The End Is Near

Before we get to today's The Born Loser, let's check out today's Mary Worth.

Good. Good. But I'm not going to believe Wilbur is dead until his fish-eaten, bloated corpse washes up on shore. I feel bad for Estelle who probably now has at least thirty minutes of paperwork she'll have to fill out when the boat docks. I feel bad for Wilbur's daughter, Dawn, because she'll just have to watch and cry while Mary makes all the funeral preparations. Luckily, she has a new man who can comfort her.

I sincerely can't believe there was nobody on deck to witness Wilbur's descent into the ocean. I mean, he was screaming "I'm king of the world!"

Yeah, most of this is psychosomatic for me, too. Look Gladys, I won't tell Brutus. I'll keep your little secret. But this is the last one.

Maths Homework

The Crank

Joshua Hernandez Berkey was born March 11, 1852 in Post Oak Springs, Tennessee. As a young child he was moved to Wisconsin. His father, Jacob Berkey was a showman and traveled extensively, taking Joshua on the road with him until his sudden death in 1871 at 47. Settling in Monroe, Wisconsin, Joshua became a pharmacist but over the several years, became interested in the temperance movement to restrict alcohol. In 1880, Joshua moved to Denver where he became interested in journalism. He liquidated his assets in 1883 and moved to Sumner County, Kansas where he bought a farm and started a temperance newspaper called The Crank.

The Crank was an odd publication. In its first issue, it talked about the Confederacy and France. It threatened people who didn't take out an ad in the paper. It seemed to try to mix legitimate news reporting with humor but it doesn't really come through. Supposedly, The Crank became a popular newspaper with decent circulation. Unable to publish a nationalized newspaper in a small town such as Geuda Springs, Berkey ended publication with the tenth issue with a promise to continue publishing in Kansas City. There's no evidence that happened but multiple Cranks began popping up across the country and the popularity of Berkey's original catapulted him into good standing with the anti-alcohol movement in the country so much so he began traveling the country giving lectures. He left Kansas in 1891 returning to Wisconsin and even running for governor there under the Prohibition Party in 1896.

logo to The Crank

Berkey continued to run unsuccessfully for offices in Wisconsin under the Prohibition ticket, losing each time. He was found drowned in a lake June 17, 1911 in Crystal Lake, Illinois, the circumstances of his death at 59 unknown.

Hail Wakansa!

Wakansa was possibly a misspelling for Wakarusa. In this Lawrence Journal article from May 24, 1888, it mentions Mr. and Mrs. Orr of Wakansa Township. If this is mentioning Mr. and Mrs. George Orr, they lived on a farm east of Lawrence along what is now 19th Street.

This article from the Western Call out of Beloit on August 1, 1879, mentions the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad laying track between Topeka and Wakansa. Again, it could be a misspelling as a town named Wakarusa is located in Shawnee County, which has a railroad connecting from Topeka.

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Dick Tracy

You had him! You had Dick Tracy right where many only dreamed to have him and you get distracted by a bird?! You deserve that kick in the face.

The Born Loser

For the most part, you won't be using math--no offense to math teachers out there--except in very specific circumstances. The biggest is, of course, controlling your own finances and budgeting. Next will be figuring out percentages. Anything having to do with shapes probably won't get used unless you need to figure out the area of something. The biggest thing that math gives you is helping you problem solve, to go back and check your work to see if what you did was correct.

The Comics Kingdom website is down again. I don't know why because who would want the population of the world to miss out on this...

Wilbur Weston has just fallen to his death!! I know we should all be saddened by the death of this...well, I don't want to say beloved...character but let's just think of this as a new beginning. Besides, Wilbur was fated to die on a cruise and despite the gifting of a cat toy, Libby the Cat plays for keeps.

If you would like to support my writing or research, you can buy me a cup of coffee over on Ko-fi.

