The most comical of all the jokes was that played upon a photographer employed by Tobias Luck. Mr. Luck and William Spikes got the joke together. It was in the afternoon. Mr. Spikes came hurrying into Mr. Luck’s studio with the information that a baby had died on upper Main street and its parents wanted it photographed. Would Mr. Luck go and do the work? Mr. Luck could not, so he deputized his employee. The man loaded up with his camera and other necessary devices and trudged north about six blocks. He found the number but no dead baby and it was not till he had returned to the gallery for more detailed information that he remember the date and tumbled.
From: 9 More Horrific April Fools’ Day Pranks of the 19th Century
A lot of the crueler and cruder jokes seemed to have backfired on the perpetrator.Report
I’m a bit puzzled as to how the woman died just because her husband knocked in the door in disguise. I guess if she fainted she might have fallen and hit her head, but do people really faint over stuff like that? I kind of suspect there might be more to this story than reported.Report
This is the case that eventually led to the tort of Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress. The plaintiff had some severe physical reactions to a friend of the family trying to play a practical joke by telling her husband was in an accident and broke both his legs. People can have some severe physical reactions to shocking events.Report
Well at least he didn’t tell her she had mashed potato on her sleeve. That would have been heartless and humiliating.Report
“Bad heart,” maybe? (I probably read too many mystery novels….)
Unless it was cover for an actual-factual murder on the husband’s part, and the “grief” was put on.Report
filly,
you should see how many murders wind up in the Darwin Awards….Report