Nobody Move!

I'M ALREADY GONE

2011-06-21T19:34:00.003-04:00

After six and a half years at this address, I've moved on to a new neighborhood. I wasn't really looking to move, but I guess I didn't have much of a choice (you can read more about that here). Anyway, my new blog's address is http://armedrobbery.wordpress.com/. If you have a link to me on your site, you might want to update it. Hope to see you there.

BREAKING OUT OF THE HALL OF SHAME

2011-06-20T20:21:00.002-04:00

If you've read this post, you're familiar with my battle with Websense. Here's an update on the whole fiasco:

I emailed Websense and explained my situation to them. They got back to me a few days later and told me that they'd be reclassifying my site from adu1t c0ntent to "swimsuit/lingerie." OK, not great, but better than being labeled a pr0nographer, I guess. Well, a week later, the network at the office still blocks my site as A.C. On top of that, I ran across two sites that were also erroneously smeared with this label by Websense: sci-fi author JL Bryan's blog, and crime fiction author Paul Bishop's blog. If you click either one of those links, I promise you, you'll fund no pr0n. Websense strikes again. Both blogs are hosted on Blogger. I can only conclude that there's something seriously wrong with Websense's software. It makes me wonder how many other sites are being blocked for no reason.

My solution to this whole situation is to switch hosts. I've been advised on a number of occasions that I ought to consider using Wordpress. I never really gave it much thought, as I'd always been relatively happy with Blogger. But things being what they are, I guess I don't have a choice. I suppose I could switch to another Blogger address, but Websense seems to have an issue with Blogger, so I'll give Wordpress a try.

Last week, I grabbed a Wordpress address. I've spent the last few days transferring things over. You can find my new blog at http://armedrobbery.wordpress.com/. I'll keep this site up for the time being, but my archives have been moved to the new site. Note that comments at the new site will be moderated for first-time posters. I'm not really happy about that, but I really want to keep out the spammers, so it'll have to do until I figure Wordpress out.

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: JUNE 20, 1947

2011-06-20T08:06:00.002-04:00

On this date in 1947, Bugsy Siegel got whacked. Iced. Taken out. Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel -- who hated that nickname, by the way -- was shot while sitting next to a window in the Beverly Hills house he shared with girlfriend Virginia Hill. According to his death certificate, the cause of death was "cerebral hemmorage" (apparently spelling was not a high priority at the L.A. County Registrar's Office) due to "gunshots of the head" (neither was grammar, I guess). One shot hit Siegel right near his eye. If he saw it coming, he didn't see it for long.

The murder was never solved, but theories abound. Who was behind it? Was it Meyer Lansky? Lucky Luciano? Some investors who were less than happy about the profitability of the Flamingo Hotel and Casino? Author Warren Hull has a theory about the identity of the trigger man. Check out the video below for more info.

Further reading:

BugsySiegel.net

Wikipedia - Bugsy Siegel

Family Secret, by Warren Robert Hull

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: JUNE 19, 1975

2011-06-19T15:24:00.001-04:00

On this day in 1975, Chicago mob boss Salvatore Giancana, aka "Momo," aka "Mooney," aka "Sam the Cigar," aka "Sam Flood" and aka "Sam Gold," was killed in the basement of his Oak Park, IL home. Giancana was due to testify before a Senate panel later that month. He was shot several times, once in the back of the head, and several times in the face.

Further reading:

Gansters Incorporated: SAM "MOMO" GIANCANA

Find-a-Grave - Sam Giancana (1908-1975)

American Mafia: Sam Giancana

Wikipedia: Sam Giancana

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: JUNE 17, 1933

2011-06-17T12:00:00.000-04:00

On this date in 1933, outlaw, and former lawman, Verne Miller, along with bank robbers Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd and Adam Richetti, attempted to free Frank "Jelly" Nash from Federal custody in Kansas City. A gunfight ensued, leaving three police officers, an FBI Agent, and Frank Nash dead.

FBI History: Famous Cases Kansas City Massacre - Charles Arthur "Pretty Boy" Floyd

Wikipedia: Kansas City Massacre

Movie: The Kansas City Massacre (1975)

FRIDAY MOVIE QUOTE

2011-06-17T07:00:00.001-04:00

"You don't remember me, do you?... When you hang a man, you better look at him."

-Marshal Jed Cooper (Clint Eastwood), Hang 'Em High (1968)

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: JUNE 16, 1999

2011-06-16T07:00:00.001-04:00

On this date in 1999, middle class St. Paul, MN mom Sara Jane Olson was arrested after being profiled on America's Most Wanted. As it turns out, the socially active mother of three had a secret identity. In a prior life, she was Kathleen Ann Soliah, a member of the Symbionese Liberation Army terrorist group.

Soliah had been in hiding since 1976, when she was indicted for her role in planting pipe bombs that were targeted at police officers in Los Angeles.

Olson eventually pled guilty to the explosives charges and to her role in a robbery that resulted in the death of a woman. She was sentenced to 14 years in prison, but her sentence was eventually reduced by a judge.

In 2008, Olson was erroneously released from prison due to a miscalculation by prison officials. She was rearrested and returned to prison. She was paroled in March of 2009 and was allowed to return to Minnesota to serve out her sentence.

Further reading:

truTV - Hearst, Soliah, and the SLA

Wikipedia - Sara Jane Olson

WICKED WEASEL WEDNESDAY

2011-06-15T22:34:00.002-04:00

I can't let Wednesday end without our weekly dose of Wicked Weasel.

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: JUNE 15, 1933

2011-06-15T07:00:00.000-04:00

On this date in 1933, William Hamm Jr., heir to the Hamm's Brewery, was kidnapped by the Barker-Karpis gang in St. Paul, MN. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of $100,000, which they received. After the ransom was paid, Hamm was released near Wyoming, MN.

The Barker-Karpis gang's crime spree would continue as the government arrested and unsuccessfully prosecuted Chicago bootlegger Roger Touhy and members of his gang (thanks to informants working for Touhy's rival, Al Capone). The true culprits were eventually located and prosecuted thanks, in large part to the emerging forensic science of latent fingerprint examination.

Further reading:

truTV - Alvin Karpis: Pursuit of the Last Public Enemy

FBI - Latent Prints in the 1933 Hamm Kidnapping

Placeography - Hamm Brewery, Saint Paul, Minnesota

BABE OF THE WEEK

2011-06-14T20:52:00.004-04:00

This week's babe is Indian actress Sherlyn Chopra. For more of Sherlyn, check out her official website.

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: JUNE 14, 1962

2011-06-14T07:00:00.000-04:00

On this date in 1962, Anna E. Slesers was found dead. She was believed to be the first victim of the notorious serial killer known as the Boston Strangler, who may, or may not, have been Albert DeSalvo (pictured above). In fact, the murders may have been committed by more than one person. DeSalvo's confession was the only significant piece of evidence that linked him to the crimes. He died in 1973, while serving time in prison on unrelated offenses.

TruTV Crime Library: THE BOSTON STRANGLER

Albert DeSalvo - The Boston Strangler?

Wikipedia: Boston Strangler

The Boston Strangler (1968)

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: JUNE 13, 1966

2011-06-13T19:41:00.004-04:00

On this date in 1966, the US Supreme Court decided Miranda v. Arizona. This decision would result in the warning given to criminal suspects that cops, crooks, and fans of police procedurals know by heart.

Further reading:

Opinion of the U.S. Supreme Court, June 13, 1966

Wikipedia - Miranda v. Arizona

For those who miss the pre-Miranda days, here's a little taste of how it was done old school by Sergeant Joe Friday in the 1954 big-screen version of Dragnet.

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: JUNE 12, 1978

2011-06-12T07:38:00.002-04:00

On this date in 1978, David Berkowitz was sentenced to six consecutive life sentences for the "Son of Sam" murders. According to the NY State Department of Corrections, he became eligible for parole on August 5, 2002. He's due for his next parole hearing in May of 2012.

