April 12, 2009

1,050 years ago
959

Born on this date
En'yū. Emperor of Japan, 969-984. En'yū, born Morihira-shinnō, succeeded his uncle Reizei on the Chrysanthemum Throne. He abdicated at the age of 26, and became a Buddhist priest. En'yū died on March 1, 991 at the age of 31.

210 years ago
1799

Born on this date
Henri Druey. President of the Swiss Confederation, 1850. Mr. Druey was a member of the Free Democratic Party and a founder of constitutional democracy in Switzerland. He held various cabinet posts from 1848-1855, and was Minister of Finance from 1853 until his death on March 29, 1855, two weeks before his 56th birthday.

140 years ago
1869

Born on this date
Henri Landru. French criminal. Mr. Landru, better known as "Bluebeard," was known to have murdered at least 10 women and a young man from December 1914-January 1919, although the actual number of victims was probably higher. He was convicted on November 30, 1921 of 11 murders, and was guillotined outside the gates of the Prison Saint-Pierre in Versailles on February 25, 1922 at the age of 52.

130 years ago
1879

Died on this date
Dick Taylor, 53. C.S. military officer and politician. Lieutenant General Taylor, the only son of U.S. President Zachary Taylor, was a member of the Whig Party and then the "Know-Nothing" party before finally joining the Democratic Party, and served in the Louisiana State Senate from 1855-1861. He served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, where his knowledge of military history enabled him to achieve a distinguished record. Lt. Col. Taylor died of dropsy.

125 years ago
1884

Born on this date
Otto Fritz Meyerhof. German-born physician and biochemist. Dr. Meyerhof was awarded a share of the 1922 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine "for his discovery of the fixed relationship between the consumption of oxygen and the metabolism of lactic acid in the muscle." He fled Germany for Paris in 1938 and arrived in the United States in 1940, and was given a guest professorship at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Meyerhof died on October 6, 1951 at the age of 67.

100 years ago
1909

Born on this date
Eric McNair. U.S. baseball player. Mr. McNair was a utility infielder with the Philadelphia Athletics (1929-1935, 1942); Boston Red Sox (1936-1938); Chicago White Sox (1939-1940); and Detroit Tigers (1941-1942), batting .274 with 82 home runs and 633 runs batted in in 1,251 games. The Athletics won the American League pennant in each of his first three seasons and World Series championships in the first two; he played in the 1930 and 1931 World Series, batting 0 for 3 with a run in 3 games. Mr. McNair's wife died in childbirth in 1937, and he never recovered from the tragedy. He was managing the Savannah Indians of the Class A South Atlantic League in 1948 when he had to resign because of heart problems, and he died of a heart attack on March 11, 1949, 32 days before his 40th birthday.

Baseball
Philadelphia's Shibe Park, the first modern concrete-and-steel ballpark, was dedicated as a record crowd of 30,162 saw 18-year-old John "Stuffy" McInnis make his major league debut at shortstop for the Athletics. Eddie Plank pitched Philadelphia to an 8-1 win over the Boston Red Sox‚ allowing 6 hits. Philadelphia catcher Mike "Doc" Powers had 1 hit in 4 at bats with a run scored, but injured himself going after a foul pop‚ and after the game complained of intestinal pains (other versions have the pain due to a sandwich or twisting himself in an unusual fashion). The 38-year-old was operated on the next day‚ but did not survive the month‚ the first major league death this century caused by an on-field injury.

The New York Highlanders opened the season under new manager George Stallings‚ losing 4-1 to the Nationals at American League Park in Washington. Washington scored 3 runs in the 1st inning off journeyman Doc Newton to pave the way for Charlie Smith, who allowed just 4 hits and struck out 10 to get the win.

75 years ago
1934

Weather
The strongest surface wind gust in the world, at 231 miles per hour, was measured on the summit of Mount Washington, New Hampshire.

Labour
The U.S. Auto-Lite Strike began in Toledo, Ohio. It lasted almost two months, culminating in a five-day melee in May between Ohio National Guard troops and 6,000 strikers and picketers.

60 years ago
1949

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: After Dinner Story, starring Otto Kruger

This was based on a story by Cornell Woolrich.

Labour
The Newspaper Guild--then known as The Toronto Newspaper Guild Local 87, now known as the Southern Ontario Newspaper Guild (SONG)--signed its first contract in Canada, with The Toronto Star; the contract gave reporters and photographers with five years of experience $80 a week, while other staff members received $45. The Star was the “first newspaper in Canada to establish the five-day, 40-hour week for editorial employees...it now becomes the first and only Toronto daily newspaper to pay its editorial workers time-and-a-half in cash for overtime.”

