Crime
“Pay no income taxes without going to jail”
The title of Phillip Fry's 1975 book, Pay no income taxes without going to jail, was pretty much a direct challenge to the IRS, to which the IRS inevitably responded. It brought charges against him for aiding tax fraud, and in 1986 he was sentenced to five years in jail. And the tax agency's punishment of him didn't stop there:One of Fry's other books was titled Our Lady of Perpetual Deductions and was about how to avoid taxes by claiming to be running a church.
I couldn't find any free copies of his books available online. So if you're interested in benefiting from his advice you'll need to find used copies.
More info: upi.com
Moline Dispatch - Aug 16, 1986
Jackson Citizen Patriot - Jan 17, 1980
Posted By: Alex - Tue Apr 15, 2025 -
Comments (3)
Category: Crime, Government, Money
What to do if you stumble upon a pot farm while hiking
In 1986, the California Department of Fish and Game published a pamphlet, "Outdoor Alert," offering advice for this situation.The key takeaway was to say loudly, "I DIDN'T MEAN TO DO THIS, AND I'M LEAVING RIGHT NOW." Then to leave slowly and carefully.
Now that marijuana is legal in most U.S. states, the situation is unlikely to happen, but I'm sure the same response would be appropriate any time one accidentally stumbles upon illegal activity.
San Luis Obispo Tribune - June 21, 1986
Pamphlet source: CA Dept of Fish and Wildlife
Posted By: Alex - Sun Mar 30, 2025 -
Comments (1)
Category: Crime, Drugs, 1980s
God Is For Real, Man
I don't know where to begin or stop quoting in this amazing book. So much street savvy, telling it like it is!Read it for yourself at the link.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Mar 21, 2025 -
Comments (0)
Category: Crime, Languages, Prisons, Religion, 1960s
Curtricia Miles, escape artist
Curtricia Miles was convicted of killing a massage parlor employee during a robbery in 1974. The next year she escaped from her jail cell by tunneling out using a knife, fork, and spoon. (I don't think she had to tunnel far. Sounds like the building was on a raised foundation, so she only had to get through the floor.)A month later she was arrested in Las Vegas on a marijuana charge, but she told the police her name was "Caroline Bendy" and they released her without bond.
She didn't stay free for long. The police found her a week later in a downtown casino. This final time she didn't manage to get away.
Toronto Star - July 16, 1975
Sacramento Bee - Aug 8, 1975
Posted By: Alex - Thu Jan 23, 2025 -
Comments (3)
Category: Crime, Prisons, 1970s
The Educational Value of Comics
Nowadays we've all heard of people who practice on a flight simulator game, then manage successfully to steal a plane. But these two lads deserve extra credit, since they had to learn from the printed page!
Posted By: Paul - Fri Nov 22, 2024 -
Comments (1)
Category: Crime, Comics, Juvenile Delinquency, Air Travel and Airlines, 1940s
Opal Dixon, the mouthwash bank robber
Mrs. Opal Dixon decided to start robbing banks because she was "tired of living without having money."Her method was unusual. She would fill a syringe with mouthwash, enter a bank, and then brandish the syringe over her head while shouting that it was full of nitroglycerine and she would blow the place up if the teller didn't give her money.
She got away with this once and would have succeeded a second time if the police hadn't identified her later while she was walking down the street.
Decatur Herald and Review - Jan 23, 1947
Des Moines Register - Jan 23, 1947
Mansfield News Journal - Jan 23, 1947
Posted By: Alex - Thu Sep 12, 2024 -
Comments (2)
Category: Crime, 1940s, Women
I’m Not a Juvenile Delinquent
Anyone who recalls Alex's post on "Answer Songs" will enjoy this pairing.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Aug 07, 2024 -
Comments (3)
Category: Crime, Music, Teenagers, 1950s
Woman dropped down manhole
Welcome to America!
Modesto Bee - July 2, 1972
Posted By: Alex - Mon Jun 17, 2024 -
Comments (0)
Category: Crime, 1970s
Follies of the Madmen #590
Posted By: Paul - Mon Mar 18, 2024 -
Comments (1)
Category: Crime, Hygiene, Advertising, 1980s, Europe
Ghost Evidence
Read the whole story here.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Mar 12, 2024 -
Comments (0)
Category: Crime, Death, Supernatural, Occult, Paranormal, 1970s
| Who We Are |
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| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Contact Us |