38th year - N° 365 Sunday, 31 December 2023

BIRTH(+)FACT(᙮)DEATH(-)
38th year - N° 365 Sunday, 31 December 2023

31 December / Today's 30 Events:

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(-) 1688 years ago Tuesday 31st of December 0335 33rd Pope Silvester I dies of unknown causes in Rome, Lazio, Italy.

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(+) 645 years ago Thursday 31st of December 1378 209th Pope Callixtus III, originally Alfons de Borja is born in Valencia, Valencia, Spain.

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(+) 509 years ago Thursday 31st of December 1514 Anatomist and physician Andreas Vesalius, originally Andries van Wesel is born in Brussel, Brabant, Belgium.

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(+) 154 years ago Friday 31st of December 1869 Artist Henri Émile-Benoît Matisse is born in Le Cateau-Cambrésis, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.

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(-) 146 years ago Monday 31st of December 1877 Painter Gustave Jean Désiré Courbet dies of a liver disease aggravated by heavy drinking at the age of 58 in La Tour-de-Peilz, Vaud, Switzerland.

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(-) 125 years ago Saturday 31st of December 1898 Serial killer Joseph Vacher aka L'Eventreur du Sud-Est is executed by the Guillotine at the age of 29 in Bourg-en-Bresse, Rhône-Alpes, France.

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(+) 125 years ago Saturday 31st of December 1898 Singer and actress Umm Kulthum, originally Fātimah ʾIbrāhīm as-Sayyid al-Biltāǧī aka The Nightingale of the Nile is born in Tamay e-Zahayra, El Senbellawein, Dakahlia, Egypt. Some sources say Kulthum was born on 4 May 1904.

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(+) 115 years ago Thursday 31st of December 1908 Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal is born in Buczacz, Ternopil Oblast, Ukraine.

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(x) 101 years ago Sunday 31st of December 1922 The Goetheanum, built by 61-year-old Philosopher, social reformer, architect and esotericist Rudolf Joseph Lorenz Steiner aka The Father of Anthroposophy is destroyed by arson during the night of New Year's Eve in Goetheanum, Dornach, Solothurn, Switzerland. One suspect was Jakob Ott, a clockmaker and anthroposophist with positions opposite to those of Steiner. He was seen at the crime scene and most likely died in the fire. However a later report in 2007 claimed he was there to help put the fire out.

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(+) 86 years ago Friday 31st of December 1937 Actor Anthony Philip Hopkins known for his portrayal of Hannibal Lecter in the movie ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ is born in Margam, Port Talbot, Wales, United Kingdom.

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(+) 80 years ago Friday 31st of December 1943 Actor Ben Kingsley, originally Krishna Bhanji is born in Snainton, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom.

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(+) 80 years ago Friday 31st of December 1943 Singer-songwriter John Denver, originally Henry John Deutschendorf is born in Roswell, New Mexico, United States.

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(+) 75 years ago Friday 31st of December 1948 Singer-songwriter Donna Summer, originally LaDonna Adrian Gaines aka The Queen of Disco is born in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.

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(+) 64 years ago Thursday 31st of December 1959 Actor Val Edward Kilmer is born in Los Angeles, California, United States.

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(+) 63 years ago Saturday 31st of December 1960 Serial killer John Allen Muhammad, originally John Allen Williams aka The Beltway Sniper is born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States.

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(-) 61 years ago Monday 31st of December 1962 Patricia Bissette is raped and strangled by serial killer Albert DeSalvo aka The Boston Strangler aka The Measuring Man aka The Green Man in 515 Park Drive, Back Bay, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.

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(-) 57 years ago Saturday 31st of December 1966 Tuula Hoeoek is presumably battered to death by Satan worshipper and serial rapist Edward Paisnel aka The Beast of Jersey in Rue Laurens, St. Clement, Jersey, United Kingdom. In July 2013 the case was reopened.

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(x) 56 years ago Sunday 31st of December 1967 An unidentified woman is raped and robbed by serial killer Gustaaf Van Eyken aka De Vampier van Muizen in Wielewaalreservaat Zellaar, Bonheiden, Antwerpen, Belgium.

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(-) 54 years ago Wednesday 31st of December 1969 Labor leader of the United Mine Workers Joseph Albert Yablonski aka Jock is shot dead in his house by three hitmen hired by a union political opponent at the age of 59 in East Bethlehem Township, Clarksville, Pennsylvania, United States. Yablonski's wife Margaret and 25-year-old daughter Charlotte were also shot dead. Their bodies were found on 5 January 1970 by Yablonski's son Kenneth.

