January 21, 2008

670 years ago
1338

Born on this date
Charles V. King of France, 1364-1380. Charles V, nicknamed "Charles the Wise," acceded to the throne upon the death of his father Jean II. He reigned during the Hundred Years' War, and his armies recovered much of the territory lost to English forces by his predecessors. King Charles V died on September 16, 1380 at the age of 42, and was succeeded by his son Charles VI.

80 years ago
1928

Aviation
French aviators Dieudonne Costes and Joseph Lebrix continued their transatlantic flight by going from Caracas, Venezuela to Branquilla, Colombia.

70 years ago
1938

Boxing
Former world heavyweight champion Jim Braddock (51-26-7-3), in his first fight since losing the title to Joe Louis seven months earlier, ended his professional career by winning a 10-round split decision over British heavyweight champion Tommy Farr (68-27-17-2) at Madison Square Garden in New York (see video). It was Mr. Farr's fight since losing a 15-round decision to Mr. Louis in a challenge for the world title five months earlier.

50 years ago
1958

Crime
19-year-old Charley Starkweather began his murder spree in Lincoln, Nebraska. When he went to the home of his 14-year-old girlfriend Caril Fugate, and found she wasn’t home, he argued with, and shot to death, Caril’s mother and stepfather, Velda and Marion Bartlett, and clubbed Caril’s 2-year-old sister Betty Jean to death. Charley hid the bodies behind the house before Caril came home from school. Charley and Caril stayed in the house for six more days, keeping visitors away with a note taped to the front door warning that everyone inside was sick with the flu.

30 years ago
1978

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Baby Come Back--Player (2nd week at #1)

Hockey
NHL
On the national Hockey Night in Canada telecast, the Montreal Canadiens whipped the Vancouver Canucks 8-1 at the Montreal Forum.

10 years ago
1998

Died on this date
Jack Lord, 77. U.S. actor. Mr. Lord starred in the ABC television western series Stoney Burke in 1962-1963, and then hit it big as the star of the CBS police drama Hawaii Five-O from 1968-1980. As Steve McGarrett, he was known for the line "Book him, Dan-O!" Among his movies were Man of the West and Dr. No. Mr. Lord was a talented artist who sold paintings to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the British Museum of Modern Art by the time he was 20.