May 14, 2011

250 years ago
1761

Born on this date
Samuel Dexter. U.S. politician. Mr. Dexter, a Federalist, represented Massachusetts' 1st District in the U.S. House of Representatives (1793-1795) and represented the state in the U.S. Senate (1799-1800) before serving in the cabinet of President John Adams as Secretary of War (1800-1801), and in the cabinets of Mr. Adams and his successor, Thomas Jefferson, as Secretary of the Treasury (January 1-May 13, 1801). Mr. Dexter became a Democratic-Republican and supported the War of 1812. He campaigned unsuccessfully for Governor of Massachusetts in 1814, 1815, and 1816, and died on May 4, 1816, 10 days before his 55th birthday.

240 years ago
1771

Born on this date
Robert Owen. U.K. businessman and social reformer. Mr. Owen, a native of Newtown, Wales, became a textile magnate in Scotland. He travelled to the United States in 1824 and invested most of his fortune in an experimental socialistic community at New Harmony, Indiana. The utopian socialist community collapsed in failure after less than three years, by which time Mr. Owen had returned to Britain. He continud to campaign for labour reforms and free co-educational schools, and died in his birthplace on November 17, 1858 at the age of 87.

200 years ago
1811

World events
Pedro Juan Caballero, Fulgencio Yegros and José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia started actions in Paraguay to depose Francisco Javier de Elío, Viceroy of the Rio de la Plata.

170 years ago
1841

Politics and government
The first session of the first Parliament of the Province of Canada after the Act of Union opened in Kingston, Canada West.

130 years ago
1881

Born on this date
George Murray Hulbert. U.S. judge and politician. Mr. Hulbert, a Democrat, represented New York's 21st District in the U.S. House of Representatives (1915-1918) and was President of the Board of Aldermen of New York City (1921-1925) before sitting on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York from 1934 until his death on April 26, 1950, 18 days before his 69th birthday.

Lionel Hill. Australian politician. Mr. Hill had a successful career as a football player before joining the South Australian Labour Party. He was first elected to the S.A. House of Assembly in 1915, and became party leader and Premier of South Australia in August 1926, serving as Premier until Labour's defeat in the 1927 state election. The Labour Party was returned to power in the 1930 South Australia state election, with Mr. Hill as Premier, but he had difficulty dealing with the economic conditions of the Depression, and he was expelled as leader of the S.A. Labour Party in August 1931. Mr. Hill then formed the splinter Parliamentary Labour Party, and remained as Premier until February 1933 with the support of the Liberal Federation. He resigned his offices in February 1933 to serve as South Australian Agent-General in London, but complaints about his performance led to his resignation in August 1934. Mr. Hill returned to electoral politics in 1958 as an alderman in Kensington and Norwood, serving until his death on March 19, 1963 at the age of 81.

110 years ago
1901

Born on this date
Robert Ritter. German psychologist and physician. Dr. Ritter earned a doctorate in educational psychology at the University of Munich in 1927, and a medical degree at Heidelberg University in 1930. He received his specialist certification in child psychology, studying the inheritability of criminality, in 1934, the same year he joined the Nazi Party. In 1936, Dr. Ritter was appointed head of the Racial Hygiene and Demographic Biology Research Unit of Nazi Germany's Criminal Police, to establish the genealogical histories of the German "Gypsies," and became the architect of the experiments performed on them, including sterilization, although he claimed to oppose killnig them. Dr. