August 24, 1885
Montgomery, Alabama 
Three children between 4 and 11 were involved in a bizarre reenactment of a butchering they witnessed the day before, using the youngest as a substitute for the pig. Despite being published in several newspapers across the country, little else can be found to verify this claim.

Akron, Ohio
A farmer shot his neighbor after the latter’s dog chased the former’s turkeys. The dog owner refused to allow the farmer to kill his dog so the owner was shot instead.

Clipping: Memphis Daily Appeal, August 25, 1885

True crime stories from today:
1st Century AD: The Skinned Saint (2017)
79: The Destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum (2017)
1349: Cologne Massacre (2017)
1903: 3 Suicides (2017)
1943: Body fished from river (2017)
2010: 2010 San Fernando Massacre (2017)
1938: Woman gouges eye out with scissors, severs hand with axe after vision from God (2018)

Horror-related birthdays and release dates:
Today in Horror History: August 24