On this date in 1959, Carl Switzer, best known for playing Alfalfa in the Our Gang series, was shot and killed by a friend. Switzer, who was drunk at the time, got into an argument with the man over $50 that Switzer thought he was owed. The man shot Switzer after being assaulted and threatened with a knife. He was arrested and charged with murder, but the jury acquitted him.
Further reading:
The Death of Carl Alfalfa Switzer
Wikipedia – Carl Switzer
Here’s a video of Alfalfa demonstrating his considerable musical talent:
Nobody Move! 
Reblogged this on Brittius and commented:
Finally got the complete story. Subject consuming alcohol beverages, gets into altercation with killer. Subject allegedly brandishes a knife. Killer claims self-defense.
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Yup, pretty much sums it up.
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sad
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Indeed.
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Huh! Well just goes to show ya that people are rarely much like their onstage personas!
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That’s true.
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Many of The Little Rascals died young, unfortunately.
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Alfalfa was the only one murdered, but many of them suffered fatal health problems at a relatively young age.
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Didn’t one get hit by a car while riding a bike or something?
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I don’t know. It’s certainly possible. The series ran for 22 years, so there were a lot of kids who rotated in and out of the cast.
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John D.:
After reading the story behind the story, it seems clear that Carl didn’t learn much from being shot the previous year.
And, as often happens, you don’t get many more chances to walk away from such continued behavior.
A sad fact, but true.
Very good story (and a shame that someone who made us laugh could ruin their own life in such a manner).
Stay safe out there.
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Yeah, he was apparently too bull-headed to learn from past mistakes.
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It seems rare that childhood stardom or fame bodes well for a person. I remember being a kid and watching shows with kid stars and saying, “I want to be just like that guy!” Pretty glad I wasn’t!
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