Dark Stories: On This Day In True Crime History - Dark Stories True Crime Tours

1970: Jim Morrison on Trial in Miami for Indecent Exposure

Jim Morrison, lead singer of The Doors, stood trial in Miami, Florida on 10 August 1970, facing charges stemming from an incident at a concert on 1 March 1969. Prosecutors alleged he had exposed himself on stage at the Dinner Key Auditorium, using profane language before a crowd of thousands.

Morrison was acquitted of lewd and lascivious behaviour but convicted of indecent exposure and open profanity. He was sentenced to six months hard labour and fined $500, but remained free on bond while the conviction was under appeal. He never served the sentence. Morrison died in Paris on 3 July 1971, before the appeal could be heard.

Jim Morrison photos in cafe. Le Pere Lachaise cafe interior in Paris. Singer Jim Morrison used to visit this cafe. | ID 63547008 © Darius Strazdas | Dreamstime.com — ID 63547008 © Darius Strazdas | Dreamstime.com

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Political Crime Scandal Trial USA

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1974: Nixon Resigns: The President Who Fell on the Watergate Scandal

On August 9, 1974, Richard Nixon became the first United States president to resign from office, undone by a scandal that began with a bungled burglary. On June 17, 1972, operatives linked to his re-election campaign were caught breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at Washington D.C.’s Watergate complex, planting listening devices and stealing documents. Reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, guided by the anonymous source ‘Deep Throat’, exposed a vast White House political espionage program illegally funded by campaign donations.

Nixon’s administration destroyed evidence, obstructed investigators, and paid hush money to the burglars. The release of the ‘Smoking Gun’ tape proved Nixon had ordered the CIA to block the FBI’s investigation. Facing near-certain impeachment for obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and contempt of Congress, Nixon resigned rather than face removal. He was later pardoned by his successor, Gerald Ford. In total, 69 people were charged over Watergate; most pleaded guilty or were convicted.

Ontario, Canada - December 22 2017: Vintage Open Reel-to-Reel Ta. Vintage Open Reel-to-Reel Tape Deck Stereo Recorder with VU meters and knobs | ID 113751494 © Viktorus | Dreamstime.com — ID 113751494 © Viktorus | Dreamstime.com

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Corruption Espionage Political Crime Scandal Trial USA

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1969: The Manson Family Kills to Ignite an Apocalyptic Race War

In the early hours of 9 August 1969, members of Charles Manson’s Family carried out the Tate murders at 10050 Cielo Drive in Los Angeles, leaving five dead. The killings were the first act in what Manson called Helter Skelter, an apocalyptic race war he had been prophesying since at least New Year’s Eve 1968, drawing on the Book of Revelation and the Beatles’ 1968 White Album. Manson believed the murders, staged to look like the work of Black militants, would ignite a war between the races from which the Family would emerge as rulers.

At trial, prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi used the testimony of Family member Paul Watkins to reconstruct the vision in full. Bugliosi later detailed the case in his 1974 book, Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders. Manson and three co-defendants were convicted on all charges of conspiracy and murder, though some writers, detectives, and even participants have since argued the killings were also driven by copycat motives or revenge for a bad drug deal.

Viersen, Germany - May 9. 2020: View on isolated book cover about story of manson murders with pile of books background | ID 197949551 © Ralf Liebhold | Dreamstime.com — ID 197949551 © Ralf Liebhold | Dreamstime.com

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Conspiracy Cult Gang Murder Organised Crime Trial USA

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1875: Ah Kat Hanged at Castlemaine for the Murder of Friedrich Renzelmann

Friedrich Renzelmann, a bricklayer living near Dunolly in central Victoria, had long suspected his wife of visiting the hut of a Chinese laundryman known as Ah Kat. One day in early August 1875, Renzelmann feigned leaving for work, concealed himself near the hut, and watched his wife enter. In a rage, he rushed in and struck Ah Kat twice on the head and neck with a chopper before surrendering himself to police.

The follow year, Renzelmann was dead, his battered body found at the bottom of a deep mine shaft on the Bet Bet Reef near Dunolly. When Ah Kat attended a hospital to have head wounds dressed and could not satisfactorily explain them, he was arrested. His wife was also taken into custody pending the inquest.

Ah Kat was tried, convicted of murder, and hanged at Castlemaine on 9 August 1875.

Ah Kat Hanged at Castlemaine for the Murder of Friedrich Renzelmann