TruTV Crime Library: SON OF SAM

About.com: David Berkowitz - The Son of Sam

Wikipedia: David Berkowitz

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: JUNE 12, 1962

2011-06-11T07:00:00.001-04:00

On this date in 1962, Frank Morris, and brothers John and Clarence Anglin escaped from the federal prison on Alcatraz Island. The escape took over two years to plan and execute. The escapees used stolen materials to make a raft to escape on and dummies to place in their bunks. They tunneled from their cells into the prison ventilation shaft, through which they climbed up to the roof of the prison. They climbed down from the roof, made it to the water, and paddled away on their homemade raft. Their escape was not discovered until the next morning. The men were never found and were presumed drowned in San Francisco Bay.

Further reading:

"The Great Escape from Alcatraz"

FBI Files: Alcatraz Escape

IMDb: Escape from Alcatraz

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: JUNE 10, 1977

2011-06-10T21:32:00.005-04:00

On this date in 1977, James Earl Ray, the man who assassinated Martin Luther King, escaped from the maximum security Brushy Mountain State Prison in Tennessee.

The escape happened after dinner. A disturbance began in the recreation yard of the prison. As the corrections staff was distracted, Ray and six other inmates scaled the wall on the opposite side of the yard using a makeshift ladder.

One of the inmates, who had injured himself in the escape, was captured just outside the prison wall. The remainder were captured over the course of the next two days. Ray was tracked down by bloodhounds. He was found hiding in a pile of leaves five miles from the prison.

James Earl Ray died in prison in 1998 at the age of seventy. Brushy Mountain State Prison was closed in 2009.

Further reading:

truTV - James Earl Ray: The Man Who Killed Dr. Martin Luther King

Time - ASSASSINS: Capture in the Cumberlands

James Earl Ray couldn’t outsmart Brushy Mountain’s warden

FRIDAY MOVIE QUOTE

2011-06-10T07:45:00.000-04:00

"Oh you sexy bitch. I'd even go out with you myself."

-Lightfoot (Jeff Bridges), Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974)

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: JUNE 9, 1930

2011-06-09T21:40:00.004-04:00

On this date in 1930, Chicago Tribune reporter Jake Lingle was murdered in the Illinois Central Train Station underpass. Lingle, a "leg man" who gathered the information and phoned it in to news writers, covered stories from Chicago's underworld. It was first thought that Lingle's murder was related to the news stories he covered. It soon emerged that Lingle was on the payroll of local mobsters.

A hoodlum named Leo Brothers was arrested for the crime. He was tried and convicted of Lingle's murder and sentenced to fourteen years in prison. He was paroled in eight. The light sentence was due to the belief that Brothers was taking the fall for someone else.

A popular theory of the motive for the murder is that Lingle was attempting to blackmail Al Capone in order to get money to pay off large gambling debts. If that was the case, Lingle learned the hard way what most people in the Windy City already knew: You don't cross Big Al.

Further reading:

American Mafia - The Lingle Killing

Chicago Tribune - The shooting of Jake Lingle

Time - The Press: Martyr Into Racketeer

THE DUELLISTS

2011-06-09T12:00:00.002-04:00

Do men still duel over the honor of a lady? You bet they do. And all this time I thought chivalry was dead:

Two arrested after fight over woman leads to car crashing into restaurant

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Michael Chernoff of Albany said, ''When I was watching I kept thinking, was this really happening?''

New World Bistro Bar in Albany is missing part of its front wall after a car crashed into it Tuesday night. Sitting just a few feet away, Michael Chernoff says he first saw 25-year-old Jason Lopez sprinting down Delaware Avenue.

Chernoff said, ''I thought when I saw the runner, I thought someone would chase him out of the sidewalk, but I didn't expect a car to come out and try to run him over.''

Police said driving that car was 26-year-old Dashawn Currie. They tell us around 8:30 p.m. Lopez and Currie got into a fight at the KFC on Delaware (Avenue). They were arguing about Currie's girlfriend, who Lopez used to date.

Albany Police Spokesman James Miller said, ''The ex-boyfriend pulled a knife, tried to stab the current boyfriend, was unsuccessful. Current boyfriend then tries to run down ex-boyfriend as he runs down Delaware Avenue.''

After hitting the restaurant, police said Currie chased after Lopez again before hitting a parked car. The crash caused considerable damage to New World Bistro Bar and slightly (injured) two people eating inside.

Mr. Currie is now facing attempted assault and reckless endangerment charges. Mr. Lopez is facing a weapons possession and a menacing charge. I don't know who the lady in question is, but I hope she's worth it.

On a related note, years ago I was in a restaurant when it was hit by a car. This was when I was a soldier stationed in Germany. The building was very old and made of stone. Aside from a few minor chips to the exterior, it was unscathed. The car was a different story. It's front end was mashed in. It hit the building so hard its ass-end swung around so that the car was facing almost 180 degrees from the direction of travel. It must have been traveling at a pretty high rate of speed. How the driver managed to hop the curb, cross the sidewalk, and hit this (really large) building I'll never know. Maybe he was trying to create a drive-through window. What's the German word for dumbass? If there isn't one, there ought to be.

THE SCARLET (CYBER) LETTER

2011-06-08T20:44:00.006-04:00

It came to my attention recently that my blog has been designated "adult content" by the security software Websense. As a result, any network that uses Websense, including my employer's network, will block access to my blog.

Adult content? Seriously? Websense defines adult content as:

Sites that display full or partial nudity in a sexual context, but not sexual activity; erotica; sexual paraphernalia; sex-oriented businesses as clubs, nightclubs, escort services; and sites supporting the online purchase of such goods and services.

I know there are loads of pics of beautiful women in bikinis posted here, but it's not like there's anything that could remotely qualify as pr0n. If my blog were a movie, it would easily get a PG-13 rating, no editing required. You won't see anything here you wouldn't see on a typical episode of Baywatch.

This development is definitely a serious inconvenience. When lunchtime rolls around, I like to check the blog for new comments. I also like to check out the blogs in my blogroll. Thanks to Websense, these activities are no longer an option. Also, anyone who checks my blog from their work won't be able to if there network uses Websense.

Beyond the inconvenience, there's another issue at play here. My name, my real name, is attached to this blog. If someone Googles my name from a Websense-using network, and they find this blog, they're going to get the dreaded adult content blockage. In essence, Websense has branded me a pornographer. Not a good label to bear if you're applying for a job.

So I'm going to have to find a solution to this situation. I've given serious consideration to switching to Wordpress. But that still leaves the question of what to do about this blog and it's unearned scarlet letter. I'm probably going to email Websense to see if they ~~can~~ will help me. I'll keep you posted.

Update: Comments have been closed for this post because dirtbag spammers have already started showing up here. That didn't take long, did it?

ONE-ARMED BANDIT

2011-06-08T10:00:00.002-04:00

And no, I'm not referring to a slot machine:

Albany police seek one-handed bank robbery suspect

ALBANY -- City police on Tuesday were searching for a man who single-handedly robbed SEFCU at 16 New Scotland Ave.

Police say that a 5' 9'' white male walked into the credit union branch just after noon Tuesday and demanded money. The man did not show any weapon, nor imply that he had one, police said. A teller gave him an undisclosed amount of money, which the suspect placed in a black plastic bag, according to police.

No one was injured in the incident. Police described the suspect as missing his left arm from the elbow down, wearing a white baseball cap, oversized white T-shirt and denim shorts.

Single-handedly, get it? Those reporters are so witty. No word yet on whether Dr. Richard Kimble has been brought in as a consultant on the case.

RIP, ANDREW GOLD

2011-06-07T19:42:00.003-04:00

Sad news from the world of entertainment:

Andrew Gold, Singer and Songwriter, Dies at 59

Andrew Gold, a pop wunderkind who had barely finished high school when Linda Ronstadt enlisted him to play in her backup band, and who later had a successful recording career of his own with hits like “Lonely Boy” and “Thank You for Being a Friend,” died on Friday at his home in Encino, Calif. He was 59.

