November 23, 1969 Oakland, California Musician “Spade” Cooley dies of a heart attack after singing “It’s Time to Live, It’s Time to Die” at a benefit show for the Deputy Sheriffs Association of Alameda County At the time of his death, Cooley, known as the “King of Western Swing,” was on 72-hour leave prison to… Continue reading Musician and inmate serving life for killing wife dies after singing at sheriffs benefit concert
Tag: 1960s
Jr. High student shoots, kills principal
November 18, 1969 Tomah, Wisconsin An unnamed 14-year-old student shoots and kills his school principal The teen — who remained unnamed due to Wisconsin law at the time which protected the identities of offenders under the age of 16 — often had trouble with authority figures. In a “fit of anger,” the teen went to… Continue reading Jr. High student shoots, kills principal
The first sighting of the Mothman
November 12, 1966 Point Pleasant, West Virginia The cryptid known as the Mothman is first seen The Mothman has been described as around six feet tall and possessing a wingspan of 10 feet with either brown or grey feathers, and often with red eyes. Occasionally it was noted the creature had no head. Some called… Continue reading The first sighting of the Mothman
The killing of Jack “The Hat” McVitie
October 28, 1967 Stoke Newington, London, England Jack “The Hat” McVitie is stabbed to death McVitie earned the nickname The Hat by rarely being seen without his signature trilby. In his mid-30s at the time of his death, McVitie had a far-receding hairline which may have prompted him to constantly keep his head covered. McVitie… Continue reading The killing of Jack “The Hat” McVitie
Australian serial killer hanged
October 26, 1964 Perth, Western Australia Serial killer Eric Edgar Cooke is hanged Cooke terrorized Perth in the early 1960s, randomly targeting his victims, injuring at least 22 and wounding at least 8. His random choice of targets and his random choice of methods of killing contributed to his ability to evade arrest. So random… Continue reading Australian serial killer hanged
