After spending a few hours reading through reports of people hiding under bed, all I can say is that it is one of the worst places to hide.
1. Doctor’s Visit
Remember the days when doctors would visit their patients? Well, here’s a good one from 1915:
“Artesia, Miss. – Returning home unexpectedly, Conley Cox, druggist, found Dr. R.E. Mouldin, a well known local physician, hiding under wife’s bed. Cox shot Mouldin, killing him instantly. Mrs. Cox fled to another room and swallowed 12 grains of bichloride of mercury tablets. She will die.” [Source]
2. Burglar’s Accomplice and the Heroic Cat
Here’s a near comical event that happened in 1909:
“Mme. Marie Rayot’s cat saved her mistress’ life one morning last month. Mme. Rayot, who lives in Paris, heard the cat mew loudly and jumped out of bed, thinking that it was after her birds, which were in the next room. As Mme. Rayot rushed into this room a burglar knocked her candle from her hand and caught her by the throat and attempted to strangle her. He let go, however, with a cry of pain, and when Mme. Rayot’s shrieks brought in the neighbors it was found that the cat had caught the burglar by the throat and scratched out one of his eyes. An accomplice of the burglar was found hiding under a bed.” [Source]
3. The Gambling Man
“Officers Collins, Barry, and Fraser raided a room in the block at 143 Main Street early Sunday morning and arrested Barney Wool on a charge of maintaining a gambling resort. there were five men in the room at the time, according to the police, and one man was found hiding under a bed. Some beer, poker chips, and cards were also found.” [Source]
4. Contributed to the Delinquency of a Minor
A sleigh ride with minors doesn’t end well in 1914.
“Salt Lake, Utah. – As a result of an escapade said to have followed a bob sled ride, three young men are under arrest, charged with contributing to the delinquency of three minor girls, from 14 to 16 years of age. Complaints were issued by the county attorney yesterday against the men.
“Frank Austilo is charged with contributing to the delinquency of Sadie Branning, the same charge is made against Frank Merrick in the case of Mary Branning, and Clarence Whorton is charged with being responsible for the delinquency of Florence Stillman. The three complaints are signed by Guardello Brown, chief probation officer of the juvenile court.
“According to the officials, the three girls accompanied the three young men to Murray following a sleigh ride and stayed away from their homes several nights.
“Mrs. R.L. Casson, at whose home one of the Branning girls was found hiding under the bed, was arrested yesterday by Juvenile Officer George Robinson on a charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She was released on her own recognizance.” [Source]
5. Farmer Murdered for Resisting the Draft
Alabama farmer hides under the bed to avoid being sent to war in 1918.
“Fort Payne, Ala. – John David Allen, a young farmer, was shot to death on Sand Mountain, near Fyffe, at noon today by United States Deputy Marshall R.B. Blake and Sheriff Kirby while resisting arrest on a charge of being a slacker. The officers went to the Allen home, and he was found hiding under a bed. Immediately a fight was precipitated, Allen declaring that he would rather be killed than to go to war. He was choking Deputy Marshal Blake when Sheriff Kirby beat him over the head with a revolver.
“At this point it is said that Allen’s wife came to her husband’s assistance, using teeth and finger nails. Being unable to subdue Allen, both officers fired simultaneously, when Allen crumpled up and expired without uttering a word. On their return here the officers bore evidence of their desperate fight, their faces being bruised and cut and their garments bespattered with blood.
“Allen had been hiding out since last fall, when he had been ordered to report with the first quota to the draft board.” [Source]
6. Murderous Old Men
He was brave enough to shoot a man in the face, but when it was time to face the consequences of his actions, he hid under the bed. From 1924:
“John Ternan, 66, was held today in connection with the killing yesterday of Antonio Pirella, 62-year-old farm hand whose body was found with shotgun wounds in the face in a shack Pirella used as a home on a farm near here. Ternan later was found hiding under a bed.
“According to Ternan, who denies any responsibility for the old man’s death, he came to Pirella’s shack on a visit late and while they were preparing their supper a man and woman were heard talking outside the door. Ternan asserts that Pirella went to the door with an oil lamp in his hand and was shot down as he opened the door. The lamp fell in flames and the dead man’s body was badly burned. Ternen says that he fled to the bedroom fearing he also would be shot.
“Prosecutor Tuso, who is investigating, learned today that Pirella’s widow, his son, Sam, and Joseph Seaford, his son-in-law, came to the shack to bring Pirella food last evening. Seaford said that when he took the provisions to the shack he saw flames in the kitchen and put them out with water, when he found the body. He then returned to Bridgeton with Mrs. Pirella and the son to report to authorities.” [Source]
7. Handy Umbrella
Elizabeth Kroll got quite a scare in 1927, but she handled it so well:
“Mrs. Elizabeth Kroll knocked out with an umbrella a man she found hiding under her bed.” [Source]