His family said that he had renal cancer and had been responding well to treatment but that the cause of death might have been a heart attack.

Mr. Gold’s combination of instrumental versatility and songwriting skill gave him a prominent if sometimes invisible role in shaping the Los Angeles-dominated pop-rock style of the 1970s. In addition to his instrumental and arranging work for Ms. Ronstadt’s breakout 1974 album, “Heart Like a Wheel,” Mr. Gold was a much sought after musician whose guitar and piano work (he also played bass and drums) helped define the seamless texture of recordings by artists like James Taylor, Carly Simon, Maria Muldaur, Jackson Browne and Loudon Wainwright III.

As prolific as he was, there's one song that always comes to mind when I think of Andrew Gold: "Lonely Boy." I don't know if this is because it came out during my (musically) formative years, or that I just plain like it. Maybe a little of both.

WHITE COLLAR - SEASON PREMIERE

2011-06-07T18:41:00.002-04:00

The TV landscape improves tonight with the season premiere of White Collar on USA.

BABE OF THE WEEK

2011-06-06T21:19:00.005-04:00

This week's babe is Dominican-born actress Dania Ramirez. For more of Dania, check out her official website.

FRIDAY MOVIE QUOTE

2011-06-03T07:00:00.002-04:00

"They're coming to get you, Barbra."

-Johnny (Russell Streiner), Night of the Living Dead (1968)

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: JUNE 2, 1919

2011-06-02T20:45:00.003-04:00

On this date in 1919, eight bombs exploded in seven different US cities. The bombs, thought to have been the work of followers of Italian anarchist Luigi Galleani, were targeted at people perceived as outspoken critics of the anarchists. The targets, which included the home of Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer (pictured above) were located in New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Boston, and Patterson, NJ. None of the intended targets was killed, but two innocent people died in the explosions.

The June 2nd attacks were part of a campaign of violence that began two months earlier. The Bureau of Investigation (precursor to the FBI) conducted an exhaustive investigation, but were unable to solve the crimes. Later that year, the Justice Department conducted a series of raids and deportations of immigrants believed to be a threat to national security.

Further reading:

FBI Famous Cases: 1919 Bombings

Wikipedia - 1919 United States anarchist bombings

WICKED WEASEL WEDNESDAY

2011-06-01T20:19:00.003-04:00

This week's edition of Wicked Weasel Wednesday is dedicated to WW aficionado, and ace crime fiction author, Charlie Stella.

BABE OF THE WEEK

2011-05-31T22:00:00.002-04:00

This week's babe is actress Helena Mattsson. Helena hails from the land of Volvos and little meatballs. That's Sweden, by the way.

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: MAY 31, 1964

2011-05-31T07:10:00.000-04:00

On this date in 1964, Charles Schimd, the "Pied Piper of Tucson," murdered fifteen year old Alleen Rowe. The 23 year old Schmid--so self-conscious about his small stature that he would put crushed beer cans and rags in his boots to make himself look taller--managed to convince several local teenagers to help him set up Alleen to be killed, and then dispose of her body. His motive: he wanted to see what it felt like to kill someone. Schmid went on to murder two more teenage girls when they threatened to expose him.

Charles Schmid was arrested in November 1965. He was convicted and sentenced to death. His sentence was eventually commuted to life in prison, thanks to our ever-compassionate justice system. In 1975, his death sentence was carried out anyway, compliments of some never-compassionate inmates in the Arizona State Prison yard. They shanked the little psycho (a few dozen times) and left him in a pool of his own blood. Schmid's family refused to claim his remains. He was buried in the prison cemetery.

Schmid was the inspiration for the short story "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" by Joyce Carol Oates. If you've never read it, the full text is posted on her website here. Great story.

truTV Crime Library - Charles Schmid, The Pied Piper of Tucson

Wikipedia - Charles Schmid

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: MAY 29, 1979

2011-05-29T18:46:00.003-04:00

On this date in 1979, federal Judge John H. Wood, Jr. was assassinated outside his home in San Antonio, TX. Wood, who was nicknamed "Maximum John" due to the harsh sentences he handed out for drug offenses, was the first federal judge assassinated in the 20th century.

An anonymous tip led police to ex-convict Charles Harrelson, father of actor Woody Harrelson. Harrelson had been hired to kill Wood by drug dealer Jamiel Chagra, who was due to be appear before Judge Wood in a narcotics case.

At trial, Harrelson claimed he hadn't killed Judge Wood, but had taken credit for it in order to collect money from Chagra. The jury didn't buy it, and Harrelson was convicted of murder. He was sentenced to two life terms and died of a heart attack in the federal supermax prison in Colorado in 2007.

Chagra's brother Joe received a 10 year sentence for his role in arranging the hit. Chagra's wife also received a prison sentence for her role delivering the payout money. Jamiel Chagra, who was represented by attorney Oscar Goodman (the current mayor of Las Vegas), was acquitted when his brother refused to testify against him. Chagra would later stipulate to his role in the murder in a plea bargain designed to get his wife, who was suffering from ovarian cancer, an early release from prison. His wife passed away before she could be released.

Jamiel Chagra himself would eventually wind up in federal witness protection. He died of cancer in 2008, at the age of 63.

Further reading:

Wikipedia - Charles Harrelson

Wikipedia - Jamiel Chagra

Denver Post - Harrelson wrote of life at Supermax

FRIDAY MOVIE QUOTE

2011-05-27T06:00:00.002-04:00

"Gentlemen, prepare to defend yourselves!"

-Sergeant Major Basil Plumley (Sam Elliott), We Were Soldiers (2002)

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: MAY 26, 1977

2011-05-26T07:00:00.000-04:00

On this date in 1977, police in New York City arrested George "The Human Fly" Willig on the 110th floor of the World Trade Center. His crime? He climbed the South Tower from the outside. He accomplished this feat, which took him 3 1/2 hours, using clamps he had fashioned to fit into the channel that ran the entire height of the tower for window-washing equipment.

The City, sensing they had a new folk hero on their hands, decided against a hefty fine for Willig. Instead, he was fined $1.10 -- one cent for every floor floor of the tower.

Further reading:

New York Press - "WTC Climber George Willig Would Do It All Again"

Gothamist - George Willig's 1977 WTC Climb

Wikipedia - George Willig

WICKED WEASEL WEDNESDAY

2011-05-25T21:00:00.000-04:00

If it be Wednesday, it be time for another Wicked Weasel.

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: MAY 25, 1979

2011-05-25T07:00:00.003-04:00

On this date in 1979, six year old Etan Patz disappeared while walking from his home in Manhattan to the school bus. The school never alerted Etan's parents to his absence, and his disappearance wasn't noticed until mid afternoon. An extensive search and investigation followed his disappeared, but Etan was never found.

Several years later, a drifter named Jose Antonio Ramos would become a suspect in the boy's disappearance. Ramos had dated a woman that used to watch Etan for his parents. Prosecutors were never able to make a case against him, but Etan's parents successfully sued Ramos in civil court. Years later, he wound up in prison in Pennsylvania on a conviction for child sex abuse. Ramos is scheduled to be released in November 2012.

Further reading:

truTV - All about the disappearance of Etan Patz

New York Magazine - What Happened to Etan Patz

Wikipedia - Etan Patz

Nation Center for Missing and Exploited Children

BANGKOK DANGEROUS

2011-05-24T21:11:00.003-04:00

With the regular TV season at an end, and the summer season not quite underway, I've stepped up my movie watching. I recently caught this one on cable.

Bangkok Dangerous (1999) is the story of a deaf mute hitman in Thailand. It was remade in 2008 with Nicholas Cage in the lead role. I haven't seen the remake, but the original was an excellent movie. It has a John Woo vibe to it, without feeling like a ripoff. Fans of action movies, and Asian action movies in particular, won't be disappointed.