50 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): La marche des gosses--Annie Cordy (5th week at #1)

On television tonight
Alfred Hitchcock Presents, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Waxwork, starring Barry Nelson and Everett Sloane

40 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da/While My Guitar Gently Weeps--The Beatles (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): Crimson and Clover--Tommy James and the Shondells (4th week at #1)

#1 single in France: Oh Lady Mary--David Alexandre Winter (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Eloise--Barry Ryan

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Liebesleid--Peter Alexander

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)--Peter Sarstedt (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): I Heard It Through the Grapevine--Marvin Gaye (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Why--The Cats (4th week at #1)
2 Don Juan--Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich
3 The Walls Fell Down--The Marbles
4 First of May--The Bee Gees
5 Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)--Peter Sarstedt
6 I Can Hear Music--The Beach Boys
7 Sorry Suzanne--The Hollies
8 The Last Seven Days--Gloria
9 Good Times (Better Times)--Cliff Richard
10 Ensemble--Mireille Mathieu

Singles entering the chart were Goodbye by Mary Hopkin (#15); De Troubador by Lenny Kuhr (#21); Welcome to My House by Left Side (#31); Boom Bang-a-Bang by Lulu (#33); You've Made Me So Very Happy by Blood, Sweat & Tears (#36); and Mendocino by Sir Douglas Quintet (#40).

#1 single in the U.S.A.: Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In--The 5th Dimension

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)--The 5th Dimension
2 You've Made Me So Very Happy--Blood, Sweat & Tears
3 Dizzy--Tommy Roe
4 Galveston--Glen Campbell
5 Time of the Season--The Zombies
6 Only the Strong Survive--Jerry Butler
7 It's Your Thing--The Isley Brothers
8 Hair--The Cowsills
9 Run Away Child, Running Wild--The Temptations
10 Twenty-Five Miles--Edwin Starr

Singles entering the chart were The Boxer by Simon & Garfunkel (#69); Love (Can Make You Happy) by Mercy (#72); Happy Heart by Andy Williams (#75); Buying a Book by Joe Tex (#78); Seattle by Perry Como (#82); Happy Heart by Petula Clark (#84); The River is Wide by the Grassroots (#87); Breakfast in Bed by Dusty Springfield (#91); Cissy Strut by the Meters (#93); It's a Groovy World! by the Unifics (#98); I Can't Do Enough by the Dells (#99); and Singing My Song by Tammy Wynette (#100). Seattle was the theme song of the television series Here Come the Brides.

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)--The 5th Dimension (2nd week at #1)
2 Dizzy--Tommy Roe
3 You've Made Me So Very Happy--Blood, Sweat & Tears
4 Galveston--Glen Campbell
5 It's Your Thing--The Isley Brothers
6 Time of the Season--The Zombies
7 Hair--The Cowsills
8 Rock Me--Steppenwolf
9 Only the Strong Survive--Jerry Butler
10 Twenty-Five Miles--Edwin Starr

Singles entering the chart were The Composer by Diana Ross and the Supremes (#68); Stand! by Sly & the Family Stone (#70); Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine) by the Vogues (#73); Atlantis by Donovan (#75); Buying a Book by Joe Tex (#76); (We've Got) Honey Love by Martha Reeves & the Vandellas (#85); Cissy Strut by the Meters (#86); Morning Girl by Neon Philharmonic (#89); Any Day Now by Percy Sledge (#90); Seattle by Perry Como (#98); Not Wrong Long by the Nazz (#99); and Sorry Suzanne by the Hollies (#100).

Calgary's top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In--The 5th Dimension
2 Things I'd Like to Say--The New Colony Six
3 Indian Giver--1910 Fruitgum Co.
4 Dizzy--Tommy Roe
5 Proud Mary--Creedence Clearwater Revival
6 Gimme Gimme Good Lovin'--Crazy Elephant
7 Rock Me--Steppenwolf
8 Build Me Up Buttercup--The Foundations
9 Galveston--Glen Campbell
10 Mendocino--Sir Douglas Quintet
Pick hit of the week: Sweet Cherry Wine--Tommy James and the Shondells

Died on this date
Alexandre Banza, 36. C.A.R. military officer and politician. Lieutenant Colonel Banza served with the French Army during the First Indochina War, and then with the armed forces of the Central African Republic. He helped Jean-Bédel Bokassa overthrow the government of President David Dacko in 1965, but eventually had a falling-out with President Bokassa, and was executed two days after his attempt at a coup was thwarted. Accounts of the manner of Lt. Col. Banza's execution differ.

War
American wounded in Vietnam for the second week of April soared to 2,691, up from 1,285 the previous week, reflecting the Viet Cong's stepped-up rocket and mortar attacks on U.S. military bases.

World events
At 3 P.M. the government of Czechoslovakia announced--and at 5 P.M. denied--that the U.S.S.R. would send more troops to that country. The Prague radio said only that the earlier broadcast was withdrawn "in view of the changed facts." There was no further explanation.

Economics and finance
Promising "an end to the era of the chronic budget deficit," U.S. President Richard Nixon outlined federal budget revisions for fiscal 1970 that would bring a surplus of $5.8 billion. Among the changes was a $5.5 billion cut in appropriations requests to $204.6 billion. The Nixon estimates of federal outlays, with a $4 billion reduction--including $1.1 billion in defense cuts and $2.9 billion in domestic outlays--came to $192.9 billion. He projected defense and military outlays at $79.4 billion and non-defense outlays at $113.5 billion. Mr. Nixon said that despite the cuts, domestic spending would rise $6.5 billion for the fiscal year, far exceeding that for "any other year in American history."

