July 6, 1944 Hartford, Connecticut A fire ignites a circus tent, killing an estimated 168 and wounding over 700 The exact cause of the fire is unknown. One theory suspects a carelessly discarded cigarette, while another involves Robert Segee who admitted in 1950 to setting the blaze when he was 17. He later recanted this…
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…
Children honoring Memorial Day
Memorial Day, 1909 Hartford, Connecticut Children decorate the graves of fallen soldiers
Woman who killed 3 husbands, 8 children dies in prison
May 16, 1878 Wethersfield, Connecticut "Derby Poisoner" Lydia Sherman dies in prison Sherman had been serving a life sentence at the time of her death, having been convicted of the murders of 3 husbands, 6 biological children (the youngest being 9 months old), and 2 step-children (the younger had recently had his second birthday). She…
“Ape Man” scared off by teens with guns
From The Waco News-Tribune (Waco, Texas) Published April 3, 1926 A man dressed in a fur suit with the intention of scaring two recently orphaned girls, aged 19 and 16, into selling their farm for a cheaper price. The girls were not easily persuaded and threatened to shoot the “ape man” should he reappear. The…
Horror History .net 