BABE OF THE WEEK

2011-05-23T20:55:00.005-04:00

This week's babe is fashion model-turned actress Sara Foster.

Sara is, without doubt, the best thing about the movie The Big Bounce. Here's the trailer:

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: MAY 23, 1934

2011-05-23T06:00:00.001-04:00

She was an honor student with a talent for creative writing. He was an ex-con and habitual criminal with a preference for Fords and Browning Automatic Rifles. On this date in 1934, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were ambushed and gunned down by a posse led by (semi)retired Texas Ranger Frank Hamer.

Further reading:

Crime Library: BONNIE & CLYDE: ROMEO AND JULIET IN A GETAWAY CAR

Wikipedia - Bonnie and Clyde

The Bonnie and Clyde Festival in Gibsland, LA

"The Story of Bonnie and Clyde," a poem by Bonnie Parker

Frank Hamer at the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: MAY 21, 1924

2011-05-21T10:16:00.000-04:00

On this date in 1924, two spoiled sociopaths committed what they thought would be the perfect crime; all to prove their status as Nietzschean supermen. Nathan Leopold, 19, and Richard Loeb, 18, kidnapped and murdered 14 year old Bobby Franks. They might have gotten away with it, had their perfect crime been just a little more... perfect. But perfection is hard to achieve, especially when you do things like:

-Hide the body where it will be quickly found

-Drop your (very unique) glasses at the body dump location

-Build your alibi around going for a drive in a car that could be shown to be in the shop

It didn't take long for the alibi to break down and for both men to confess. So much for supermen, Nietzschean or otherwise.

Famed trial attorney Clarence Darrow was brought in to defend the indefensible. He couldn't get his clients acquitted, but he did manage to head off a death sentence. Both men were sentenced to life in prison.

Loeb died in prison in 1936, the victim of a razor attack by another inmate. Leopold was paroled in 1958. He moved to Puerto Rico, where worked in a hospital. He died in 1971, at the age of 66.

Further reading:

truTV - Leopold & Loeb

Famous Trials - Illinois v. Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb

FRIDAY MOVIE QUOTE

2011-05-20T06:00:00.002-04:00

"Goldarnit, Mr. Lamarr, you use your tongue prettier than a twenty dollar whore."

-Taggart (Slim Pickens), Blazing Saddles (1974)

DON'T MESS WITH BOMBERS

2011-05-19T21:21:00.004-04:00

I'm definitely a fan of Bombers Burrito Bar. They make a damn good burrito. And now I have another reason to like them: They don't stand for any shenanigans.

Bombers staff, patrons catch thief with tip jar after foot chase

ALBANY -- The staff of Bombers Burrito Bar works hard for their tips, so when a would-be thief allegedly bolted late Wednesday night with $140 stuffed into a tip can he tucked inside his backpack, they chased after him, joined by loyal patrons of the Lark Street establishment.

After a four-block foot chase through Center Square, the winded crew snatched the backpack as the 24-year-old man climbed a fence to elude capture, only to be met on the others side by others who went around, cut him off and held him until police arrived.

The man allegedly tried to talk his way out of the jam by claiming he was merely pulling a prank.

Tierro Davis, of 201 Virginia Lane in Amsterdam, was charged with second-degree robbery.

Maybe he should have tried Taco Bell. They have a higher tolerance for shenanigans. Even if they do have a lower quality burrito.

WICKED WEASEL WEDNESDAY

2011-05-18T21:23:00.002-04:00

Since today's crime history post was another particularly heinous one, I figured another double shot of Wicked Weasels would be suitable brainwash.

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: MAY 18, 1927

2011-05-18T10:00:00.000-04:00

On this date in 1927, Bath, MI became the scene of the largest school mass-murder in U.S. history. The massacre began when school board member Andrew Kehoe became upset over an increase in the school tax that he blamed for his financial ruination.

Kehoe began by killing his wife and detonating fire bombs in his farm buildings. While firefighters worked to put out the fires on Kehoe's property, Kehoe went to the Bath Consolidated School, where he detonated bombs he had previously planted in the school.

Kehoe left the scene after the explosion, but returned a short while later. He saw the school superintendent standing outside the school watching rescue and recovery efforts, and called to him. As the superintendent approached the car, Kehoe detonated a bomb inside the car. The blast killed Kehoe, the superintendent, two local men, and an 8 year old boy who had managed to escape the school bombing.

The Bath School Disaster resulted in 45 dead and 58 injured. In 1975, a park dedicated to the victims was built on the former site of the school.

Further reading:

truTV - Hell Comes to Bath

The Bath School Disaster

Wikipedia - Bath School Disaster

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: MAY 17, 1974

2011-05-17T10:00:00.000-04:00

On this date in 1974, six members of the Symbionese Liberation Army were cornered by police in a house in Los Angeles. The police announced their presence via bullhorn. An older man and a small child walked out of the house. The man told police that no one else was inside. After several attempts to communicate with the remaining occupants, police fired tear gas into the building. SLA members responded with automatic gunfire. In the ensuing battle, the building caught fire. All six SLA members, the group's leader, Donald "Cinque" Defreeze, Nancy Ling Perry, Angela Atwood, Willie Wolfe, Patricia Soltysik and Camilla Hall, were killed in the shootout.

Further reading:

Crime Library - HEARST, SOLIAH AND THE S.L.A.

CNN.com - Patty Hearst Profile

BABE OF THE WEEK

2011-05-16T22:00:00.000-04:00

This week's babe is actress/singer/songwriter Taryn Manning.

BANDITS

2011-05-16T18:36:00.003-04:00

In the comments to last Friday's movie quote post, I recommended to Charlie Stella that he check out a movie called Bandits. It stars Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, and Cate Blanchett, and was directed by Barry Levinson (The Natural, Tin Men, and Good Morning, Vietnam). My recommendation put me in the mood to watch it again, so I gave it another viewing Saturday night. I like this movie more every time I see it. If you haven't seen it, it's definitely worth checking out. Here's the trailer.

Bandits (Theatrical Trailer) by NakedBrotha2007

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: MAY 15, 1981

2011-05-15T11:51:00.001-04:00

On this date in 1981, Donna Payant became the first female corrections officer in New York State to be killed in the line of duty. Payant, 31, was assigned to the Green Haven Correctional Facility in Dutchess County, NY.

At the end of her scheduled shift, Payant had turned up missing. An exhaustive search was conducted of the prison and the surrounding grounds, but there was no sign of her. Officials expanded their search to a local landfill where trash from the prison had been dumped earlier in the day. They found her mutilated body buried in the trash.

Police and prison officials began an investigation into the murder of Officer Payant. Bite marks had been left, and the medical examiner thought that the pattern looked familiar. As it turns out, he had seen the same pattern on a previous case he had worked: one of the victims of rapist and serial killer Lemuel Smith. Smith was an inmate at Green Haven CF when Officer Payant was murdered.

Once the case was built, Smith was tried for murdering Officer Payant. He was represented by C. Vernon Mason (of Tawana Brawley fame/infamy) and William "Black Rage" Kuntsler. In spite of such big-name legal representation , Smith was convicted of 1st degree murder and given the mandatory death sentence. In 1984, his death sentence was overturned as unconstitutional.

Lemuel Smith is currently incarcerated at Five Points Correctional Facility in central New York. He is eligible for parole in 2029, when he is 87 years old.

Further reading:

Crime Library - Murder Within the Walls

The Officer Down Memorial Page - Corrections Officer Donna A. Payant

Find-a-Grave - Donna Payant

FRIDAY MOVIE QUOTE

2011-05-13T18:24:00.002-04:00

"I may be a woman, Sir William, but if I choose I have the heart of a man. I am my father's daughter, and I am not afraid of anything."