His Sitting Position Has To Be Hard On His Knees

"When you're retired like I am, time is meaningless. It makes me think of everything I have wasted when in my youth. Relationships. Family. Fun. All innocent victims of time. Now, I'm old and have been closer to my death than my birth for years and cannot enjoy the things I wanted to in life. Don't make the same mistake I did, Wilberforce."

"Jesus Christ, Uncle Ted, I just asked you what your favorite day of the week was."

Make a U-Turn When Possible

What the hell is that tie Brutus is wearing? It's the same tie like he always wears to work but this one seems smaller and is black. Anyway, I hate it.

I've complained a lot about Brutus being bad at his job and still having it--heck, I talked about it a few days ago--but maybe Brutus is being kept on the payroll as kind of like a jester. It would almost explain the ties.

Just the Delete Would Be Nice

"If only this sweater were a control-alt-delete sweater," Brutus cries as he pulls the sweater over his head.

Gladys and Wilberforce are in the other room playing video games and reading the newspaper and hearing Brutus say all of this. "Is Pop talking to us?" "Unfortunately, no, Wilberforce. I think we need to talk about your father's sanity."

Spin Us a Yarn, Brutus

The further we get away from when the strip started (1965), the harder it is to justify that Brutus is a Baby Boomer or even a member of the Silent Generation. Brutus' age typically hovers around 50 so he's now a Gen-Xer (with Wilberforce being the newest Generation Alpha but that's a whole other post) so I don't feel his childhood stories would be very interesting.

"Ricky and I would always hang out down by the quarry. We'd throw things down there. Sometimes people would dump their trash in the quarry and we'd throw things at the trash. One time, Ricky went down to the bottom of quarry and opened a refrigerator that had been thrown down there. He opened it up and there was the skeleton of a raccoon. Anyway, never, ever open up abandoned refrigerators."

At This Point Brutus Is Costing Veeblefester Money

Can Veeblefester just fire Brutus now? He's gotten way too many chances and it's time to cut the apron strings.

I just noticed, is this why Brutus is getting yelled at? Because Veeblefester lost the bags of money by his desk?

Resolution Revolution

I'm giving up reduced calorie foods and I'm going to join a weight-loss plan specifically to gain weight. It's going to be a Fat Brutus 2022 and we should all get on board. I can see the flowery muumuu and fat guy hat now.

Home and Away

James Reeves Walkup was born August 10, 1836 in Marion County, Indiana before moving with his parents to West Virginia. He married Annie Lee on March 6, 1856 but she passed away in June 1857. He married Hannah Maddock the following year. After making his money with the West Columbia Coal and Mining Company, the Walkups came to Kansas in 1867 where James started out as a farmer before moving to Emporia around 1880 where he became involved in railroad contracting and selling grocery stores. Hannah passed away May 1, 1884 and James focused his attention on work and politics. Rumor had it that James was a very promiscuous man, visiting prostitutes, having affairs, and even keeping a mistress half his age.

James Walkup

In December 1884, James went with Eben Baldwin to the New Orleans World Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition. On the recommendation of a man in Baton Rouge, they stayed at a boarding house run by Mrs. Elizabeth Wallace. There, he met Dora and Minnie Wallace. Dora was musically talented and was married to another man, but Minnie, at 15-years-old, won James' infatuation. For months, James begged Mrs. Wallace for Minnie's hand in marriage. Finally, both Mrs. Wallace and Minnie agreed but wanted to visit Emporia first. Here, James pleaded to get married as soon as possible. They agreed as long as the wedding was in Ohio--since neither was a resident of Ohio, they married in Covington, Kentucky on July 22, 1885. They then quickly returned to Emporia so that James could show off his 16-year-old bride.

A rather oddly written article talking about Walkup
leaving Emporia to get married.

When James returned from a business trip to Topeka on Saturday August 15, complaining of feeling unwell. He was attacked by cramps on Sunday and while he was well enough to attend a city council meeting and doctors treating him for poison, he never fully recovered and died on August 22, 1885. Only one month after his wedding.