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(-) 43 years ago The Medium of the Message was Dead Wednesday 31st of December 1980 Philosopher Marshall Herbert McLuhan known for “the medium is the message” dies of complications from a stroke at the age of 69 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

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(x) 41 years ago Friday 31st of December 1982 Toshimitsu Ozawa is attacked by serial killer Dennis Nilsen aka Killing For Company in 23 Cranley Gardens, Muswell Hill, London, Greater London, United Kingdom.

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(x) 39 years ago Monday 31st of December 1984 37-year-old Bernhard Hugo Goetz aka The Subway Vigilante turns himself in for the shooting of four robbers in a subway train in Concord, New Hampshire, United States. Goetz shot them on a New York City Subway train in Manhattan on 22 December 1984.

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(-) 38 years ago Tuesday 31st of December 1985 Teen idol Ricky Eric Hilliard Nelson dies in a Douglas DC-3 plane crash at the age of 45 in US-82, De Kalb, Texas, United States. Seven of the nine occupants were killed: Nelson and his 27-year-old companion Helen Blair, 35-year-old bass guitarist Patrick Woodward, 22-year-old drummer Rick Intveld, 34-year-old keyboardist Andy Chapin, 38-year-old guitarist Bobby Neal, and 35-year-old road manager/soundman Donald Clark Russell. Pilots Ken Ferguson and Brad Rank escaped via cockpit windows, although Ferguson was severely burned.

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(x) 37 years ago Wednesday 31st of December 1986 Noise music band Club Moral play their 61st concert at the New Noise Year's Party in Club Moral, Kattenberg 122, Borgerhout, Antwerpen, Antwerpen, Belgium. Also played: H64, Con-Dom, Victor/im, Iron Brotherhood, Export

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(x) 37 years ago Wednesday 31st of December 1986 97 die in Dupont Plaza Hotel fire in Dupont Plaza, San Juan, Puerto Rico. The fire was set with the intention of scaring tourists away by Héctor Escudero Aponte, José Rivera López and Arnaldo Jiménez Rivera, three disgruntled employees of the hotel who were in the middle of a labor dispute with the owners.

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(-) 30 years ago Friday 31st of December 1993 First democratically elected President of Georgia in the post-Soviet era Zviad Gamsakhurdia commits suicide by a shot in the head at the age of 54 in Khibula, Mingrelia, Georgia. Gamsakhurdia shot himself when he and a group of colleagues found the building where he was sheltering surrounded by forces of the pro-Shevardnadze Mkhedrioni militia.

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24 years ago The Eyes had it Friday 31st of December 1999 An actor on a street stage in Pahurat, Bangkok, Central Thailand, Thailand.

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(x) 16 years ago Monday 31st of December 2007 77-year-old Attempted assassin of President Gerald Ford Sara Jane Kahn Moore is released from prison on parole after serving 32 years of her life sentence in Federal Correctional Institution, Dublin, California, United States.

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3 years ago The Eyes had it Thursday 31st of December 2020 A rainbow standing on the beach in San Rocco, Mariakerke, Oostende, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

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(-) 1 years ago Saturday 31st of December 2022 265th Pope Benedictus XVI , originally Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger dies of old age at the age of 95 in Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, Vatican City, Rome, Lazio, Italy.

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38th year - N° 364 Saturday, 30 December 2023

BIRTH(+)FACT(᙮)DEATH(-)
38th year - N° 364 Saturday, 30 December 2023

30 December / Today's 31 Events:

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(-) 432 years ago Monday 30th of December 1591 230th Pope Innocentius IX, originally Giovanni Antonio Facchinetti dies of unknown causes at the age of 72 in Vatican City, Rome, Lazio, Italy.

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(x) 413 years ago Thursday 30th of December 1610 50-year-old Countess and serial killer Erzsébet de Ecsed Báthory aka Die Blutfrau and four of her servants, who were accused of being her accomplices: Dorotya Semtész, Ilona Jó, Katarína Benická and János Újváry aka Ibis aka Fickó are arrested in Csejte Vára, Čachtice, Trenčín, Slowakia. One girl was found dead and one dying in Báthory's castle.

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(+) 158 years ago Saturday 30th of December 1865 Writer Rudyard Joseph Kipling known for his novel ‘Jungle Book’ is born in J.J. School, Bombay, Bombay Presidency, India.

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(+) 137 years ago Thursday 30th of December 1886 Artist and occultist Austin Osman Spare is born in Bloomfield House, Bloomfield Place, King Street, Snow Hill, London, Greater London, United Kingdom.

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(x) 120 years ago Wednesday 30th of December 1903 605 die in Iroquois Theatre fire in Iroquois Theatre, 24–28 West Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois, United States. At the beginning of the second act, a dance number in the popular Drury Lane musical 'Mr. Bluebeard', was in progress when an arc light shorted out and sparks ignited a muslin curtain.