30 years ago
1979

Died on this date
Boxcar Willie, 67. U.S. musician. Boxcar Willie, whose real name was Lecil Travis Martin, was a country singer and songwriter who took his stage name from the title of a song he wrote. He was a U.S. Air Force sergeant who retired from the military in 1976 to pursue a musical career, and achieved popularity from then through the 1980. Mr. Martin died of leukemia.

Diplomacy
South African Prime Minister P.W. Botha ordered the expulsion of several American embassy staff members, accusing them of espionage.

Tanzania recognized the new government of Uganda, composed solely of exiled opponents of dictator Idi Amin.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Preliminary Round
Buffalo 3 @ Pittsburgh 1 (Best-of-three series tied 1-1)
Atlanta 4 @ Toronto 7 (Toronto won best-of-three series 2-0)
Philadelphia 6 @ Vancouver 4 (Best-of-three series tied 1-1)
New York Rangers 2 @ Los Angeles 1 (OT) (New York won best-of-three series 2-0)

The Maple Leafs set a Stanley Cup record as they scored 3 goals in a span of 23 seconds to open the scoring in the 1st period as they eliminated the Flames at Maple Leaf Gardens. Darryl Sittler scored at 4:04 and 4:16, and Ron Ellis scored at 4:27 to give Toronto a 3-0 lead. Pat Boutette later added 2 goals for the Maple Leafs. The game marked the end of the playing career of Paul Henderson, who finished as a member of the Flames after playing for the Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Toros, and Birmingham Bulls.



Phil Esposito scored at 1:11 of the 3rd period to tie the score and 6:11 of the 1st overtime period to win the game as the Rangers eliminated the Kings at the Forum in Inglewood, California.

25 years ago
1984

Space
The crew of U.S. space shuttle Challenger mission STS-41-C (STS-13) returned the Solar Maximum Mission satellite to orbit, after effecting repairs to its sensors.

Defense
The United States House of Representatives voted 281-111 in a non-binding resolution to condemn U.S. participation in the mining of harbours in Nicaragua. The Senate had adopted a similar resolution two days earlier.

Labour
U.K. National Union of Mineworkers leader Arthur Scargill ruled out the possibility of a national ballot of coal miners on whether to continue their five-week-old strike.

Hockey
The second round of Stanley Cup playoffs began. The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Calgary Flames 5-2 at Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton. At Le Colisee in Quebec, the Quebec Nordiques defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-2.

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Like a Prayer--Madonna (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Like a Prayer--Madonna (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Sugar Ray Robinson, 67. U.S. boxer. Mr. Robinson, born Walker Smith, Jr., was world welterweight champion (1946-1951) and world middleweight champion (1951; 1951-1952; 1955-1957; 1957; 1958-1960). He was considered by many to be the best "pound-for-pound" fighter in history, and was the first to travel with an entourage of hangers-on. Mr. Robinson compiled a professional record of 173-19-6-2, with 108 knockouts, in a career spanning the years 1940-1965, with time out for service in the U.S. Army in 1943-1944 and a retirement from 1952-1955, when he attempted a performing career.

Abbie Hoffman, 52. U.S. activist. Mr. Hoffman co-founded the Youth International Party, popularly known as "Yippies." He was a prominent protester against the Vietnam War, and was one of the "Chicago Seven" who were tried in connection with activities at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Mr. Hoffman was a fugitive for several years in the 1970s, but returned to a life of public protest that ended when he committed suicide with an overdose of pills washed down with liquor.

10 years ago
1999

War
NATO missiles struck a train on a bridge in Serbia, killing 10 civilians.

Weather
It was the most beautiful day of the year so far in Edmonton.

Scandal
In Little Rock, Arkansas, United States District Court Judge Susan Webber Wright held President Bill Clinton in civil contempt of court for testifying falsely in a January 1998 deposition. Judge Wright cited two "intentionally false" statements by Mr. Clinton: that he had not had sexual relations with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, and that he did not recall having been alone with her. The deposition was taken in the sexual harassment lawsuit brought against President Clinton by Paula Jones. Judge Wright fined Mr. Clinton $1,202, the cost of her trip to Washington to preside at the deposition, and ruled that he was liable for some of the costs borne by Ms. Jones. Mr. Clinton was the first sitting president ever to be held in contempt of court.

Susan McDougal, a partner of then-Governor of Arkansas Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton in the Whitewater Development Corporation, was found not guilty of obstruction of justice by a federal jury in Little Rock. Independent counsel Kenneth Starr had indicted Mrs. McDougal for refusing to testify about the role of the Clintons in Whitewater and other matters. Mrs. McDougal and her late husband James had been convicted of fraud at an earlier trial. Mrs. McDougal told the jury that she knew of no wrongdoing by Mr. Clinton, and said that she had refused to testify because she believed that Mr. Starr was primarily interested in damaging Mr. Clinton politically. The jury deadlocked on two counts of criminal contempt of court against Mrs. McDougal, and Judge George Howard declared a mistrial on these charges.

Law
Juanita Westmorland-Traore was appointed a judge of the Quebec court, becoming the first Negro Canadian to be appointed to a judicial position by the Quebec government.