Minnie Wallace Walkup

Mrs. Minnie Walkup lived the good life with James, spending most of her time lounging around their home or going shopping. On August 13, Minnie inquired about some strychnine at a pharmacy. When she asked for more the following day, saying she had left it somewhere while shopping, she was refused. She then went to another drug store and asked for more strychnine. She was denied her purchase when she refused to fill out her name and the reason for her purchase. On the 20th, another drug store sold her four ounces of arsenic and, upon hearing that James Walkup was ill, the druggist informed authorities and Minnie was placed under house arrest. The trial began in October 19, 1885, with the defense's argument being that James Walkup was being treated for abdominal distress and syphilis with arsenic and opium and Walkup's newly manifested addiction was the cause of his demise. However, an autopsy revealed no signs of syphilis or arsenic addiction. While the prosecution's case was very open and shut--Mrs. Walkup purchased strychnine and arsenic and Mr. Walkup died of arsenic poisoning--the defense went about defaming James, calling witnesses to testify about his constant arsenic use to treat is sexual diseases and talking to doctors who had been paid to treat not only Mr. Walkup but also his whores.

Headline to the 8th day of the trial.
Emporia Daily News, 10/27/1885.

After fifty-two hours of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict of Not Guilt. Minnie Walkup was acquitting of murdering James Walkup. Mrs. Walkup's age definitely played a role in her acquittal as jurors would later say they were afraid of sentencing her to death and some jurors even acquiesced that Walkup should've been killed. Most agreed, however, that Mrs. Walkup married Mr. Walkup specifically to kill and get his money. Minnie Walkup, and her mother, left Emporia on November 19.

Minnie went with a few older men when back in New Orleans and then moved to Chicago where she continued to entertain men in a back room. In 1897, Minnie met John Berdan Ketcham was was recently divorced and dying of alcoholism. Minnie spirted him away to Wisconsin for a secret wedding, Ketcham signed a new will leaving everything to Minnie, and died twelve days later. An autopsy was performed and no sign of poisoning could be found and though Ketcham's family challenged the will, Minnie prevailed and inherited $250,000--the same amount that she got from Walkup. In 1900, Minnie took up with DeLancy Louderbeck. When Louderbeck's wife died, he changed his will to leave a quarter of his estate to Minnie. He soon died of cyanide poisoning. Seeing as how Louderbeck died in Chicago while Minnie was in Europe, there was no evidence that he was poisoned by her. Some theorize she had an accomplice while some posit that Minnie lied about being married to another man and he committed suicide.

Minnie's life after that gets a bit fuzzy. Some news claimed that she was married to an English soldier but no name is given. A passport was issued to her in 1915 with her destination as London. Minnie, living as Estelle Minnie Keating, passed away May 10, 1957 in San Diego, California.

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For whatever reason, the Comic Kingdom website is down so we're gonna miss out on half the comics today. Let's get on with the three comics I am doing today.

Ziggy

So this is how Ziggy dies.

panel from Ripley's Believe It Or Not

Grape-Nuts was probably named for the way the cereal looks like grape seeds and nutty flavor or because they called glucose 'grape sugar'. We'll never know because inventor C.W. Post wasn't clear.

So Ripley's is now just taking suggestions from people who peruse cereal websites?

The Born Loser

You would think that Brutus would be used to losing by now. Just make it a fun little game. A fun little loser game.

If you would like to support my writing or research, you can buy me a cup of coffee over on Ko-fi.

New Year, Boo You

Betty White, a venerable mainstay of the small screen, curating a career that spanned 82 years and becoming a beloved household name, passed away yesterday at the age of 99. Mainly remembered for the series Life With Elizabeth, Mary Tyler Moore, and The Golden Girls, she also appeared on just about every comedy series within the last 25 years. Though she may be gone, her decades of laughs will live on.

Betty White
1922 - 2021

You know, just because it's the first day of a new year doesn't mean you have to do anything or do something to make yourself a better person. Just sit down and watch some football games or whatever else you like to watch. You got 365 days. There's time.

I hate Gladys' sweater.