The Skeleton in My Closet Trivia Quiz

Answer: Laura Bush

Laura Welsh Bush was driving on a rural highway near Midland, Texas when she was involved in a motor vehicle accident. She had run a stop sign and plowed into the car of one of her classmates, Michael Dutton Douglas, killing him. She had not been drinking nor was she speeding and so no charges were filed.

Answer: William S. Burroughs

In 1951, while in Mexico City, American author William S. Burroughs was charged with manslaughter after he shot his girlfriend in the head. He claimed they were both drunk and playing a type of William Tell game, where they shot things off of each other's heads.

He was found guilty and sentenced to two years, suspended. In other words he was found guilty of manslaughter but served a total of less than 2 weeks in jail. Allegations of bribery were rampant.

Answer: Howard Hughes

At an intersection in Los Angeles, Howard Hughes, after a night of drinking, hit and killed a pedestrian in 1936. He was not charged with drunk driving and the only eyewitness to the accident changed his testimony after Hughes attorney made contact with him. Even though Hughes was not formally charged, he did make a private settlement with the deceased's family.

Answer: Beating a man to death with his fists

Paul Kelly was a child actor who went on to have a successful stage and screen career. In 1926 he killed fellow actor Ray Raymond by repeatedly punching him in the head. Kelly, who usually portrayed tough guy characters, was having an affair with Raymond's wife, actress Dorothy Mackaye. Found guilty of manslaughter Kelly served his two years before resuming his career as if nothing had happened.

He also married his victim's widow.

Answer: True

In 1954 Don King shot and killed a man named Hillary Brown. This death was ruled justifiable because the deceased had been attempting to rob one of King's illegal gambling stations. Then in 1966, King got into a fight with one of his employees. Witness statements varied, with some stating that the deceased inadvertently hit his head on the ground during the scuffle, while others testified that Don King stomped the man to death. King was convicted of manslaughter and served four years in the Ohio prison system before being paroled.

Answer: The Who

Keith Moon, drummer for The Who was known for his public temper tantrums. When Moon drove over and killed his friend and bodyguard Neil Boland he claimed it was an accident that happened as he tried to get away from some aggressive skinheads. There are many people who question his explanation as he had a long history of reckless destruction of other people's property.

He died in 1978 of a drug overdose, and those who were close to him claimed the final years of his life were spent riddled with guilt over the death of his friend.

Answer: Matthew Broderick

On August 5, 1987 while the American actor was on vacation in Northern Ireland he drove into oncoming traffic on the wrong side of the road and killed Anna Gallagher and Margaret Doherty, a mother and daughter who were out for a ride on one of North Ireland's many scenic roads. Matthew Broderick and his girlfriend, actress Jennifer Grey, were both injured also. Broderick claimed that he had amnesia from the head injury he experienced.

He was convicted of careless driving and was given a $175 fine.

The family of the victims publicly claimed that a travesty of justice had occurred because of his fame. There are no records of any kind of financial settlement to the family.

Answer: Motley Crue

Vince Neil, who had been the lead singer for the group Motley Crue, has publicly admitted that he thinks he got away with murder. While driving drunk in 1984, he totaled his car and killed his fellow rock star Razzle who was a singer for the group Hanoi Rocks.

In 2005 he was quoted in "Blender" magazine as stating " I wrote a $2.5 million cheque for vehicular manslaughter when Razzle died. I should have gone to prison. I definitely deserved to go to prison. But I did 30 days in jail and got laid and drank beer, because that's the power of cash. That's messed up." Neil's personal account of the incident can be found in Motley Crue's 2001 autobiography "The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band".

Answer: Phil Spector

Phil Spector was a very influential music producer in the early years of rock and roll. He produced songs and albums for stars such as The Beatles, The Righteous Brothers and the Ramones. Known for his quirky and eccentric personality, Spector was the only suspect when actress Lana Clarkson was found shot in his house, by his gun. Previous girlfriends testified that, in the past, Spector had held them at gunpoint in his home when they had tried to leave.

His first trial ended in a mistrial but he was found guilty after the second trial.

He will not be eligible for any type of parole until he is 88 years old.

Answer: Adlai Stevenson

In this accidental shooting, 12 year old Adlai Stevenson shot and killed 16 year old Ruth Merwin while performing a drill technique. The .22 rifle he was practicing on had been checked to make sure it was not loaded. A rusty spring on the gun prevented the bullet that was in the gun from being released when the gun was checked. Adults were present to make sure that gun safety rules were being followed. Charges were not filed, but the incident haunted him the rest of his life.