December 24, 1894 Silver Lake, Oregon An accident causes the fiery deaths of 41 and the injuries of 16 The fire started when a man attempted to get a better view of a Christmas festival. As the man stood on a bench, his head struck an oil lamp and sent the flaming liquid on the… Continue reading Fire at Christmas festival kills 41, injures 16
Category: Newspaper clippings
Unknown person gasses first of several houses
December 22, 1933 Haymakertown, Virginia A “mad gasser” attacks the first of several houses The gasser attacked the home of Cal Huffman late on the evening of December 22. A strange smell permeated the home on three separate occasions during the night, the last of which was strong enough to nauseate seven of the eight… Continue reading Unknown person gasses first of several houses
Woman confesses to killing, dismembering son after he did the same to his own son
December 19, 1917 Montrose, Colorado Nancy Jane Bush confesses to killing her son after he killed his own child Nancy claimed her son, John, had become enraged after his 11- or 12-year-old son Otis was caught stealing $1.35 from his grandmother’s purse. She stated John “beat [Otis] until he fell in a dying condition.” To… Continue reading Woman confesses to killing, dismembering son after he did the same to his own son
Man kills 6 children in murder-suicide
December 19, 1968 Napa, California A man kills 6 of his 7 children, sets his house on fire, and kills himself The motive behind Charles Coatney Bray’s murder-suicide was marital discord, as his wife had recently filed for divorce. He left a suicide note addressed to his wife, though the contents were not released to… Continue reading Man kills 6 children in murder-suicide
Woman kidnapped, buried alive for 83 hours during ransom
December 17, 1968 Decatur, Georgia 20-year-old Barbara Mackle is abducted and buried alive in a ransom attempt Barbara was chosen because her father, Robert Mackle, was a wealthy land developer. A little before 4 a.m., Gary Stephen Krist and Ruth Eisemann-Schier knocked on the motel door belonging to Barbara and her mother Jane Braznell Mackle.… Continue reading Woman kidnapped, buried alive for 83 hours during ransom