Elizabeth I (Cate Blanchett), Elizabeth (1998)

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: MAY 13, 1977

2011-05-13T14:00:00.001-04:00

On this date in 1977, mob boss Michael "Mickey" Spillane (no relation to the guy who created fictional P.I. Mike Hammer) had a run of very bad luck on Friday the 13th; he was shot and killed outside his apartment in Queens, NY. Spillane, who headed the Westies gang, had moved to Queens from Hell's Kitchen out of fear for his safety. The previous year, his three top lieutenants had been taken out on orders from Genovese crime family boss Fat Tony Salerno. Salerno coveted control of construction contracts for the Jacob Javits Civic Center, which was being built in Spillane's territory. Spillane's killing was rumored to have been carried out by Gambino crime family associates Roy DeMeo and Danny Grillo. After Spillane's demise, mobster Jimmy Coonan took over as head of the Westies. Coonan had previously challenged Spillane for control of the group. After he took control, Coonan formed an alliance with the Gambino family, in a deal brokered by the newly-"made" Roy DeMeo. Coincidence? Um... probably not.

Further reading:

The Westies, by T.J. English

The Serial Killer Calender - Roy DeMeo

Wikipedia - Mickey Spillane (gangster)

PROGRAMMING NOTE

2011-05-12T22:33:00.000-04:00

Blogger has been down due to maintenance issues for the better part of the day. I'm emailing this post in the hope that it will go up eventually. Friday's movie quote might be a little late tomorrow. Comments are apparently down as well. But fear not, posting will resume as soon as the little elves at Blogger have put the finishing touches on whatever repairs they're making.

WICKED WEASEL WEDNESDAY

2011-05-11T21:35:00.001-04:00

Is it Wednesday again already? Well then, it must be time for another Wicked Weasel.

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: MAY 10 1924

2011-05-10T13:00:00.001-04:00

On this date in 1924, J. Edgar Hoover was appointed head of the Bureau of Investigation, predecessor to the FBI. Hoover would serve as the agency's director until his death in 1972.

Further reading:

Wikipedia - J. Edgar Hoover

truTV - The Life and Career of J. Edgar Hoover

BABE OF THE WEEK

2011-05-09T20:36:00.003-04:00

This week's babe is Czech model Denise Milani. For more of the beautiful Denise, czech out her official website and her official Facebook page.

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: MAY 9, 1980

2011-05-09T17:33:00.004-04:00

On this date in 1980, the Security Pacific Bank branch in Norco, CA was robbed by five heavily armed men. The robbers were confronted outside the bank by Riverside County Sheriff Deputies. In the ensuing shootout, one of the robbers was killed. The four remaining robbers stole a car from the bank's parking lot and fled the scene.

The pursuit went on for 25 miles and extended into neighboring San Bernadino County. Units from the CHP and San Bernadino County Sheriff's Department, including a helicopter, joined in the pursuit. The robbers fired at officers and civilian vehicles during the pursuit. At one point, the robbers stopped and set up an ambush for police. RCSD Deputy Jim Evans was killed. Officers in the helicopter had tried to warn him of the ambush, but an incompatibility between the RCSD and SBCSD radios prevented him from receiving the warning.

The robbers fled into a wooded area near Lytle Creek, CA. Police pursued the robbers. One of the robbers was killed in a shootout with police. The remaining three surrendered.

The three survivors were tried and convicted of multiple felonies. They're all serving life sentences without possibility of parole.

Further reading:

RCDSA - Norcon Bank Robbery (This site includes a link to a video documentary about the robbery)

RCDSA - A list of the suspects and their weapons

Wikipedia - Norco shootout

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: MAY 7, 1896

2011-05-07T16:30:00.002-04:00

On this day in 1896, Herman Mudgett (aka Dr. H.H. Holmes) was well hung. No, that's not quite right. Hung well? No. He was really hung? No, still wrong. How about hung by the neck until dead? Yeah, that'll do.

Mudgett, a pioneer in the field of serial killing (comitting the crimes, not solving them), was one of this country's first identified serial killers. The total number of his victims remains unknown to this day. Estimates range between twenty-seven and two hundred.

Even though Mudgett was more prolific than Jack the Ripper, he never achieved Jack's level of notoriety. I guess he could have used a publicist. Or maybe a reality TV show.

Further reading:

Herman Mudgett article at Crime Library

Herman Mudgett article at Wikipedia

Philadelphia Weekly article

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: MAY 7, 1827

2011-05-07T12:56:00.000-04:00

On this date in 1827, farmhand Jesse Strang murdered John Whipple at the Cherry Hill estate in Albany, NY. He was put up to the crime by Whipple's wife Elsie, with whom Strang was having an affair. Elsie even provided Strang with the gun he used, which she stole from her soon-to-be-late husband.

To add insult to (fatal) injury, John Whipple--wise to his wife's affair and fearing an attempt on his life--actually loaded the murder weapon with the bullet that would kill him.

After the shooting, Strang ran to a local store in an attempt to establish an alibi. The police saw through his alibi and arrested him for the murder. He promptly ratted out Elsie, who was then arrested as well. Strang was eventually convicted of murder and sentenced to death. He was executed in the last public hanging in Albany's history. Elsie Whipple was found not guilty and released.

Wikipedia: Murder at Cherry Hill

Historic Cherry Hill

Facebook: I am related to Jesse Strang

FRIDAY MOVIE QUOTE

2011-05-06T06:00:00.002-04:00

"Let me get this straight: You think that your client, one of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the world, is secretly a vigilante who spends his nights beating criminals to a pulp with his bare hands. And your plan is to blackmail this person? Good luck."

-Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman), The Dark Knight (2008)

WICKED WEASEL WEDNESDAY

2011-05-04T19:33:00.001-04:00

Time for another Wicked Weasel here at Nobody Move!

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: MAY 4, 1932

2011-05-04T06:00:00.002-04:00

On this date in 1932, "Scarface" Al Capone started his prison sentence for tax evasion. Big Al learned the hard way that there are some lines you shouldn't cross. Lie, cheat, steal, bribe, bootleg, murder--knock yourself out, dude. But you'd damn well better PAY YOUR TAXES!

Capone was released from prison in November 1939 after 7 1/2 years behind bars. The repeal of Prohibition put a hurting on his business. Syphilis put a hurting on his brain. He died of cardiac arrest in 1947.

Lessons learned from Big Al:

1. Pay your taxes
2. Diversify your business
3. Wear a Jimmy hat

LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

2011-05-03T07:00:00.001-04:00

Apparently, bin Laden's burial at sea violated Islamic custom. My advice to anyone unhappy with the disposition of this asshole's remains is to lighten up, thing's could have been much worse. Imagine what would have happened if a certain big-screen London mobster had been in charge...

BABE OF THE WEEK

2011-05-02T21:07:00.002-04:00

This week's babe is British actress/singer India de Beaufort. Her selection as Babe of the Week was inspired--like many previous BotW ladies--by a guest appearance on the TV show Chuck. I have a feeling she won't be the last.

BYE-BYE, BINNY

2011-05-02T09:00:00.001-04:00

The cover of the Daily News says it all. Apparently he was buried at sea, so I won't get to piss on his grave. Other than that little disappointment, it looks like it'll be a good day for me. For a Monday, anyway.

FRIDAY MOVIE QUOTE

2011-04-29T06:00:00.002-04:00

"I see dead people."

-Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment), The Sixth Sense (1999)

BLOODY HARLAN

2011-04-28T21:06:00.003-04:00

FX's Justified is one of the best shows on TV. It's based on a character created by Elmore Leonard, who is one of my favorite writers. The second season will be wrapping next week, and there hasn't been a weak episode yet. Here's the promo for the season finale, "Bloody Harlan." Needless to say, I'm really stoked to see this.

WICKED WEASEL WEDNESDAY

2011-04-27T20:23:00.003-04:00

Happy Wicked Weasel Wednesday!

