› added 1 year ago

56

TIL that the first confession elicited from a suspect with the famous Reid Technique -- still used during police interrogations throughout the U.S. -- was later discovered to be completely false, and led to a $500K settlement for wrongful conviction.

4krZN TIL For the movie Rebel Without a Cause (1955), Natalie Wood almost did not get the role of Judy because Nicholas Ray thought that she did not fit the role of the wild teen character. Ray was convinced when someone at the hospital called her a "goddamn juvenile delinquent" after her car accident.
5YmZR TIL On September 11, 1857, Mormons disguised themselves as Native Americans and attacked a wagon train. Then Mormon leaders, under a flag of truce, tricked the settlers into leaving their defenses; They then slaughtered all 120+ defenseless men, women, and children.
R7vQ7 TIL: The term "Mad as a Hatter" was originated back in the early 1800s in Denton, Tameside (which is in northern England), where hat makers used mercury in their hat making process. The mercury in the hats would cause dementia in wearers due to the mercury leaking into the body.
kONkg TIL residents of Bikini Atoll were relocated by the US govt to much smaller islands without adequate food supply multiple times. After 20 years of starving they were allowed to return home, only to find it irradiated. They were relocated again, but their new island floods, and they must move AGAIN.
wDlJ TIL R. Budd Dwyer, from the infamous suicide on tv video, committed suicide after claiming he had been framed and was to be convicted for taking bribes. After his suicide and further investigation, Wiliam T. Smith, who testimony was largely used for Dwyer’s conviction, admitted to lying under oath.