by the King, poisoned either a batch of pears or a pot of ale. This act of vengeance supposedly sealed not only King John’s fate but also the monk’s own. 🤫📜

This Day in True Crime History

1973: 📼 Nixon’s Defiance in the Watergate Scandal 🏛🎙️

On this day in 1973, amidst the swirling controversy of the Watergate scandal, President Richard Nixon took a bold step 🚫 by rejecting an Appeals Court demand to release the infamous Watergate tapes 🎙️. These tapes, which held crucial evidence of conversations between Nixon and his aides, became the focal point of the investigation. Nixon’s refusal to release them intensified the crisis 🌪️ and risked putting himself in contempt of court. The event would eventually lead to Nixon’s resignation. ✍️

1982: 🌃 Mysterious Murder of Actress Christa Helm 🎬

On this day in 1982, Christa Helm, an aspiring actress and model, met a tragic end. Helm, best known for her roles in TV shows and her glamorous lifestyle, was found murdered in West Hollywood. The circumstances surrounding her death were shrouded in mystery, and rumours abounded about her supposed secret diaries detailing her relationships with various Hollywood elites. Despite investigations, her killer was never identified, leaving the murder of Christa Helm as one of Hollywood’s unsolved mysteries. 🎭🔍📖

1989: 🙌 Guildford Four’s Conviction Overturned 🏛️💥

On this day in 1989, the wrongful convictions of the Guildford Four were quashed by the British courts. Originally convicted in 1975 for their alleged involvement in the 1974 Guildford pub bombings, crucial evidence, which had been withheld during the original trial, came to light, including alibi evidence and original police interview notes that differed from the confessions presented in court. Moreover, the Balcombe Street Gang, an IRA unit, had admitted to the bombings whilst in custody, but this was initially dismissed by authorities. 🏛️🔍🇬🇧

2005: 🏛️ Saddam Hussein’s Trial Commences ⚖️🇮🇶

On this day in 2005, the trial of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein for crimes against humanity began in Baghdad. The world watched with bated breath 🌍👀 as Hussein, who once held an iron grip 🤚 over Iraq, faced charges related to the mass killings of Shiite Muslims and Kurds. The proceedings were marked by intense debates and confrontations, shining a light on Iraq’s tumultuous history during his regime.

2006: 🩸 Inmate on Death Row’s Final Claim of Innocence 🚔

On this day in 2006, just before his scheduled execution, a death row inmate, Michael Johnson, used his own blood to write “I did not shoot him” on the walls of his cell. The message served as his final plea of innocence. When he was 19 years old, Johnson, alongside his friend, was involved in a fatal incident at a gas station. The friend later testified against Johnson in exchange for a reduced sentence, although this information was not disclosed to Johnson’s defence legal team. 🕊🔒

2018: 📰 Disappearance and Death of Journalist Jamal Khashoggi 🖋️🇸🇦

On this day in 2018, the world’s attention was captivated by the case of Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi journalist. Khashoggi, known for his critical writings on Saudi Arabia’s government, vanished after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2. As days passed, evidence mounted, suggesting he had been brutally murdered inside the consulate. Despite global outcry and demands for a thorough investigation, the exact circumstances and individuals responsible for his death remain subjects of contention and intrigue. 🌍🔍✒️

This Day in True Crime History

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On This Day in True Crime History – 12th October

Today we rewind the clock to the 12th of October on This Day in True Crime History.

1609: 🎵 Hidden Horrors in Harmony: The Dark Tale Behind Three Blind Mice 🐁

On this day in 1609, London witnessed the publication of what seemed to be a simple nursery rhyme, “Three Blind Mice.” While it enchanted children with its catchy tune, some historians theorize that the “three blind mice” are believed to represent three Protestant bishops who conspired against Queen Mary I of England, infamously known as “Bloody Mary”. Their failed plot led to their conviction for treason and subsequent execution by being burned at the stake. The “farmer’s wife” cutting off their tails with a carving knife? None other than Queen Mary herself. 🎶🔥👑

1933: 🔒 From Island to Infamy: Alcatraz’s Transformation into America’s Most Dreaded Prison 🌊

On this day in 1933 Alcatraz Island, formerly a military fortification, underwent its most notorious transformation: it became a federal maximum-security prison designed to hold the nation’s most dangerous criminals. Alcatraz was the ultimate punishment – a remote, inescapable fortress where inmates faced a life of strict discipline amidst the chilling winds and unforgiving waves. Names like Al “Scarface” Capone and Robert “Birdman” Stroud would soon echo through its cells, cementing Alcatraz’s reputation in true crime lore. 🏢🦜🚔

1949: 🌍 Birth of a Mercenary – The Early Days of Carlos the Jackal 🔫

On this day in 1949, Ilich Ramírez Sánchez was born in Venezuela. He would later become infamously known to the world as Carlos the Jackal, responsible for a series of terrorist attacks and hostage takings across Europe during the 1970s and early 1980s. Raised by a devoutly Catholic mother and a Marxist father, his early introduction to communism set the stage for his future activities. 🌎✈️🕵️‍♂️🧨

This Day in True Crime History

1960: 📺 A Live Broadcast Turned Tragedy: The Assassination of Inejiro Asanuma 🗡️

On this day in 1960, televisions across Japan showed what would become one of the most shocking moments in the nation’s modern history. Inejiro Asanuma, leader of the Japan Socialist Party, was addressing a political gathering when a young nationalist named Otoya Yamaguchi rushed onto the stage and assassinated Asanuma with a samurai sword. The horrifying act was witnessed in real time by countless viewers. 🇯🇵🎥🚫

This Day in True Crime History

1984: 💥 Brighton’s Dark Day: The IRA’s Attempt on Thatcher 🏨

On this day in 1984, the serene coastal town of Brighton, England, became the epicentre of a chilling political assassination attempt aiming to eliminate British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her cabinet, who were staying there for the Conservative Party Conference. The Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) orchestrated a bomb attack at the Grand Hotel; nevertheless, the Prime Minister narrowly escaped, but the blast claimed the lives of five individuals and injured 31 others. 🇬🇧🔍🚑

1988: 🔍 Melbourne’s Unsolved Mystery: The Walsh Street Shootings 🚓

On this day in 1988, a tragic incident unfolded in South Yarra, Melbourne. Constables Steven Tynan, aged 22, and Damian Eyre, aged 20, members of the Victoria Police force, were ambushed and tragically killed during the early hours 🕰️. The Walsh Street police shootings sent shockwaves 🌊 through Melbourne, leading to an intense and prolonged investigation which to this day remains unsolved. 🔍

2002: 💥 Bali’s Night of Horror 💥🌴

On this day in 2002, Indonesia faced its deadliest act of terrorism. The Bali bombings resulted in the tragic loss of 202 lives, and among the casualties, 88 were Australians 🇦🇺. The bustling nightlife of Bali’s Kuta district was shattered when blasts from two bombs ripped through popular nightclubs. 🌌

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