(E)BOOK 'EM, DANNO!

2011-04-26T20:50:00.004-04:00

Just for the fun of it, I decided to resurrect a couple of my flash fiction stories as ebooks. "Complications" appeared in the zine Flashing in the Gutters in 2006. "Have Plastic, Will Travel" appeared in DZ Allen's Muzzle Flash in 2008. Both zines have disappeared from the internet, so I figured that it might be fun to turn the stories into ebooks. Both stories are now available in multiple formats, including PDF, at Smashwords. Links to both are in the blog's sidebar under "Stuff I Wrote." Both stories are free. There's no way I'm charging money for stories that short (>1000 words). Especially when they're written by a hack like me.

BABE OF THE WEEK

2011-04-25T20:40:00.004-04:00

This week's babe is Australian model Miranda Kerr. For all things Miranda, check out MirandaKerr.net.

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: APRIL 24, 1953

2011-04-24T12:41:00.001-04:00

On this date in 1953, a crew of robbers held up the Southwest Bank in St. Louis. The robbers didn't get far with their loot; police officers confronted them as they exited the bank. In the ensuing shootout, a police officer and one of the robbers were injured, and two of the robbers wound up dead (one by his own hand). The story attracted national attention and was made into a movie in 1959 starring Steve McQueen. Officer Mel Stein, who shot and killed one of the robbers, played himself in the movie.

Check out this video about the robbery. It includes an interview with Officer Stein.

Hat tip: Living St. Louis

Further reading:

stltoday.com: A Look Back: Fast action foils bank robbery in 1953

The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery (1959) at IMDb

FRIDAY MOVIE QUOTE

2011-04-22T12:00:00.003-04:00

"Sherman Duffy of the NEW YORK HERALD once said, 'A newspaperman is the loneliest guy on earth. Socially he ranks somewhere between a hooker and a bartender. Spiritually he stands with Galileo, because he knows the world is round.' Not that it matters much, when his editor knows it's flat."

-Carl Kolchak (Darren McGavin), The Night Stalker (1972)

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: APRIL 22, 1934

2011-04-22T06:00:00.001-04:00

On this date in 1934, the FBI went toe to toe with John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson, and their gang in a shootout that left an FBI agent and a bystander dead.

The gang decided to hide out at the Little Bohemia Lodge in northern Wisconsin. The owner of the lodge managed to get word to the authorities. FBI agents were dispatched to the scene.

As the agents approached the lodge, the owner's dogs began to bark. Since the dogs barked incessantly, their warning was ignored by the gang. A few minutes later, a car approached the agents. Thinking that the gangsters were inside, they opened fire in an attempt to shoot out the tires. Shooting high, which often happens when firing on full auto, they hit all of the occupants of the car, and killed one of them. To make matters worse, they had the wrong guys. Dillinger and his crew were still inside the lodge.

Barking dogs you can ignore, but submachinegun fire will get your attention every time. Dillinger and the boys heard the shots and knew that the heat was on. They opened fire on the agents from the lodge. After throwing some hot lead at the G-men, the gang bolted for the door. Dillinger and two of his guys turned one way and made a clean getaway. Nelson turned the other way, and wound up at a nearby house in a car with the owner of the lodge and a neighbor.

A car containing two of the FBI agents and a local constable approached Nelson. Nelson pointed his gun at them, and ordered them out of the car. When they complied, Nelson shot all three of them. Agent W. Carter Baum was killed; Agent J. C. Newman and local constable Carl Christensen were injured.

The final tally: two dead (one lawman and one innocent bystander), four injured (two lawmen and two bystanders), no gangsters in custody.

Crimelibrary article on the Little Bohemia shootout

FBI History--Famous Cases: John Dillinger

FBI History--Famous Cases: "Baby Face" Nelson

FBI History--Hall of Honor: W. Carter Baum

Website for the Little Bohemia Restaurant (formerly the Little Bohemia Lodge)

WICKED WEASEL WEDNESDAY

2011-04-20T21:31:00.002-04:00

After two crime history posts about particularly heinous crimes, I figure it's time to shift gears here. And there's no better way to improve things than a nice scenery change. So we'll go from bloodthirsty weasels to a more acceptable type of weasel: the Wicked Weasel. I'm thinking I'm in need of a double shot of Wicked Weasel about now.

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: APRIL 20, 1999

2011-04-20T19:50:00.001-04:00

On this date in 1999, two teenage losers looking for infamy (which I will not contribute to by naming them here) went on a shooting spree at Columbine High School in Colorado. The attack was originally planned to be a bombing using IEDs made from propane tanks. The killers planned to wait outside and shoot people fleeing after the bombs detonated, but the bombs failed to detonate due to faulty construction. At that point, the killers approached the school and began shooting people. They entered the school where they continued their shooting spree. They eventually committed suicide in the school library after police had surrounded the school. Twelve students and a teacher died in the attack. Twenty-four students were injured.

Further reading:

Wikipedia - Columbine High School massacre

Slate - The Depressive and the Psychopath

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: APRIL 19, 1995

2011-04-19T18:49:00.003-04:00

On this date in 1995, a terrorist bomb was detonated outside the federal building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people, including 19 children under the age of six. Almost 700 people were injured.

An hour and a half after the bombing, an Oklahoma State Trooper pulled over a car that did not have a license plate. The driver, Timothy McVeigh, was arrested for unlawfully carrying a weapon. McVeigh was soon linked to the bombing by forensic evidence. The investigation led to accomplices Terry Nichols, Michael Fortier, and Fortier's wife Lori. McVeigh, Nichols and Fortier met while they were in the Army. They were motivated by the deadly raid on the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, TX by the FBI in 1993. The bombing took place on the anniversary of the raid.

McVeigh and Nichols were both convicted of murder and conspiracy. McVeigh was sentenced to death. He was executed by lethal injection on June 11, 2001. Nichols was sentenced to life without possibility of parole. He is currently housed at the Administrative Maximum (ADX) facility at the Florence Federal Correctional Complex in Florence, CO.

Michael Fortier agreed to testify against McVeigh and Nichols in exchange for immunity for his wife and a lighter sentence for him. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison and a $75,000 fine. He was released after 10 1/2 years and disappeared into the witness protection program.

Some people believe that there were more people involved with the bombing. Theories include involvement by members of militia groups and middle eastern terrorists. The FBI dismisses these theories and considers the case closed.

Further reading:

Oklahoma City Memorial & Museum

Wikipedia - Oklahoma City bombing

Were There More OKC Conspirators?: The Elohim City Connection (Presents evidence of militia group involvement in the bombing)

JaynaDavis.com - From Middle America To The Middle East (Presents evidence of a middle eastern connection to the bombing)

BABE OF THE WEEK

2011-04-18T19:49:00.003-04:00

This week's babe is actress Kiele Sanchez, who played Amanda in Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe, which aired last night on USA. In case you're curious: Yes, I did watch it. And yes, I did enjoy it. Bruce Campbell cracks me up. And having Kiele Sanchez to look at was an added bonus.

NOW PLAYING

2011-04-17T19:42:00.003-04:00

It's been a crappy weekend. Don't ask, I don't want to talk about it. Anyway, I figured maybe it might end on a high note, since Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe is on tonight. For a warmup, I dug deep into my video collection and found a VHS tape (yeah, I still own a VCR or two) of Dirty Harry. If some .44 caliber cinematic mayhem doesn't raise my spirits, nothing will.

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: APRIL 15, 1920

2011-04-15T14:00:00.001-04:00

On this date in 1920, an armed robbery in South Braintree, MA resulted in the deaths of a paymaster and a security guard. On May 5th, two men were arrested for the crime: Ferdinando Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti. The two men, both Italian-born anarchists, were tried, convicted, and sentenced to death. They were executed in the Massachusetts electric chair on August 23, 1927. Controversy still rages to this day as to the guilt of the men, but their conviction has yet to be overturned. Oh yeah, and they're still dead. I guess it's all academic at this point, isn't it?

