Births
Dean O’Banion
1845 – Al Swearengen – He was one of eight children born to Daniel Swearengen and Keziah Montgomery. Little is known about his early life, but it is believed he left home at a young age to seek fortune and adventure in the rapidly expanding American West. Swearengen arrived in the Black Hills of South Dakota in the mid-1870s, during the height of the gold rush. In 1876, he settled in the notorious mining camp of Deadwood, a lawless town that attracted a mix of prospectors, outlaws, and opportunists. Recognizing the potential for profit, Swearengen established the Gem Theater, a saloon and brothel that would become one of Deadwood’s most infamous establishments. The Gem Theater quickly became central to Deadwood’s social scene. Offering alcohol, gambling, and prostitution, it catered to the rough-and-tumble population of the town. Swearengen was known for his ruthless business tactics, often employing violence and intimidation to maintain control over his operations. He had a reputation for mistreating the women who worked for him, many of whom were trafficked or coerced into prostitution. Swearengen’s influence in Deadwood extended beyond the walls of the Gem Theater. He was known to have connections with local law enforcement and other powerful figures, allowing him to operate with relative impunity. His cunning and strategic mind helped him navigate the volatile environment of the frontier town, securing his position as one of Deadwood’s most powerful and feared men. The later years of Swearengen’s life are less documented, but it is known that the Gem Theater burned down in 1899. After the fire, Swearengen’s influence waned, and he eventually left Deadwood. Reports suggest he spent his final years in Colorado and other western states, continuing to live a life on the fringes of society. Al Swearengen died under mysterious circumstances in Denver, Colorado, in November 1904. His body was found near a streetcar track, and the exact cause of his death remains unknown, though it was officially ruled as an accident. Al Swearengen remains a prominent figure in the lore of the American Old West, particularly due to his portrayal by actor Ian McShane in the critically acclaimed HBO series Deadwood. The show, which aired from 2004 to 2006, and its subsequent movie, depicted Swearengen as a complex antihero, blending historical fact with dramatic fiction. Despite his brutal and often criminal behavior, Swearengen’s story is emblematic of the rugged, lawless nature of frontier life and the lengths to which individuals would go to secure power and wealth.
1892 – Dean O’Banion – His family moved to Chicago when he was a child. O’Banion grew up in the North Side neighborhood, an area that would later become the heart of his criminal activities. He had a rough childhood, marked by poverty and early brushes with the law. O’Banion’s criminal career began with petty thefts and pickpocketing. He soon became associated with the Market Street Gang, which was involved in various illegal activities. His entry into the world of organized crime was further solidified when he joined forces with other notable criminals like Earl “Hymie” Weiss, Vincent “The Schemer” Drucci, and George “Bugs” Moran. Prohibition, which started in 1920, provided a lucrative opportunity for O’Banion and his associates. They quickly capitalized on the demand for illegal alcohol, becoming major players in the bootlegging industry. O’Banion, known for his charisma and business acumen, established himself as the leader of the North Side Gang. He ran various speakeasies and was also involved in other illicit enterprises such as gambling and racketeering. To provide a legitimate front for his criminal activities, O’Banion opened a flower shop, Schofield’s, in the heart of Chicago. The flower shop became a popular meeting place for mobsters and a hub for planning criminal operations. It also helped O’Banion maintain a respectable public image, and he often supplied flowers for the funerals of mobsters he had ordered killed. O’Banion’s dominance in the North Side of Chicago inevitably led to conflicts with other criminal organizations, particularly the South Side Gang led by Johnny Torrio and later Al Capone. Tensions escalated over control of the lucrative bootlegging market and territory disputes. O’Banion’s bold and often reckless behavior further inflamed these rivalries. One of the key events that heightened the animosity between O’Banion and his rivals was the Sieben Brewery raid. O’Banion orchestrated a deal with Torrio, selling him the Sieben Brewery. However, he tipped off the authorities, leading to a raid that resulted in significant losses for Torrio. This betrayal marked a turning point in the gang warfare between the North Side and South Side factions. On November 10, 1924, Dean O’Banion was assassinated in his flower shop by gunmen believed to be associated with the South Side Gang. The murder was a direct result of the escalating gang wars and O’Banion’s betrayal of Torrio. His death marked the beginning of a violent and bloody chapter in Chicago’s Prohibition-era gang conflicts. O’Banion’s legacy is a complex one. He is remembered as a key figure in the history of organized crime in Chicago, known for his daring and ruthless tactics. His life and death exemplify the violent and turbulent nature of the Prohibition era, a time when the quest for power and wealth through illegal means led to unprecedented levels of criminal activity and violence.