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(+) 114 years ago Thursday 30th of December 1909 Victim of Fritz Haarmann aka Der Hannover Werwolf Heinz Martin is born in Chemnitz, Sachsen, Germany.

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(+) 113 years ago Friday 30th of December 1910 Composer and writer Paul Frederic Bowles is born in Queens, New York, New York, United States.

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(-) 107 years ago He Asked for Some Madeira Wine Saturday 30th of December 1916 Mystic and self-proclaimed holy man Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin aka The Mad Monk is assassinated by a group of conservative noblemen led by Felix Yusupov at the age of 47 in Moika Palace, St. Petersburg, Northwestern Federal District, Russia. Yusupov offered Rasputin tea and cakes which had been laced with cyanide. To Yusupov's surprise Rasputin did not appear to be affected by the poison. Rasputin then asked for some Madeira wine (which had also been poisoned) and drank three glasses but still showed no sign of distress. At around 2:30 am Yusupov excused himself to go upstairs where his fel low conspirators were waiting. Taking a revolver from Dmitry Pavlovich, Yusupov returned to the basement and, referring to a crucifix that was in the room, told Rasputin that he'd "better look at the crucifix and say a prayer" then shot him once in the chest. Believing him to be dead they then drove to Rasputin's apartment with Sukhotin wearing Rasputin's coat and hat in an attempt to make it look as though Rasputin had returned home that night. Upon returning to the Moika Palace, Yusupov went back to the basement to ensure that Rasputin was dead. Suddenly Rasputin leapt up and attacked Yusupov, who freed himself and fled upstairs. Rasputin followed and made it into the palace's courtyard before being shot by Vladimir Purishkevich and collapsing into a snowbank.

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(+) 95 years ago He Originated Sunday 30th of December 1928 Musician Bo Diddley, originally Ellas Otha Bates aka The Originator is born in McComb, Mississippi, United States.

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(-) 91 years ago Friday 30th of December 1932 Trained nurse and triple murderess Daisy de Melker, originally Daisy Louisa Hancorn-Smith is executed by hanging at the age of 46 in Pretoria Central Prison, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. De Melker poisoned her husband and son with arsenic. Two other husbands and four children had died suspiciously.

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(+) 89 years ago He Was no Runaway Sunday 30th of December 1934 Singer-songwriter and musician Del Shannon, originally Charles Weedon Westover is born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States.

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(-) 86 years ago Thursday 30th of December 1937 Child killer Frederick Nodder aka Uncle Fred Hudson is executed by hanging by Thomas Pierrepoint at the age of 50 in Lincoln Prison, Greetwell Road, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom.

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(-) 82 years ago Tuesday 30th of December 1941 Artist, designer, photographer and architect El Lazar Markovich Lissitzky dies of tuberculosis at the age of 51 in Moscow, Central Federal District, Russia.

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(+) 77 years ago Monday 30th of December 1946 Poet and musician Patti Patricia Lee Smith aka The Godmother of Punk is born in Chicago, Illinois, United States.

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(-) 76 years ago Tuesday 30th of December 1947 Art forger Han Henricus Antonius van Meegeren dies of a heart attack at the age of 58 in Valeriuskliniek, Valeriusplein, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands.

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(x) 67 years ago Sunday 30th of December 1956 41-year-old Art vandal Hugo Unzaga Villegas throws a brick at Leonardo Da Vinci's 'Mona Lisa' in Musée du Louvre, Ier, Paris, Île-de-France, France. A psychiatric report on Villegas by Dr. Gouriou on 14 January 1957 found that the man was insane, heard strange voices, and had intended to murder the Argentinean dictator Juan Perón but went instead for the less well protected Mona Lisa.

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(+) 64 years ago Wednesday 30th of December 1959 Actress and comedian Tracey Ullman, originally Trace is born in Slough, Berkshire, United Kingdom.

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(+) 57 years ago Friday 30th of December 1966 Murderer Stanley Allison Baker is born in Paris, Île-de-France, France. Baker's father was in the US Army in Paris.

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(-) 53 years ago Wednesday 30th of December 1970 Boxer Sonny Charles Liston dies of a heroin overdose at the age of 38 in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Liston was found by his wife Geraldine returning home from a two-week trip on 5 January 1971.

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(x) 49 years ago It Didn't Work Out Monday 30th of December 1974 16-year-old School shooter Anthony Barbaro known for the Olean High School shooting  indiscriminately shoots at people on the street from windows at the third floor of the school building with a Remington .30-06-caliber rifle with telescopic sight and a 12-gauge shotgun in Olean High School, Olean, New York, United States. 62-year-old Earl Metcalf, 58-year-old Neal Pilon and 25-year-old Carmen Wright Drayton were killed and another 11 people were injured during the shooting. In a note explaining his motives Barbaro wrote: "I guess I just wanted to kill the person I hate most -- myself, I just didn't have the courage. I wanted to die, but I couldn't do it, so I had to get someone to do it for me. It didn't work out."