Further reading:

The Sacco-Vanzetti Case

Wikipedia - Sacco and Vanzetti

FRIDAY MOVIE QUOTE

2011-04-15T06:00:00.002-04:00

"That's exactly why we want to produce this play. To show the world the true Hitler, the Hitler you loved, the Hitler you knew, the Hitler with a song in his heart."

-Max Bialystock (Zero Mostel), The Producers (1968)

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: APRIL 14, 1943

2011-04-14T18:03:00.000-04:00

On this date in 1943, four inmates tried to escape from the Alcatraz federal prison. The men, James Boarman, Harold Brest, Floyd Hamilton, and Fred Hunter, overpowered two guards in the industries area of the prison and tied them up. They climbed out the window and made their way to the water's edge.

While the would-be escapees were entering the water, one of the guards they had tied up managed to alert others of the escape attempt. The alarm was sounded, alerting the tower guards, who opened fire on the men. Boarman was hit. His body sank and was never recovered. Hunter and Brest were rounded up by guards. Hamilton, who was assumed to have died in the escape attempt, hid in a cave on the island until the search was over. Cold and hungry, he was caught three days later hiding in a store room in the prison.

Further reading:

Alcatraz History - Escape Attempts

BoP - Alcatraz

Wikipedia - Alcatraz escape attempts

WICKED WEASEL WEDNESDAY

2011-04-13T22:00:00.002-04:00

Seeing as how it's Wednesday, I guess I should be posting another Wicked Weasel.

SHOULDA GIVEN PEACE A CHANCE

2011-04-12T21:43:00.002-04:00

I saw this on Facebook today. Good stuff.

h/t: Linda

BONNIE AND CLYDE... NOT!

2011-04-12T10:00:00.003-04:00

Take a close look at the photos above. These two individuals may very well be the most pathetic criminals in history. Am I being too harsh? I'll let you be the judge.

Children's Lemonade Stand Robbed

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. -- Thirteen-year-old Chelsea Edwards says last weekend was the first time she ever tried her hand at a money-making venture.

The seventh-grader at Feagin Mill Middle School says it wasn't too long though before a couple showed up and soured her first business experience.

"The man bent down and seen the money jar, and he grabbed it," Edwards says, recalling what happened Saturday.

Edwards says a man and woman had approached the stand she was running with her two friends. She says they started asking questions about the price of lemonade.

That's when Edwards says the man reached down and snatched the jar of money she held between her legs.

"He flew in the car, and the girl was running after the car," Edwards says.

Houston County investigators say the couple is 20-year-old Gage Allen Turner and 21-year-old Amber Umbarger, both of Warner Robins.

Lt. John Holland says Turner got away in a white car that could be a 2010 Hyundai Accent.

He says Umbarger was left behind, and deputies quickly arrested her on the scene.

Just when I thought these two clowns couldn't be more pathetic…

Edwards says the pair made off with $130, but what's worse, she says the money wasn't for her.

"I was going to raise money from Logan Varnadoe, my cousin," she says.

Logan is 2-years-old, developmentally disabled, and has a rare intestinal disorder.

His mother, April Varnadoe, says her son will be sent to the Cincinnati Children's Hospital this week for treatment.

She had been raising money to go with him, and her niece Chelsea was helping.

(h/t: Drudge)

These two dumbasses are the poster children for bringing back the pillory; they're as heartless as they are brainless. Oh, and note to Amber: Time to get a new boyfriend, one who won't leave behind you to get arrested.

BABE OF THE WEEK

2011-04-11T20:25:00.005-04:00

This week's babe is Canadian actress Emmanuelle Chriqui. Just don't ask me how to pronounce her last name. I have no idea.

FRIGHT NIGHT, 2.0 (NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH FRIGHT NIGHT 2)

2011-04-10T21:26:00.003-04:00

In the comments on my latest Friday Movie Quote post, I learned from Pat Downey and le0pard13 that the 80s horror classic Fright Night is being remade. Yeah, I know, imagine that, Hollywood ripping itself off. Again.

Being the curious type, I went to IMDb to check out the Fright Night (2011) page. Jerry Dandridge (the vampire) is being played by Colin Farrell. OK, that sounds like a good choice. In the role of Charley, they cast Anton Yelchin (Chekov, from the latest incarnation of Star Trek). That could work too. Playing "Evil" Ed is Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Fogell/McLovin from Superbad). I'm less enthusiastic about this choice, but it isn't a deal-breaker. Amy is being played by an actress named Imogen Poots. I don't really have an opinion on this one. The real question for me is who will play aging horror host Peter Vincent, the role made famous by iconic actor Roddy McDowell. Vincent 2.0 will be none other than... David Tennant? OK, I have no idea who this guy is. And on top of that, their choice to play the aging horror host is a guy pushing 40? Are you freaking kidding me? That one might be a deal breaker.

I suppose I'll give the new Fright Night a try. I may wait until it hits cable, as trips to the theater are few and far between for me these days. If it sucks, there's always the original on DVD. That's one movie with a high re-watchability factor.

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: APRIL 9, 1934

2011-04-09T18:39:00.003-04:00

On this date in 1934, John Dillinger's girlfriend, Evelyn "Billie" Frechette, was arrested by G-men in Chicago and charged with harboring a fugitive. An angry Dillinger vowed to break her out of jail, but a girlfriend of one of his gang members talked him out of it. He did pay for her legal defense, but she wound up being convicted anyway. Billie Frechette spent two years in federal prison. When she was released in 1936, she toured the country in a theatrical show called Crime Doesn't Pay. Several members of Dillinger's family were also featured in the show. I guess sometimes crime does pay after all.

Further reading:

American Experience: Public Enemy #1 - Evelyn "Billie" Frechette, 1907-1969

Don't Call Us Molls - Evelyn "Billie" Frechette

FRIDAY MOVIE QUOTE

2011-04-08T06:00:00.001-04:00

“Apparently your generation doesn't want to see vampire killers anymore, nor vampires either. All they want to see is slashers running around in ski masks, hacking up young virgins.”

-Peter Vincent (Roddy McDowall), Fright Night (1985)

MUST-SEE TV

2011-04-07T20:33:00.003-04:00

The producers of USA network's Burn Notice have filmed a TV-movie prequel to the series called The Fall of Sam Axe, starring Bruce Campbell. Being a die-hard Burn Notice and Bruce Campbell fan, I'm really stoked to see this. The promo looks pretty good.

Burn Notice star Jeffrey Donovan directed. The movie airs April 7th on USA. Here's another promo:

WICKED WEASEL WEDNESDAY

2011-04-06T21:33:00.003-04:00

Hye kids, do you know what day it is? That's right, it'sWicked Weasel Wednesday!

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: APRIL 6, 1970

2011-04-06T07:00:00.002-04:00

On this date in 1970, four California Highway Patrol officers were killed in a shootout with two heavily armed criminals. Officers Walt Frago and Roger Gore initiated a felony traffic stop north of Newhall. The suspect vehicle was reportedly operated by a man who had brandished a gun during an altercation with a motorist earlier in the day. What the officers didn't know was that the two men in the car, Jack Twinning and Bobby Davis, were heavily armed and had just been practicing with their weapons in preparation for a planned robbery.

Officer Frago approached the car with a shotgun as Officer Gore covered Davis while Davis exited the car. Twining flung open the passenger side door and opened fire on Officer Frago with a revolver. When Officer Gore turned to engage Twining, Davis drew a gun and opened fire on Gore. As the two pairs of men exchanged gunfire, CHP Officers George Alleyn and James Pence arrived on the scene and joined the fight. All four officers were mortally wounded. Davis and Twining suffered only minor wounds at the hands of the officers and Gary Kness, a Marine Corps veteran who happened on the scene during the shootout and attempted to assist the officers by firing on the gunmen using one of the fallen officer's guns.

