The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THERE WAS A CONDUCTOR ON A TROLLEY. ONE DAY, SOME CHILDREN
GOT ON HIS NERVES WITH THEIR BEHAVIOR, SO HE PULLED OUT
A GUN AND SHOT THEM, THEN JUMPED OFF THE TROLLEY AND
RAN. THE POLICE CAUGHT HIM, BROUGHT HIM TO COURT. HE
WAS TRIED, FOUND GUILTY AND SENTENCED TO DEATH BY
ELECTRIC CHAIR. AFTER HE WAS STRAPPED INTO THE CHAIR,
THE JUDGE GRANTED HIM A LAST REQUEST. HE ASKED FOR
THREE BANANAS; 2 PEELED AND 1 UNPEELED. HE GOT THEM
AND ATE THEM, THEN THEY PULLED THE SWITCH. NOTHING
HAPPENED! ACCORDING TO THE LAW HE WAS RELEASED.
AFTER A FEW MONTHS, HE GOT BACK HIS OLD JOB AS
CONDUCTOR ON A TROLLEY. ONE DAY A GROUP OF TEENAGERS
GOT ON HIS NERVES WITH THEIR BEHAVIOR, SO HE PULLED OUT
A GUN AND SHOT THEM. THEN HE JUMPED OFF THE TROLLEY
AND RAN. THE POLICE CAUGHT HIM, BROUGHT HIM TO COURT,
HE WAS TRIED, FOUND GUILTY AND SENTENCED TO DEATH BY
ELECTRIC CHAIR. AFTER HE WAS STRAPPED INTO THE CHAIR,
THE JUDGE GRANTED HIM A LAST REQUEST. HE ASKED FOR FIVE
BANANAS; 3 PEELED, AND 2 UNPEELED. HE GOT THEM AND ATE
THEM. THEN THEY PULLED THE SWITCH. NOTHING HAPPENED!
ACCORDING TO THE LAW, HE WAS RELEASED AGAIN.
AFTER A FEW MONTHS, HE GOT BACK HIS OLD JOB AS
CONDUCTOR ON A TROLLEY. ONE DAY A NAGGING OLD LADY
GOT ON HIS NERVES WITH HER BEHAVIOR, SO HE PULLED OUT
A GUN AND SHOT HER, THEN JUMPED OFF THE TRAIN AND RAN.
THE POLICE CAUGHT HIM, BROUGHT HIM TO COURT; HE WAS
TRIED, FOUND GUILTY AND SENTENCED TO DEATH BY ELECTRIC
CHAIR. AFTER HE WAS STRAPPED INTO THE CHAIR, THE JUDGE
GRANTED HIM A LAST REQUEST.
THIS TIME HE ASKED FOR NINE BANANAS, 6 PEELED AND 3
UNPEELED. HE GOT THEM AND ATE THEM. THEN THEY PULLED
THE SWITCH. NOTHING HAPPENED! AGAIN HE WAS SET FREE.
BUT THE JUDGE WAS INTRIGUED. HE ASKED HIM WHY DID
THE ELECTRICITY NOT AFFECT HIM THREE SEPARATE TIMES.
AND HE REPLIED, "BECAUSE I'M A BAD CONDUCTOR!"

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 10-00-1970