Another William Tell Story
2003 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance
I wish to nominate for a Darwin Award (Historical) Mrs. Joan Adams Burroughs, the late wife of beat novelist and poet William S. Burroughs.
This, according to "Naked Angels: The Lives and Literature of the Beat Generation", by John Tytell, Grove Press Inc, New York, 1976:
On the night of September 7th, 1951, in a friend's apartment in Mexico City, Joan Adams Burroughs dared her husband, beat novelist and poet William S. Burroughs (well known for his drug and alcohol problems, and nearsightedness to boot) to shoot a champagne glass from on top of her head, with his revolver.
Burroughs missed the champagne glass and shot her in the head. She died almost instantly.
Tytell does not record here if Joan was intoxicated at the time of the incident. William S. Burroughs was charged by the Mexico City police in the incident, but skipped bail and never stood trial in his wife's death. Submitted on 02/24/02
Submitted by:
Michael Charles Cole
Reference:
"Naked Angels", J. Tytell
Copyright © 2002 DarwinAwards.com
|