Browsing: Crime

A Brief History On May 20, 1899, history’s first traffic ticket was issued to a New York cab driver, Jacob German who was zipping down Lexington Street at 12 mph.  Ever since, drivers have been arguing about traffic tickets with no real idea what the law is, just basing their beliefs on urban myths that are frequently untrue.  We list 10 of the most misunderstood facts about everyday traffic and other laws as told by a retired police captain.  (Note: laws vary from state to state and sometimes from town to town.  We know that and are trying to avoid…

A Brief History On May 20, 1936, Japanese prostitute Sada Abe was confronted by police at the inn where she was staying, showing them her lover’s genitals as proof of her identification!  She had severed them 3 days prior to that and had been carrying them around with her in her purse… Digging Deeper As can be guessed, the case caused a sensation in Japan. The police had found the body and were looking for the erotic killer, while Japan was buzzing with false sightings. Apparently even in Japan this activity is frowned upon for Abe was convicted of 2nd…

A Brief History On May 19, 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed into law an act of Congress known as the Firearm Owners Protection Act.  This law was passed in response to allegations of abusive enforcement by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Digging Deeper Congress had investigated those claims and found that the allegations had merit, in that enforcement was being directed at convoluted interpretations of minor violations instead of aimed at hard corps criminals. The subcommittee conducting the investigation found that an incredible 75% of prosecutions pursued by the ATF were “constitutionally improper.” Obviously congress saw a need…

A Brief History On May 18, 1927, Andrew Kehoe committed the worst mass murder in an American school ever, proving that this type of tragedy is not just something started recently.  Having a reputation as someone difficult to work with, Kehoe was a school board member and had recently been beaten in an election for township clerk. Digging Deeper The 55 year old Kehoe’s life was falling apart. Upset about his election loss, rising taxes, his farm being under foreclosure and his wife having tuberculosis, the Michigan farmer went off the deep end. No longer making mortgage payments, Kehoe bought…

A Brief History On May 18, 1936, Sada Abe, a Japanese prostitute, strangled her lover and cut his genitals off, carrying them around in her purse for three days before she was caught. She explained to the police that she had tried to have sex with the severed organs but for some reason it just did not work.  Every so often a crime happens that catches the attention of the public because of the brutality or the gruesome nature of the deed.  Here we list 10 of those crimes that make you cringe and squirm. What misdeeds would you include?…