Elmer McCurdy
Elmer J. McCurdy (January 1, 1880 – October 7, 1911) was an American bank and train robber. He was killed in a shoot-out with police after robbing a train in Oklahoma in October 1911.
Elmer McCurdy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Elmer J. McCurdy January 1, 1880 Washington, Maine, U.S. |
| Died | October 7, 1911 (aged 31) Osage Hills, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Gunshot wound |
| Body discovered |
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| Resting place | 35°53′45″N 97°24′12″W / 35.89583°N 97.40333°W |
| Other names | Frank Curtis Frank Davidson Charles Smith |
| Occupation(s) | Plumber, miner, bank and train robber |
Life
changeHe was known as "The Bandit Who Wouldn't Give Up". His mummified body was first put on display at an Oklahoma funeral home and then became an attraction on a carnival and sideshow circuit during the 1920s through the 1960s.
Remains
changeAfter changing ownership several times, McCurdy's remains are currently up at The Pike amusement zone in Long Beach, California.
On December 8, 1976, the production crew of the television show The Six Million Dollar Man were filming scenes for the "Carnival of Spies" episode at The Pike. During the shoot, a prop man moved what was thought to be a wax mannequin that was hanging from the set.[1] When the mannequin's arm broke off, a human bone and muscle tissue were seen. The body was identified to be the mummified corpse of McCurdy a few weeks later.[2]
Burial
changeIn April 1977, Elmer McCurdy's body was buried at the Summit View Cemetery in Guthrie, Oklahoma.
References
change- ↑ Mikkelson, Barbara (November 9, 2006). "Dead Man Gawking". snopes.com. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
- ↑ "The Long, Strange, 60-Year Trip of Elmer McCurdy". npr.org. January 9, 2015. Archived from the original on January 11, 2015. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
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