Taking a stroll through the intriguing labyrinth of True Crime History today, we turn a spotlight on the remarkable events of November 23rd. Life’s sequential patchwork unfolds fascinating narratives every day. Chalked full of insight, excitement, and mystery — every date holds within it untold stories waiting to be unravelled.
1789: 🕵🏼♀️ Anne Davis: The Unfortunate First Female to be Executed in Australia for Theft
On this fateful day in 1789, Anne Davis suffered a horrifying end as she became the first female to be executed in Australia. Her dire tale kicks off in 1786 in England, where she was prosecuted for swiping eight pairs of silk socks valued at 8 shillings. Convicted at the Old Bailey, her sentence — a total of seven years in transportation — escorted her to the unfamiliar terrain of Sydney Cove. At Sydney Cove, the desperate Anne Davis committed yet another act of larceny. This time, her victims were the convict Robert Sidaway and Mary Marshal. Caught red-handed with stolen items and subsequently found guilty, she made a desperate effort to avoid the ultimate punishment — claiming she was pregnant. A committee of respectable older women inspected her physical state. One, aged between 60 and 70 years, confirmed to the courthouse’s gentlemen that Ann Davis was pregnant as much as she herself was, thus sealing the unfortunate woman’s harsh fate. On November 23, 1789, Anne Davis faced the end — becoming the first woman on the continent to meet her end at the gallows. ⚖️🌐🔒
1859: 🤠 The Genesis of The Fabled Outlaw Billy the Kid
This day, back in 1859, marked the birth of Henry McCarty, better known to the world as Billy the Kid. An infamous outlaw and a prominent part of the American Wild West’s colourful tapestry, he painted an enduring image of his lawless personality. The crux of Billy the Kid’s life swirls around his antics during the Lincoln County War — a bloody clash between rival clusters in Lincoln County, New Mexico. His role as a gunslinger and outlaw during this period won him notoriety and a bounty on his head, putting him at the heart of a manhunt. Billy the Kid’s knack for eluding capture and escaping sticky situations and his gun-toting reputation cemented his mythical status. His life didn’t last long; at just 21, he was shot dead by Sheriff Pat Garrett. Yet, Billy the Kid’s legend lives on in movies, books, and countless works of fiction, symbolizing the compelling mystique of the American Wild West. 🌵🤠🔫
1910: ⚖️ Sweden Hosts Its Final Guillotine Execution
Today, in 1910, Sweden marked a significant finale to a grisly chapter in its past. Johan Alfred Ander, who mercilessly killed Victoria Hellsten during a robbery, became the last person to witness the terror of the guillotine. His crime sent shockwaves through the nation. Drowning in financial troubles, Ander targeted a Currency Exchange Agency in Stockholm, escaping with a significant sum that equates to nearly $50,000 today. The aftermath was not as smooth as Ander might have hoped. His strange behaviour at a nearby hotel did not go unnoticed by the staff, who alerted the authorities. Police swiftly tracked him down, finding Hellsten’s wallet, blood-stained money, and the possible murder weapon in his possession. Despite protesting his innocence during the trial and refusing to plead for mercy from the King, Ander was declared guilty and met his end under the blade of the French-imported guillotine. What came after his death was a medical revelation — doctors found tuberculosis, a largely fatal disease back then, in his body. ⚖️💀
1921: 🚫 The Anti-Spirited Act: President Warren G. Harding Signs the Anti-Beer Bill
On today’s date in 1921, U.S. President Warren G. Harding made history by signing the Willis-Campbell Act, also known as the anti-beer bill, into law. The bill effectively barred physicians from prescribing beer or liquor for medical treatments — a loophole exploited by some to circumvent the temperance movement’s strict alcohol control. It paved the way for the larger goal of the temperance movement — nationwide prohibition, enacted with the 18th Amendment to the Constitution in 1920. The age of Prohibition saw a complete ban on the production, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages until 1933. 🍺🚫🏥
1945: 🏴 The Birth of the Sinister Scotsman: Serial Killer Dennis Nilsen
Dennis Nilsen, a serial killer hailing from Scotland, came into the world on this day in 1945. Unlike many infamous killers known for their disturbing childhood trauma, Nilsen’s early life gave no hint of his dark tendencies. A seemingly harmless and lonely character, Nilsen hid a monstrous side beneath the surface. He chilled the spine with a terrifying motive — killing to preserve his victims’ corpses as companions. His gruesome crimes surfaced due to a simple plumbing issue at his home in Cranley Gardens. In February 1983, a local plumber responded to a drain clog complaint and stumbled upon a nightmarish discovery — the drain was blocked with what looked like flesh and tiny bones. Further investigation linked the blockage to Nilsen’s upper-level flat. The remains were identified as human, and a pathologist confirmed it. Confronted at his doorstep, Nilsen was found guilty of six murders and two attempted murders, casting a dark shadow over the UK’s crime history.
1996: 😢 Hijacking Ends in a Heartbreaking Airline Disaster
November 23, 1996, witnessed a catastrophic aviation mishap when Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961, a Boeing 767 aircraft, was hijacked during its flight from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to Nairobi, Kenya. The hijackers, desperate for political asylum in Australia, seized control of the plane and dictated the pilots to navigate towards their chosen destination. Realizing their fuel was not sufficient to reach Australia, negotiations with the hijackers proved futile. With the plane’s fuel reserves depleted over the Indian Ocean near the Comoros Islands, the pilots fought a losing battle with the descent as the hijackers harried them. Tragedy struck as the aeroplane plunged into the sea. The sorrowful incident led to the unfortunate demise of 125 people, including the hijackers. Among the survivors were 50 passengers and crew, including Captain Leul Abate, who retired from his career in 2019. 🙏✈️😭
2009: 📰 A Brutal Massacre Marks a Black Day in Philippine History
Today, back in 2009, the southern Philippines was shaken by a gruesome event resulting in one of the deadliest assaults on journalists ever recorded. The world gasped as 57 innocent people, including 34 journalists, were ruthlessly killed. On route to registering voters in favour of Esmael Mangudadatu’s run for gubernatorial elections in the Maguindanao province, these individuals were ambushed and gunned down. Along with politicians and their supporters, 34 journalists documenting the important civic event were also among the victims. 😢
That concludes our time travel on November 23rd. It’s noteworthy to remember that the happenings of today may just end up being the tales recounted tomorrow. So, don’t forget to secure your spot on a Dark Stories True Crime Tour in the near future!