1895 – Jeannie Donald – A tragic case involving a child that was more likely to have been manslaughter than murder. Eight-year-old Helen Priestly vanished on 20th April 1934. At 1.30pm she had left the first-floor Aberdeen tenement in Urquhart Road, where her family lived, to fetch a loaf of bread from the local Co-op bakery and had not returned. Her body was found at 5am the next day, concealed in a sack, in a lavatory of the tenement where she lived, by Alex Porter, a friend of Helen’s father. The cause of death was determined to be asphyxiation and there appeared to be signs of rape. The sack containing her body was dry, this was despite the fact that there had been heavy rain a couple of hours earlier. This indicated that the body had been stored somewhere local and the hunt, and ensuing commotion, had made the killer dump the body in a hurry. Further forensic tests determined that the child had not been raped but had been injured to make it appear as though she had been sexually assaulted. Suspicion fell upon the Donalds. The Priestly’s refused to talk to the Donalds after Mrs Donald had hit Helen when the girl had been cheeky to her. When the Donald home was examined stains were found and the Donalds were arrested, though the stains later turned out to be unconnected. Mr Donald was soon released, he had been at work when Helen disappeared, but Jeannie Donald was charged with Helen’s murder. Human hairs were found in the sack and these proved to belong to Donald. Coal-ash and cinders matched similar found in the Donald’s home. She was tried at Edinburgh on 16th July 1934. The defence contended that the child’s injuries were consistent with rape that, of course, would have cleared Mrs Donald. The most damning evidence came from Jeannie’s daughter who testified that the Co-op loaf, that had been found in the Donald house, was not theirs. Jeannie Donald did not testify, was found guilty and sentenced to death. This was commuted to penal servitude for life and she was released in 1944. It was speculated that what actually happened was that Helen Priestly had been ringing the Donald’s doorbell and running away. Jeannie Donald had hidden under the stairs and when the child did it again, Jeannie had leapt out and frightened the child so much she had caused the child to choke on her own vomit. Helen had suffered from an enlarged thymus gland and this would have made her more prone to fainting. A frightened Jeannie then molested the child to make it look like a rape killing.
1942 – Charles Schmid – also known as the “Pied Piper of Tucson,” was an American serial killer whose crimes shocked the nation in the 1960s. Schmid’s early life was marked by instability. Born to a single mother, he was adopted by a couple who ran a nursing home in Tucson, Arizona. He had a difficult relationship with his adoptive father, and attempts to reconnect with his birth mother proved unsuccessful. Despite his troubled home life, Schmid excelled in school academically and athletically, particularly in gymnastics. However, he dropped out of sports and academics in his senior year, hinting at a growing disaffection. Schmid was known for his good looks and manipulative charm. He was a pathological liar, spinning elaborate tales to impress and exploit others. He used this charm to lure young women, often teenagers, into his web. Schmid is confirmed to have murdered three teenage girls in the early 1960s. He was known to involve accomplices in his crimes, and his arrogance and carelessness eventually led to his arrest. A notorious detail of the case was Schmid’s habit of leaving behind cryptic messages and taking photos of his victims. Schmid’s crimes were national news, documented in a Life magazine article by journalist Don Moser. His story inspired author Joyce Carol Oates’ short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Schmid was sentenced to death and died in prison in 1975. The case of the Pied Piper of Tucson serves as a chilling reminder of the dangers of manipulation and the importance of recognizing the signs of trouble.
1953 – Stephen Wayne Anderson – was a convicted murderer who left a complex and disturbing legacy. Born in 1953, Anderson’s childhood was marked by abuse and neglect. By the age of 14, he was already on a criminal path. Anderson’s life took a horrific turn in 1980. While an escapee from prison in Utah, he committed a brutal murder in California. The victim, 81-year-old Elizabeth Lyman, was killed in her own home. Sentenced to death, Anderson’s crimes didn’t stop there. He was later linked to the murder of a fellow inmate and confessed to several contract killings in Las Vegas. While on death row, Anderson’s story took an unexpected turn. He became a prolific writer, producing literary works that garnered awards and a surprising amount of attention. This creative output sparked a debate about art, redemption, and the true nature of evil. Some saw his writing as a sign of rehabilitation, while others believed it could never erase the monstrous acts he had committed. Anderson’s execution in 2002 by lethal injection at California’s San Quentin State Prison brought a final chapter to his life. However, the questions he raised continue to linger.
1959 – Frank Silva Roque – was a man whose actions in the wake of a national tragedy cast a long shadow. In September 2001, just days after the horrific attacks on September 11th, Roque committed a hate crime that would take the life of Balbir Singh Sodhi, a Sikh man, in Mesa, Arizona. Roque’s crime was fueled by Islamophobia. Reports indicate that he made derogatory statements targeting Muslims in the days leading up to the murder. Sadly, Balbir Singh Sodhi, who wore a turban in accordance with his Sikh faith, became a target of this misplaced hatred. The murder trial found Roque guilty of first-degree murder, attempted murder, reckless endangerment, and drive-by shooting. He was initially sentenced to death, but this sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. Roque remained behind bars until his death in 2022. The murder of Balbir Singh Sodhi is a stark reminder of the violence that can erupt in the face of prejudice and fear.