Davis and Twining grabbed some weapons and left the scene on foot as a third CHP cruiser arrived. Davis was arrested shortly afterward in a stolen camper. His ammo supply depleted, he offered minimal resistance to officers. Twining was cornered in a house a few miles from the scene of the shootout. After a standoff that lasted several hours, he took his own life with Officer Frago's shotgun.

Davis was tried, convicted and sentenced to death. His sentence was commuted to life in 1972 after a US Supreme Court ruling invalidated death penalties across the country.

Further reading:

LA Times - CHP Honors Slain Officers

Officer.com - April 6, 1970 Police tactics would never be the same

Wikipedia - Newhall massacre

BABE OF THE WEEK

2011-04-05T20:41:00.003-04:00

This week's babe is model/actress Sheena Lee. I'm a day late with this post, but I think this gal was worth the wait.

For all things Sheena Lee, check out her official website.

THE LINEUP #4

2011-04-05T06:00:00.007-04:00

Today, Nobody Move! is stop number 5 on The Lineup 4 blog tour. (Check out Gerald So's blog for information on stops 1-4 and future stops on the tour, which runs until the end of April.)

The Lineup 4 is a book of poetry that features poems about crime. It is, as it's name implies, the fourth in a series of books that are, to the best of my knowledge, the only crime-focused poetry collections in print.

I was fortunate to have received an advance copy of The Lineup 4 to review. There's a lot of good stuff there. One poem in particular has really made an impression on me: "Slider, Part 7", by crime fiction author Reed Farrel Coleman.

"Slider, Part 7" is about a particularly heinous crime, a war crime. It appears to have been inspired by the massacre at Babi Yar, outside Kiev, in World War II. Over thirty thousand Jews were killed by the SS over a period of two days in 1941. Thousands more were murdered in the following months.

Coleman writes from the perspective of a witness to the murders. He manages to capture the almost mechanical process by which the innocent were robbed of their humanity and their lives. The killers committed murder after murder with a detached demeanor more appropriate to killing a fly. Then they disposed of the bodies like yesterday's trash. "Slider, Part 7" has been stuck in my head since I read it, and it'll be there for some time, I think.

The Lineup 4 was edited by Gerald So with Reed Farrel Coleman, Sarah Cortez, and R. Narvaez. Click this link for purchase information.

A PROGRAMMING NOTE

2011-04-04T19:32:00.003-04:00

The Babe of the Week post will up tomorrow night. Sorry, Charlie. (I'm referring to this Charlie, not this one.) Tomorrow, Nobody Move! will be the latest stop on The Lineup 4 Blog Tour.

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: APRIL 4, 1968

2011-04-04T07:02:00.003-04:00

On this day in 1968, civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, TN. The following June, a fugitive named James Earl Ray was arrested in London and extradited to the United States. Ray would eventually plead guilty to the murder. He later tried unsuccessfully to withdraw the plea. He was sentenced to 99 years in prison. Ray died in 1998 at the age of 70.

Further reading:

About.com - Martin Luther King Jr. Assassinated

Wikipedia - Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: APRIL 3, 1882

2011-04-03T08:00:00.001-04:00

On this date in 1882, legendary outlaw Jesse James was shot and killed in St. Joseph, MO by an outlaw named Bob Ford. Ford and his brother Charley attempted to claim a reward that had been offered for James, but the only reward they received was arrest and indictment for murder. They pled guilty and were sentenced to death, but a pardon from the governor spared them the hangman's noose.

Charley Ford, suffering from tuberculosis, committed suicide in 1884. Bob was killed in 1892, shot in the back by a man named Edward O'Kelley. Sounds like poetic justice to me.

Further reading:

Legends of America: Jesse James - Folklore Hero or Cold-Blooded Killer?

St. Joseph History - Jesse James

Wikipedia - Robert Ford (outlaw)

Here's the trailer for the movie The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. I watched this recently on DVD and really enjoyed it. Brad Pitt gave a great performance as Jesse James, but Casey Affleck really stole the show as Robert Ford.

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: APRIL 2, 1992

2011-04-02T08:00:00.002-04:00

On this date in 1992, the teflon had finally worn off the Teflon Don; after several tries, federal prosecutors finally convicted Gambino crime family boss John Gotti. Gotti, who was convicted of racketeering and murder charges, was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole. He died of cancer in June 2002 at the United States Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, MO.

Further reading:

truTV - John Gotti: The Last Mafia Icon

Seize the Night - John Gotti (1940-2002), Former Godfather

Gangsters Inc. - John Gotti Sr.

FRIDAY MOVIE QUOTE

2011-04-01T06:00:00.001-04:00

"I'm afraid I'm gonna have to pull rank on you. I didn't want to have to do this. I'm with the Mattress Police. There are no tags on these mattresses."

-Irwin "Fletch" Fletcher (Chevy Chase), Fletch (1985)

WICKED WEASEL WEDNESDAY

2011-03-30T20:18:00.001-04:00

It's time once again for your weekly dose of Wicked Weasel.

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: MARCH 30, 1981

2011-03-30T06:00:00.002-04:00

On this date in 1981, a pathetic loser named John Hinckley, Jr. made a play for the attention of actress Jodie Foster by attempting to assassinate President Ronald Reagan. President Reagan and three others were wounded in the attempt. Hinckley, who wound up buried under a mountain of Secret Service agents and cops, was arrested at the scene. He was later found not guilty by reason of insanity. He was confined to St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington, DC, and is now allowed out to visit his mommy a dozen times a year. Still no date with Jodie Foster, though. Keep the faith, Johnny, she'll be stopping by any day now.

Further reading:

The Trial of John Hinckley

Wikipedia - Reagan assassination attempt

100 HUNDRED YEARS AGO TODAY

2011-03-29T18:33:00.003-04:00

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the fire in the New York State Capitol. The fire, which began before dawn, started in the Assembly Library before spreading to the New York State Library.

It took more than half an hour before the first alarm was sounded at the Albany Fire Department. Even with over 150 firefighters fighting the blaze, it was hours before the fire was under control. The fire resulted in the death of one person, Samuel Abbott, a 78 year old Civil War veteran who was working as a night watchman in the Capitol. The fire also caused the destruction of hundreds of thousands of documents and books.

The Capitol fire came four days after the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist fire in New York City. The two fires led to legislation requiring improved fire safety standards.

Legend has it that the ghost of Samuel Abbott haunts the Capitol.

NY marks 100th anniversary of 1911 Capitol fire

BABE OF THE WEEK

2011-03-28T20:48:00.002-04:00

This week's babe is actress, model and DWTS contestant (and winner) Kelly Monaco.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LEONARD NIMOY

2011-03-26T08:22:00.003-04:00

Happy Birthday to actor, director, author, and photographer Leonard Nimoy, who boldly goes where William Shatner went earlier this week: the big 8-0. If you're interested, You can check out Mr. Nimoy's photography at this site.

FRIDAY MOVIE QUOTE

2011-03-25T19:53:00.002-04:00

"We do not train to be merciful here. Mercy is for the weak. Here, on the street, in competition; a man confronts you, he is the enemy. An enemy deserves no mercy."

-John Kreese (Martin Kove), The Karate Kid (1984)

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: MARCH 24, 1934

2011-03-24T08:00:00.001-04:00

On this date in 1934, Harry Pierpont and Charles Makley were sentenced to die in the electric chair for the murder of Allen County, OH Sheriff Jesse Sarber. Sheriff Sarber was shot and killed when the outlaws broke their friend John Dillinger out of the Allen County jail in Lima, OH. Two days after Pierpont and Makley were sentenced, their accomplice Russell Clark was sentenced to life in prison for the murder.

Further reading:

truTV - John Dillinger

Auburn Citizen - Dillinger Gang Member Gets Life