On this date in the annals of True Crime History, we’re looking back at the events of February 15th.

1564: 🌌 The Arrivial of Galileo, Known as the Heresy Convict and the Forefather of Science

It was on this day in 1564 that celebrated Italian scientist and astronomer, Galileo Galilei came into the world.

In 1633, Galileo was condemned for heresy by the Roman Catholic Inquisition. His endorsement of the heliocentric theory, which proposed that the Earth and other planets revolve around the Sun, was in stark opposition to the Church’s geocentric beliefs that put the Earth at the universe’s center.

Despite Galileo’s attempts to reconcile his discoveries with religious text, the Inquisition found him guilty of defying a 1616 proclamation that prohibited the belief, instruction, or defense of the heliocentric theory.

Forced to retract his theories, Galileo spent the last period of his life under the sentence of house arrest.

Interestingly, Galileo’s middle finger was taken from his dead body in the 18th century and it is now presented in the Museo Galileo in Florence, Italy. 🌠🔭📚

1796: 🌳 The Final End of John Black Caesar, Australia’s Prototypical Bushranger

On this same day in 1796, John Black Caesar, considered Australia’s inaugural bushranger and a character from Australia’s early prisoner history, breathed his last.

Born around 1763, possibly in Madagascar, Caesar’s complicated journey led him from English servant, transported to Botany Bay for thievery, to becoming a famous bushranger in New South Wales’ colony.

Even though he was acknowledged for his hardwork, Caesar’s insatiable tendencies led him to continue theft, resulting in further sentences and escapes into the bush, where he made do by surviving off the land. These repeated run-ins with local Aboriginal communities and colonial government quickly established his reputation.

His last dash to freedom occurred in December 1795, leading a band of fellow escapees, cementing his repute as Australia’s initial bushranger. His pursuit came to a tragic end when he was shot dead, but he had already made his mark in Australian history.

1872: ⚖️The Sentence is Death for the Criminals Charcoal and Tommy

On this day, way back in 1872, Charcoal and Tommy met their fate for the killing of Samuel Lazenby during a pearl-collecting trip at Port Walcott, Western Australia.

The innocent trip went dramatically wrong when Lazenby didn’t make it back, with his disappearance shrouded in duplicity and violence. The follow-up investigation unveiled Lazenby’s half-buried body, identified by unique features in his jawbone and the clothes he was last seen in.

Charcoal and Tommy were arrested and placed on trial in light of overwhelming evidence. Eyewitness testimonies, together with Lazenby’s recovered possessions and pieces of his boat found with them, culminated in their guilt. Despite their pleas of innocence, the jury was single-minded in their guilty verdict. 🎣⚖️🕵️‍♂️