More Assassins! Trivia Quiz

Answer: George Harrison

On December 30, 1999, Michael Abrams, believing that George Harrison had taken control of his mind and that he was on a mission for God, entered Harrison's house and with a kitchen knife stabbed Harrison seven times, puncturing a lung and causing head injuries.

The confrontation lasted an estimated fifteen minutes until police arrived who had been summoned by Oliva, Harrison's wife. He was found to be insane and was sentenced to treatment. He was released in 2002. Harrison, who already had been diagnosed with lung cancer, died on November 29, 2001.

Answer: Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Nathuram Godse and Narayan Apte were Hindi nationalists and were concerned regarding what they considered appeasement of Pakistan by India. They were executed on November 15, 1949. Gandhi was killed while on a platform preparing to speak. An estimated two million people took part in the five mile long funeral procession. Gandhi inspired movements for non-violence, civil rights, and freedom across the world.

Answer: Praetorian Guard

The Praetorian Guard were the bodyguards of the Roman Emperors. The Guard was dissolved by Emperor Constantine I in the 4th century.

Caligula was assassinated by officers of the Praetorian Guard led by Cassius Chaerea.

Commodus, noted for killing helpless victims and animals in the arena, was poisoned first then strangled while the Praetorian Guard did nothing.

Stephanus, a freedman, stabbed Domitian with a sword that he had concealed. Again the Praetorian Guard was passive in their protection.

Pupienus and Balbinus functioned as co-consuls. It is believed that both were slain by factions within the Praetorian Guard.

Mucapor and other officers of the Praetorian Guard, fearing punishment from the Emperor Aurelian because of corruption within the ranks, murdered him while on a military expedition in Thrace.

Answer: People's Temple

Ryan was on a mission to investigate Jim Jones and the People's Temple. Several People's Temple members, dissatisfied with their lives, asked to leave with Ryan. To prevent this, Jones ordered Ryan and his entire press contingent to be detained and killed. It was then that Jones ordered the mass suicide by cyanide-laced Kool-Aid.

Answer: Guy Fawkes Day

Guy Fawkes was a conspirator who hoped to kill James I, a Protestant king, and to have him replaced by a Catholic queen, thus restoring the realm to the status of Queen Mary's (Bloody Mary) time. Gunpowder was placed in a cellar below Parliament and Fawkes was assigned to guard it until time for denotation. An anonymous source alerted the authorities and Fawkes was arrested on the spot. The other seven conspirators were caught as well and all were sentenced to death. Fawkes, while on the scaffold, jumped to the ground breaking his neck thus avoiding the prolonged and horrific execution customary for traitors at the time.

This is referred to as "The Gunpowder Plot". Reaction came in the form of increased persecution of Catholics and a solidification of Protestant political control. Bonfires were lit to celebrate the survival of the king, and over time it became traditional to have bonfires that burn Guy Fawkes in effigy. Children often beg for coins saying "A penny for the guy". Guy Fawkes Day has sometimes been de-emphasized in some eras but the tradition remains.

Answer: Malcolm X

On February 21, 1965 Malcolm X was preparing to give a speech in Manhattan when a disturbance broke out and Malcolm X's bodyguards left him to investigate. Three men rose from the audience and shot Malcolm X 21 times. Malcolm had broken with the Nation of Islam and was believed to be in the process of of establishing a new organization.

Butler was paroled in 1985, Johnson was released in 1987, and Hayer was paroled in 2010. Butler and Johnson were exonerated in 2021 -- their convictions were over-turned.

Answer: Fame and notoriety for himself

According to Bremer's diaries, his initial target was Richard Nixon. But his assessment was that Nixon's protection was too strong. So he turned to third party candidate George Wallace as a more viable victim. He lived mainly in his car which was found well prepared for quick travel. He followed Wallace to Maryland and when the opportunity presented itself he rushed forward and shot Wallace in the stomach. In the process he wounded three of Wallace's aides. He was immediately subdued and within three months was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to 53 years.

Except for some incidents in his first year of incarceration, he was a model prisoner and was released in 2007. Here are conditions of that parole: "include electronic monitoring, staying away from elected officials and candidates, undergo a mental health evaluation and treatment if needed, and may not leave the state."

He is considered the model for Robert De Niro's portrayal of Travis Bickle in "Taxi Driver" (1976)

Answer: Jean-Paul Marat

Charotte Corday came to Paris, in part, to participate in the Revolution. She was appalled by the Reign of Terror. This encouraged her to align herself with the Girondins who advocated a more moderate approach to the revolution than the Jacobins, who were in power. She decided that her target would be Jean-Paul Marat, a journalist whose fiery essays fueled the savage crusade against all nobles.

She tried to meet with Marat but was turned away. Later she returned saying that she had information about key Girondins that she wished to expose. Marat, who was in the bath due to a skin condition, admitted her. She stabbed him, piercing his lung, aorta and left ventricle with a six inch kitchen knife that she had purchased that day. The assassination took place on 13 July 1793. Corday died at the guillotine four days later.

Although Charlotte Corday thought she was saving lives by her actions, her act actually made Marat a martyr and spurred the Jacobins to more blood letting.

The assassination was immortized in David's painting (1793).

Answer: Death sentence

Jack Ruby talked a lot but provided little useful information. This we know. Ruby had mob connections but few indications that the mob had planned the Kennedy assassination. Ruby may have had CIA connections in regard to undercover smuggling arms to Cuba.

Some regard him as a true patriot because the courts might not have given Oswald sufficient punishment. Ruby wanted to testify before the Warren Commission but tried to make a 'deal' for his testimony. Ruby died of cancer before his appeal could be heard. Doctors said he did not know of the cancer at the time of his attack on Oswald.

He died at Parkland Hospital where both Kennedy and Oswald were pronounced dead.

Answer: Libya

The attack was first blamed on political rioters but a close examination of the evidence ruled that out. The use of military weapons and military techniques pointed to a well planned assault. Various theories have been formulated. One is that it was done by Gaddafi loyalists in retaliation for the deposing and killing of Muammar Gaddafi; attention shifted to elements of Ansar al-Sharia with links to Al-Qaeda. The fact that it occurred on 9/11 may have been symbolic of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center and other targets on that date.

There was an anti-American hostility through out the area. Stevens was taken to a place regarded as safe but it was set aflame. A bodyguard opened a window and crawled out to ascertain if it was safe for Stevens to exit. When called to the window, Stevens did not respond. Facts are still murky; one video shows him being 'rescued' by Libyans and taken to the hospital as he was still breathing.