Births

William Kemmler

1860 – William Kemmler – was an American convicted murderer who became the first person in the world to be executed by electrocution. Born on May 9, 1860, in Philadelphia, Kemmler grew up in a working-class family and worked as a laborer throughout his adult life. In 1887, Kemmler killed his common-law wife, Matilda Ziegler, with a hatchet in a fit of jealous rage. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. At the time, there was much debate about the most humane and efficient method of execution, and the state of New York had recently passed a law that authorized the use of the electric chair as a more humane alternative to hanging. Kemmler’s case became the first test of this new method. On August 6, 1890, Kemmler was executed by electrocution at Auburn Prison in New York. The execution was marred by technical difficulties, and Kemmler reportedly suffered agonizing burns and spasms for several minutes before he was declared dead. The use of the electric chair as a method of execution sparked controversy and debate around the world, with many questioning the ethics and efficacy of such a brutal form of punishment. The execution of William Kemmler remains a significant historical moment in the debate over capital punishment and the ethics of state-sanctioned violence.

1914 – Denham Fouts – was a male prostitute and socialite who was active in the mid-twentieth century. Born on May 9, 1914, in Jacksonville, Florida, Fouts was educated at prestigious schools such as Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge. However, he dropped out before completing his studies and began a life of hedonism and romantic adventures throughout Europe and the United States. Fouts was known for his striking good looks and his charm, which earned him many wealthy and powerful clients. He maintained a high-profile social life, often associating with the literary and artistic elite of his time, including Truman Capote, Gore Vidal, and Christopher Isherwood. Fouts was also rumored to have had romantic relationships with several famous figures, including the British playwright Terence Rattigan. Despite his unconventional lifestyle, Fouts was a talented writer, and many of his clients were wealthy patrons who paid him to write for them. His writing was known for its wit, sophistication, and literary flair. Fouts also penned several erotic stories and poems, which he circulated privately among his close friends. Fouts struggled with addiction and mental health issues throughout his life, often turning to drugs and alcohol to cope with his emotional pain. He died on December 16, 1949, at the age of 35, from complications related to alcoholism. In the years since his death, Fouts has become a fascinating figure of cultural and historical interest, as his life embodies many of the contradictions and paradoxes of the mid-twentieth century. Despite his troubled legacy, Fouts remains an intriguing and compelling figure for scholars, writers, and readers alike.

1938 – Carroll Cole – was an American serial killer who was convicted of the murders of at least 15 people in the 1970s. Born on May 9, 1938, in Sioux City, Iowa, Cole grew up in a troubled family environment and showed signs of antisocial behavior from a young age. Cole’s criminal history began in his teens when he was accused of sexually assaulting a young girl. He subsequently committed a series of burglaries and armed robberies and served time in prison for his crimes. In the 1970s, Cole began a spree of murders that continued for several years, with victims mainly being young women and girls. He was finally caught in 1980 after he was linked to the murder by DNA evidence. Cole confessed to the murders of 15 people and was ultimately sentenced to death. However, he committed suicide by hanging himself in his cell in Nevada State Prison in 1985, before his sentence could be carried out. Despite his notoriety as a serial killer, Cole’s motives and psychological state remain the subject of intense debate among criminologists and psychologists. His crimes have been extensively studied and analyzed, and have been the subject of books, documentaries, and other media.

1956 – Adrie “Aalt” Mondria – was a Dutch criminal and serial killer who committed four murders and was responsible for a large number of assaults. Mondria was considered extremely violent and aggressive. Mondria was born in Kampen, Overijssel, and grew up in Vollenhove. He started his criminal career during his puberty. In 1976, the addicted and paranoid Mondria was convicted for the first time after threatening another criminal, receiving four months imprisonment in a treatment clinic. He proved to be an unmanageable patient, smashing everything around the place before eventually escaping. In 1978, Mondria committed his first murder. He stabbed to death three people in Amsterdam, including his girlfriend’s mother. For these murders, he was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment and TBS (then still called TBR). Mondria was released from prison in 1989, but he quickly returned to crime. In 1992, he was arrested for the murder of his girlfriend’s 10-year-old son. The boy had been stabbed to death, and his body had been dismembered. For this murder, Mondria was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment and TBS. Mondria remained a danger to society throughout his life. He was repeatedly involved in violent incidents in prison, and he was once found to have a plan to kill a prison guard. Mondria died in prison in 2011, at the age of 55. He was never released from TBS.