1960 – Michael Scott Magliolo – was a serial killer who terrorized multiple states in the United States between 1977 and 1991. Born on July 8, 1960, in Jefferson County, Texas, Magliolo raped and murdered at least ten women across six states. His crimes spanned Tennessee, Ohio, Texas, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Magliolo had over 25 known aliases and worked as a McDonald’s employee in Jasper, Texas, during the time of his homicides. When he had time off work, he hitchhiked across the country, carefully selecting victims at his destinations. In 1993, he was sentenced to 15 years to life in Ohio for his role in one of the murders. That same year, he received a life sentence plus 50 years for the sexual assault and killing of Donna Bacot in Tennessee. His motive was primarily sexual, and he was a transient rape-slayer who also had suspicions of killing his half-brother. Magliolo’s crimes left a dark mark on the communities affected, and he is now serving his sentences in prison. 🌟
1966 – Larry Bright – also known as “The Bonecrusher,” was a convicted American serial killer who terrorized Peoria and Tazewell Counties in Illinois between 2003 and 2004. Bright’s crimes resulted in the deaths of at least eight women, all aged between 30 and 41. He targeted a specific demographic, focusing on Black women who were most likely sex workers. The brutality of his actions earned him the moniker “The Bonecrusher.” Reports allege he would strangle his victims, then burn their bodies before crushing any remaining bones with a hammer in a chilling attempt to destroy evidence. The disappearances and eventual discoveries of the victims’ remains sparked a major investigation. Police finally apprehended Bright in 2005, and after a series of confessions, he pleaded guilty to seven counts of first-degree murder and one count of drug-induced homicide. His motives remain shrouded in some speculation. Bright claimed he developed a hatred for Black people after alleged sexual abuse by Black inmates during a previous prison sentence. However, authorities believe this may have been a fabricated attempt to deflect blame. Larry Bright was sentenced to eight consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole. His crimes cast a dark shadow over the communities he terrorized, and the stories of his victims serve as a tragic reminder of the dangers that exist.
Deaths
Allen Lee Davis
1987 – John Russell Thompson – In May 1977, John Russell Thompson was convicted of capital murder for the shooting death of 70-year-old Mary Kneupper. The incident occurred during a robbery attempt at her mini storage business in San Antonio, Texas. Kneupper was shot with a .45 caliber pistol and later succumbed to her injuries in the hospital.
1999 – Allen Lee Davis – was a convicted murderer who cast a long shadow over Florida’s legal system. Born in 1944, Davis’s life took a violent turn. He accumulated a criminal record filled with armed robberies, attempted armed robbery, and even involuntary manslaughter. Disturbingly, there were also allegations of child molestation in his past. In 1982, Davis committed a crime that would ultimately seal his fate. He brutally murdered Nancy Weiler, a pregnant woman, in Jacksonville, Florida. The murders didn’t stop there. Nancy’s two young daughters, ages 5 and 9, were also savagely killed by Davis. The details of the murders were horrific, with reports indicating a level of extreme violence. Apprehended and tried, Davis was found guilty and sentenced to death. His execution in 1999 by electric chair was not without controversy. Davis’s weight at the time raised questions about the method, with some arguing it constituted cruel and unusual punishment. Others, however, felt the barbarity of his crimes justified the sentence. The case gained further notoriety due to a leak of graphic photos taken after the execution. This event ultimately led Florida to adopt a new method of execution: lethal injection.
1999 – Norman Lee Newsted – was an American criminal known for his involvement in multiple murders during the 1980s. Born in 1954, Newsted’s criminal activities culminated in a series of violent crimes that led to his eventual execution. In 1984, Newsted, along with an accomplice named Douglas Edward Kay, committed a triple murder at the Playhouse bar in Cedar City, Utah. The victims were barmaid Patricia Frei, 23, and customers Robert Bull, 33, and Ronald B. Schmid, 24. This brutal crime was part of a robbery that turned deadly. Later that same year, Newsted murdered Larry Donnell Buckley, a 26-year-old cab driver in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Buckley had picked up Newsted from the Tulsa International Airport, and during the ride, Newsted shot him twice in the head. This crime led to Newsted’s arrest and subsequent conviction. Newsted was executed by lethal injection on July 8, 1999, in Oklahoma. His execution marked the end of a criminal career that had caused significant pain and suffering to many families.
2003 – Douglas Williams – The Lockheed Martin shooting occurred on July 8, 2003, at the Lockheed Martin plant in Meridian, Mississippi. The gunman, Douglas Williams, an assembly line worker at the plant, shot 14 of his co-workers, killing six of them, before committing suicide. The incident was racially motivated, as Williams had a history of making threats and racist comments directed at African-American coworkers. This tragic event is considered one of the deadliest workplace shootings in the United States.
Events
John Holmes
1876 – Hamburg massacre: White farmers attack a black militia in Hamburg, South Carolina, 7 people are killed
1898 – The shooting death of crime boss Soapy Smith releases Skagway, Alaska from his crip
1982 – Porn star John Holmes is convicted of receiving stolen property
1988 – Rockers Jonathan “Chico” & Robert DeBarge indicted on drug trafficking
1999 – Allen Lee Davis is executed by electrocution by the state of Florida, the last use of the electric chair for capital punishment in Florida
2019 – US financier Jeffrey Epstein is indicted on further charges of sex trafficking of minors
