{"id":29293,"date":"2014-01-21T00:00:20","date_gmt":"2014-01-21T08:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.todayifoundout.com\/?p=29293"},"modified":"2014-01-18T20:36:14","modified_gmt":"2014-01-19T04:36:14","slug":"day-history-january-21st","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.todayifoundout.com\/index.php\/2014\/01\/day-history-january-21st\/","title":{"rendered":"This Day in History: January 21st"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today in History: January 21, 1959<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"carl-switzer\"<\/a>Carl Switzer was best known as Alfalfa, the freckled-faced character with the uncontrollable cowlick from the popular Hal Roach \u201cOur Gang\u201d films. Switzer joined the cast when he was seven years old, and appeared in over 75 of the classic shorts.<\/p>\n

Alfalfa had many stand-out moments during the series, but the one he is most remembered for is his painfully off-key rendition of \u201cI\u2019m in the Mood for Love\u201d from 1936\u2019s \u201cThe Pitch Singer.\u201d<\/p>\n

When television rolled around and \u201cOur Gang\u201d began showing on T.V. as \u201cThe Little Rascals,\u201d no one had considered the concepts of syndication or royalties. Most had believed television would prove to be no more than a passing fad. So Switzer had plenty of fame, but not a dime to show for it.<\/p>\n

As an adult, Switzer played small roles in an number of movies such as \u201cGoing My Way,\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s a Wonderful Life,\u201d \u201cFavorite Blonde,\u201d and \u201cState of the Union,\u201d but he was also working as a bartender and a bear hunting guide to pay the bills. Before one of his hunting trips, he borrowed a hunting dog from a friend of his named Moses “Bud” Stiltz. The dog went missing during the hunting expedition, and Switzer put up a $50 reward for anyone returning it.<\/p>\n

A few days later, a man showed up at the bar Switzer worked at with the dog in tow. Switzer paid the man the $50 dollar reward and threw in $15 of free drinks on the house. After a hard night of drinking a few nights later, Switzer got it into his head that Stiltz, the dog\u2019s owner, should repay him the reward money he had to shell out for losing Stiltz\u2019s dog. This is our first clue it probably won\u2019t end well.<\/p>\n

A totally loaded Switzer and his buddy Jack Piott headed over to Stiltz\u2019s house to demand that $50. Once they arrived, Switzer and Stiltz got into a heated argument that escalated very quickly. Switzer demanded to be repaid the reward money, and Stiltz told him he was crazy. Switzer allegedly hit Stiltz in the head with a heavy lamp, after which Stiltz retreated into his bedroom.<\/p>\n

When he re-emerged, Stiltz had a pistol, which Switzer reportedly grabbed away from Stiltz immediately. Switzer made Stiltz get into a closet and shut the door. Nonetheless, in the later struggled, Stiltz regained possession of the gun and when Switzer drew a knife and charged him, saying he was going to kill him, Stiltz fired the gun, shooting Switzer in the abdomen. He died en route to the hospital and the death was ultimately ruled “justifiable homicide.”<\/p>\n

At least, that’s the official story.\u00a0 The stepson of Stiltz, Ray Corrigan, reported a different version and claimed his stepfather lied to the police about what happened.\u00a0 Corrigan said during the struggle over the gun, it went off and shot into the ceiling.\u00a0 Corrigan then was running out the door when he heard another shot and turned around to see that Switzer had been shot.\u00a0 He also reported the supposed “hunting knife” that Switzer had tried to attack Stiltz with was a mere pen knife that was closed when Switzer was shot.\u00a0 He went on to say that after shooting Switzer, Stiltz advanced on\u00a0Jack Piott giving the impression he was going to shoot him too, all the while Piott was begging for his life; the approaching police sirens caused Stiltz to stop.<\/p>\n

Corrigan told all this to the authorities, but was never asked to testify nor was his testimony used, despite the fact that he witnessed the event.<\/p>\n

Carl was buried at Hollywood Memorial Park. There is a dog on his grave marker that many suppose to be a likeness of Petey, the mutt from all the \u201cOur Gang\u201d shorts, but others believe it represents Carl\u2019s longstanding interest in hunting and hunting dogs.<\/p>\n

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