1968 – Robert James Acremant – was an American convicted murderer and arsonist who gained notoriety for his crimes in the late 20th century. Born on May 9, 1968, in Riverside, California, Acremant grew up in a troubled family environment and struggled with poverty and abuse throughout his childhood. As an adult, Acremant had a history of mental health issues and criminal activity. He was convicted of robbery in 1993 and served several years in prison, during which time he was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and prescribed medication to manage his symptoms. In 1995, Acremant committed a triple homicide in Medford, Oregon, killing a man and two women in what prosecutors described as a jealous rage. He then fled to California, where he was arrested and charged with murder, arson, and robbery. Acremant was ultimately found guilty of his crimes and sentenced to death in 1997. He remained on death row for over a decade, appealing his sentence and arguing that he had received inadequate legal representation at his trial. Acremant’s life and crimes have become the subject of intense scrutiny and debate, with many grappling to understand the factors that may have contributed to his violent behavior. His case has also raised questions about the death penalty and the fairness of the American criminal justice system.

1979 – Aaron Alexis – was an American IT contractor and Navy veteran who carried out a shooting rampage at the Washington Navy Yard on September 16, 2013. Born on May 9, 1979, in Queens, New York, Alexis joined the U.S. Navy in 2007 and served as a reservist from 2007 to 2011. After leaving the Navy, Alexis worked as an IT contractor for the government and lived in various cities across the United States. In the months leading up to his attack on the Navy Yard, Alexis exhibited signs of mental illness and reported hearing voices in his head. On September 16, 2013, Alexis entered the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., with a shotgun and began shooting at random. He killed 12 people and injured several others during the rampage before he was killed in a shootout with police. The Washington Navy Yard shooting was one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history, and it led to renewed debates about gun control, mental health care, and workplace violence. Alexis’s life and motives remain the subject of intense scrutiny and speculation, with many grappling to understand what could have driven him to commit such a heinous act. His legacy is a tragic reminder of the importance of addressing mental health issues and preventing gun violence in the United States.

Deaths

Malcolm Shabazz

2013 – Malcolm Shabazz – was an American activist and the grandson of Malcolm X, the famed civil rights leader. Born on October 8, 1984, in Paris, France, Shabazz grew up in difficult circumstances, including periods of homelessness and juvenile detention. He struggled with addiction and was in and out of correctional facilities throughout his teenage years. Despite his troubled upbringing, Shabazz was deeply inspired by the legacy of his grandfather and began to pursue activism in his own right. He traveled extensively, speaking to crowds about issues such as police brutality, racism, and the prison-industrial complex. Shabazz participated in several humanitarian efforts, including travel to Syria to bring aid to Palestinian refugees. Shabazz’s life was not without controversy, and he was known for his outspoken views, which at times included open hostility towards Jewish people. However, many saw him as a passionate and dedicated advocate for social justice, with an unwavering commitment to the struggle for Black liberation. Tragically, Shabazz’s life was cut short on May 9, 2013, when he was murdered in Mexico City at the age of 28. Despite the many challenges he faced in his short life, Shabazz remains a powerful symbol of the ongoing struggle for social justice and equality, and his legacy continues to inspire those who fight for a better world.

Events

The Salem Witchcraft Memorial

1671 – Thomas Blood who disguises himself as a clergyman attempts to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London

1726 – Five men are arrested during a raid on Mother Clap’s Molly House in London and are executed at Tyburn

1941 – Louis Buchalter is arraigned in New York state court on the 1936 Joseph Rosen murder along with three other murders.

1977 – Patricia “Patty” Hearst is released from jail

1978 – The corpse of kidnapped Italian ex-premier Aldo Moro is found.

1980 – In Norco, California, five masked gunmen hold up a Security Pacific Bank leading to a violent shootout and one of the largest pursuits in California history. Two of the gunmen and one police officer are killed and 33 police and civilian vehicles are destroyed in the chase.

1991 – Italian actress Laura Antonelli is found guilty of cocaine possession. (The conviction is overturned in 2006)

1992 – The Salem Village witchcraft victims memorial is dedicated in Danvers (formerly Salem Village) to mark the 300th anniversary.

1994 – Serial killer Joel Rifkin is found guilty in New York

1994 – The disappearance of Cleashindra Hall in Pine Bluffs, Arkansas

2000 – Bryan Alpress Hunt is sentenced to life

2022 – 44 more inmates die in a prison riot in Ecuador, leading Amnesty International to say imprisonment is nearly a death sentence in Ecuador.