July 13, 1793 Paris, France Charlotte Corday assassinates Jean Paul Marat as he bathes Marat, an outspoken leader of the French Revolution, was targeted by Corday because of his role in the September Massacres. (Marat and others encouraged the executions of 1200-1400 prisoners so they could not escape.) Corday also believed his death would halt…
July 13, 1955 London, England Ruth Ellis, the last woman executed in the U.K., is hanged for the murder of her lover Ellis and David Blakely (pictured) had had a turbulent relationship. This included Blakely moving into Ellis' flat while he was engaged to another woman, as well as causing the miscarriage of their child…
Famous Last Words Joseph Behiter Carson City, Nevada July 13, 1934 “Don’t strap me to the chair too tightly. It might keep the gas from my lungs.” Behiter was executed in the gas chamber for the murder of a dance-hall girl named Maxine Armstrong, who was the unfortunate victim of mistaken identity. Behiter had intended…
July 13, 1863 New York, New York The New York draft riots begin The draft riots were sparked by working class citizens outraged about unfair drafting procedures. At the time, a person could pay a fee of $300 (roughly $5,800 in 2018) to avoid being drafted into the military. Though the rioting began as a…
July 13, 1930 Los Angeles, California A policeman studies the body of an unidentified man
