Gnawed Bones, a Wild Dog, and a Tragic Story from the Washington Post in 1941
1941 Washington Post Tale: Grim Discovery of Gnawed Bones & a Wild Dog in Kingman’s Lake. Unravel the mystery of Omara Wilson’s fate.
Crime
96 Years Before District of Columbia v. Heller: Purchasing a Firearm at National Sporting Goods Co.
96 years before District of Columbia v. Heller, purchasing a firearm in DC was a much simpler affair. Learn about National Sporting Goods Co. in 1912 and their bargain prices on 12 gauge Remington automatics and revolvers.
Senator John Stennis Shot in Northwest Washington in 1973
In January 1973, Senator John Stennis of Mississippi was shot in the chest and leg outside his Northwest DC home. He survived 6 1/2 hours of surgery and two Washington teenagers were charged.
14th Street’s Lost Red Light District: From Combat Zone to Cocktail Bars
Before the cocktail bars and rooftop restaurants, 14th Street NW was Washington’s red light district. Here’s how it happened and how it ended.
Dr. Clark Johnson’s Indian Blood Syrup: Washington DC’s Famous Patent Medicine
Clark Johnson’s Indian Blood Syrup was one of Washington DC’s most famous patent medicines. Here is the story of the doctor, the fraud, and the cure-all that wasn’t.
Edward M. Fossler’s Tragic Death at the New Willard Hotel in 1903
This macabre story from the Washington Post in 1903 chronicles the tragic death of Edward M. Fossler, an elevator conductor at the New Willard Hotel. Learn more about this gruesome accident and the hotel that wasn’t even fully complete yet.
Tragedy on Klingle Ford Bridge: The 1925 Fatal Wreck of Henry Thayer and His Family
On June 16th, 1925, the Thayer family veered off Klingle Ford Bridge on Connecticut Avenue, plunging 75 feet and resulting in the death of Mr. Thayer and his daughter. Read the tragic story of the Thayer family’s fatal wreck and the sole survivor, baby Miriam Macias.
The Last Execution by Hanging in the District: The Tale of Herbert Copeland
Learn the story of Herbert Copeland, the last person to be executed by hanging in the District. Copeland was a cop killer who had murdered three policemen in cold blood in 1918. He was captured and eventually hanged in 1925, leaving behind a confession with details of his escape and other unsolved murders.
Uncovering the Brutal Criminal Underworld of Washington DC’s Chinatown in the 1920s
Seven men were shot dead by tong hatchet men in Washington’s Chinatown in the 1920s. Not one shooter was ever arrested.