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(x) 46 years ago The Police Believed Him Friday 30th of December 1977 Robert Donnelly is raped and tortured by serial killer John Wayne Gacy aka The Killer Clown in 8213 West Summerdale Avenue, Cook, Chicago, Illinois, United States. After several hours of assaulting and torturing the youth Gacy drove Donnelly to his place of work, removed the handcuffs from the youth's wrists and released him. Donnelly reported the assault and Gacy was questioned about it on 6 January 1978. Gacy admitted to having had 'slave-sex' with Donnelly but insisted everything was consensual. The police believed him and no charges were filed.

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(x) 45 years ago Saturday 30th of December 1978 32-year-old Serial killer Ted Theodore Robert Bundy aka The Only Living Witness escapes in County Jail, 107 8th Street, Glenwood Springs, Colorado, United States. Bundy piled books and files in his bunk bed under a blanket to simulate his sleeping body and slipped into the crawlspace above his cell. He broke through the ceiling into the apartment of the chief jailer who was out for the evening with his wife, changed into street clothes from the jailer's closet and walked out the front door to freedom.

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(-) 45 years ago Saturday 30th of December 1978 Stephen Dean Holmes is strangled and drowned by serial killer Dennis Nilsen aka Killing For Company in 195 Melrose Avenue, London, Greater London, United Kingdom. Holmes was Nilsen's first victim. Holmes' dead body remained beneath the floorboards for almost eight months before Nilsen built a bonfire in the garden behind his flat and burned it on 11 August 1979.

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(-) 41 years ago Thursday 30th of December 1982 David M. Block is stabbed to death by serial killer Larry Eyler aka The Leather Boy Killer in Deerfield, Illinois, United States. Block's body was found on 7 May 1984 in Zion, Illinois.

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(-) 36 years ago Wednesday 30th of December 1987 Mass murderer Robert J. Dreesman commits suicide by a shot in the head at the age of 40 in Algona, Iowa, United States. During a family reunion Dreesman shot dead his parents 79-year-old John and 74-year-old Agnes Dreesman, his widowed sister Marilyn Chuang and her three children 12-year-old Jason, 11-year-old Jennifer and 8-year-old Joshua.

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(x) 27 years ago Monday 30th of December 1996 Over 100 die in Brahmaputra Mail passenger train bomb explosion in Fakiragram, Assam, India. The Indian government blamed the attack on an Assamese separatist organisation Bodo Security Force.

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(x) 24 years ago He Wasn't Auditioning for the Traveling Wilburys Thursday 30th of December 1999 56-year-old Guitarist and singer-songwriter George Harrison known from the Beatles is attacked with a kitchen knife by 34-year-old paranoid schizophrenic Michael Abram in his home in Friar Park, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. Harrison was hospitalised with more than 40 stab wounds and part of his punctured lung was removed. Harrison released a statement soon afterwards regarding his assailant: "He wasn't a burglar and he certainly wasn't auditioning for the Traveling Wilburys."

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(x) 19 years ago People Would not Enter Without Paying Thursday 30th of December 2004 194 die in República Cromañón nightclub fire in República Cromañón, 3060/3066/3070 Bartolomé Mitre, Balvanera, Buenos Aires, Gran Buenos Aires, Argentina. The blaze was started when a pyrotechnic flare was set off during a concert by the rock group 'Callejeros', and ignited foam in the ceiling. Four of the six doors had been wired shut to keep out "people who would not enter without paying".

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(-) 17 years ago Saturday 30th of December 2006 Dictator of Iraq Saddam Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti Hussein is executed by hanging at the age of 69 in Camp Justice, Al-Kāẓimiyyah, Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.

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17 years ago The Eyes had it Saturday 30th of December 2006 Detail of a blood painting by Hermann Nitsch in a retrospective exhibition in Martin-Gropius-Bau, Niederkirchnerstraße 7, Kreuzberg, Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

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(-) 14 years ago Wednesday 30th of December 2009 Doctor and a double agent suicide bomber Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi aka Abu Dujana al-Khurasani commits suicide by suicide bombing at the age of 32 in Camp Chapman, Khost, Khost, Afghanistan. Seven American CIA officers and contractors, an officer of Jordan's intelligence service and an Afghan working for the CIA were killed when al-Balawi detonated a bomb sewn into a vest he was wearing. Six other American CIA officers were wounded.

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