June 21, 1475 Trent, Prince-Bishopric of Trent (modern-day Trento, Italy) Four Jews are burned at the stake or beheaded for the alleged murder of a 2-year-old Christian boy The boy, Simon of Trent, was supposedly found in the cellar of a Jewish family's house. However, another account mentions Simon’s body being discovered in a ditch.…
FLW: had a swell time
Famous Last Words Leonard Belongia Canon City, Colorado June 21, 1935 “All set, Warden, I’m ready to go. Lead me to it. I’ve had a swell time here and I’m not anxious to get rid of these swell fellows. The warden has treated me wonderfully.” Belongia had killed a rancher, Albert Oesterick, for whom he…
Three civil rights activists murdered by white supremacists
June 21, 1964 Philadelphia, Mississippi Three civil rights workers are murdered by white supremacists The activists (pictured left to right: Andrew Goodman, James Earl Chaney, and Michael Henry Schwerner) had visited Meridian, Mississippi to speak with members of a recently burned church, and were on a campaign to encourage the black community to vote. The…
Man kicks wife, throws children from cliff in front of a crowd of horrified spectators
June 21, 1930 New Haven, Connecticut A man throws his wife and four children from a cliff before jumping to his own death Raymond Sprang had been confined to the veteran’s hospital after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder (at the time referred to as “manic depression”). He escaped but explained to his family he had…
