Phoebe Judge

Well, Lauren, I have to go because I am going to start tracking an episode of Love right now.

Great.

Talk to you next time.

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In 1957, a couple named Ed and Bertha Briney inherited an old farmhouse from Bertha's parents in a rural part of Iowa.

Bertha Briney's grandparents and parents had lived in the house.

After her parents died, Bertha Briney had wanted to keep things as they were, down to the plates and silverware on the kitchen table.

We're hearing about the Brineys and their farmhouse from retired law professor Andrew McClurg.

According to the Brineys, in the decades since they inherited the house, it had been broken into 50 times.

Ed Briney later said he'd nailed doors and windows shut, posted seven no trespassing signs around the property, and complained to sheriffs in two different counties over and over.

But nothing seemed to work.

And that's when Ed Briney got out his shotgun.

Ed and Bertha attached the shotgun to an iron bed frame and ran a wire from the gun's trigger to the bedroom doorknob so that if someone opened the bedroom door, the trigger would be pulled and the gun would go off.

Was there any sign posted outside of the house saying no trespassing or gun on premises, you will be shot if you enter?

A booby trap.