The First Electric Chair Execution

On this episode, Beard Laws and Meg discuss the story of the first electric chair execution that during a vacation to Lake Placid, the hosts stumbled upon a tasting room for Prison City Brewery and learned about the story behind one of their beers called Crispy Boys. This led to a discussion about the history of the electric chair and the infamous execution of William Kemmler. The episode explores the context of capital punishment in the late 19th century, the battle between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse over electrical currents, and the development of the electric chair. The botched execution of Kemmler raised ethical questions about the death penalty and the methods used to carry it out.

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Episode Highlights

Lake Placid is home to Prison City Brewery, which has a beer called Crispy Boys with a controversial name.

The electric chair was developed as a more humane method of execution and was adopted by the state of New York.

The execution of William Kemmler in the electric chair was botched, leading to public outcry and improvements in the method.

Kemmler's case raised ethical questions about the death penalty and the intersection of technology, ethics, and law.

Episode Quotes

"She refused to drink it and actually left because the name Crispy Boy, she thought, was inspired by the electrocution chair."

"The electric chair was actually developed by Alfred P. Southawik. What do think the P stands for? Paul."

"The botched execution horrified those present and actually led to a public outcry."

Check out all the podcast on the Beard Laws Studio: https://beardlawsstudio.com

Check out the interactive map at https://yoretown.com

Yore Town Podcast is a podcast that features your towns dark, wild, unbelievable past that has you thinking no way that really happened here. Matt and Megh dust off the books, hit the streets and an occasional nursing home to unveil Yore Town’s past. From small towns to where we live to big cities before they were what they are today. This is Yore Town, Yore Stories

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The Extraordinary Story of Ann Hodges and the Meteorite Strike

On this episode, Beard Laws and Meg discuss the story of Ann Hodges, the only confirmed person in history to have been hit by a meteorite. They explore the events leading up to the meteorite strike, the aftermath, and the legal battle over ownership of the meteorite. The hosts also touch on other notable incidents involving meteorites and the significance of studying meteorites in understanding the early history of our solar system.

Check out our friends of the show!

Milwaukee Pretzels: https://milwaukeepretzel.com/

Vermont Flannels: https://vermontflannels.com/beardlaws

Copper Johns Beard: http://thebestbeardproducts.com

Episode Highlights

Ann Hodges is the only confirmed person in history to have been hit by a meteorite.

Meteorite strikes on humans are extremely rare, with odds estimated to be about one in 1.6 million.

Meteorites provide valuable insights into the early history of our solar system.

The story of Ann Hodges is a testament to the unpredictability of life in the cosmos.

Meteorites have played a memorable role in Earth's history and continue to fascinate scientists and the public alike.

Episode Quotes

"Ann Hodges became the first and so far only confirmed person in history to have been hit by a meteorite."

"The odds of a person being hit by a meteorite are as low that it's almost unfathomable."

"Meteorites remain a hot topic of study, providing valuable insights into the early history of our solar system."

Check out all the podcast on the Beard Laws Studio: https://beardlawsstudio.com

Check out the interactive map at https://yoretown.com

Yore Town Podcast is a podcast that features your towns dark, wild, unbelievable past that has you thinking no way that really happened here. Matt and Megh dust off the books, hit the streets and an occasional nursing home to unveil Yore Town’s past. From small towns to where we live to big cities before they were what they are today. This is Yore Town, Yore Stories

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thomas Sullivan Satanic Murder

On this episode, Beard Laws and Meg discuss the tragic events involving a 14-year-old Catholic schoolboy named Thomas Sullivan Jr. in 1988. Thomas had a growing fascination with satanic rituals and ended up killing his mother and setting their house on fire. He then tragically took his own life. The episode highlights the impact of untreated mental health issues and obsession with dark themes on young minds. It serves as a cautionary tale and emphasizes the importance of seeking help for mental health struggles.

Episode Highlights

Untreated mental health issues and obsession with dark themes can have a devastating impact on young minds.

It is important to seek help for mental health struggles and not let them go untreated.

The tragic events in this episode serve as a cautionary tale and highlight the need for mental health support.

The episode emphasizes the importance of open conversations about mental health and the availability of resources for those in need.

Episode Quotes

"This episode revolves around the tragic events involving a 14-year-old Catholic schoolboy who was also a boy scout named Thomas Sullivan, Jr."

"He arranged several books on the occult in a ring on the floor, piled newspapers in the center, and then sets them on fire."

"In the chaos, Thomas then flees the house. He goes to a neighbor's backyard where he tragically ends his own life."

Check out all the podcast on the Beard Laws Studio: https://beardlawsstudio.com

Check out the interactive map at https://yoretown.com

Chapters

00:00 The Tragic Events Involving Thomas Sullivan Jr.

09:38 The Disturbing Scene and Tragic Ending

13:01 The Impact on Thomas's Friends

Yore Town Podcast is a podcast that features your towns dark, wild, unbelievable past that has you thinking no way that really happened here. Matt and Megh dust off the books, hit the streets and an occasional nursing home to unveil Yore Town’s past. From small towns to where we live to big cities before they were what they are today. This is Yore Town, Yore Stories

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.