de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

Basket cases’ deadly duel in balloon

THE Victorian era is remembered as a period of stoicism, stuffiness and stiff upper lips.

But that image has been smashed by a new book exposing some of the most bizarre newspaper stories of the time.
By delving into the archives of the British Library, author Jeremy Clay has uncovered a trove of quirky snippets – including a mid-air duel between balloonists and a French inventor blown up by his latest creation.
Here, LEE PRICE picks out some of the highlights from Clay’s new book, The Burglar Caught By A Skeleton.

SNAKE ATTACK (November 3, 1898)

Reptile invasion ... snake in the North East

A 12ft python sparked chaos in Middlesbrough after escaping from a snake charmer.
Boys began stoning the reptile and succeeded in beating its head to a pulp,” a local report said.
The dead snake was later sold for £5 to a hotel owner, who had it stuffed.

A BALLOON DUEL (March 16, 1878)

A deadly battle was played out between two balloonists.
As the Illustrated Police News reported: “M. Molica, a Portuguese man, sent a challenge to a Dutchman, who, according to the rules adopted in all cases of this sort, had the choice of weapons and manner of meeting.”
The men ascended in their balloons and opened fire at an agreed time. Despite being an aeronaut – and picking the terms – the Dutchman was felled, dying two hours after the battle.

CRUELLEST CATCH (December 8, 1891)

A fisherman in Dublin Bay was horrified to land the body of his own BROTHER in his nets.
George Roden’s brother was also a fisherman and had drowned in the bay a year earlier.

DOZY BUT DEADLY INVENTOR (September 28, 1872)

A French engineer produced a “murderous invention” to help his country’s army... then became its first victim.
On his final experiment with his war engine, an explosion blew out all the windows in the neighbourhood and smoke was seen pouring from his apartment.
Inside, police found the invention in bits – as was its creator.

DRUNK MONKEY (September 2, 1899)

An angry punter smashed up a bar after too much drink. Hardly news – except the culprit was a MONKEY kept chained to the bar as a pet. A drinker gave it cocktails but the monkey became angry and knocked him out.

AN UNUSUAL CRICKET MATCH (July 19, 1845)

A cricket match in Reading attracted an “immense” crowd as it featured a team of one-legged men versus players with just one arm.
One umpire had lost both of his arms, and the other had “not a leg to stand on”. In the first innings alone, THREE false legs were broken, forcing a local carpenter to perform several setting operations.
The pre-match favourites – the one-armed men – won by 39 runs.

AN EARLY BENEFITS CHEAT (July 16, 1864)

A woman hid the death of her husband and kept the corpse – to collect his PENSION.
She left her husband’s body for at least three weeks without reporting him dead, until a suspicious neighbour insisted on seeing him.
The man’s decomposed body was found lying on the floor, covered with mud.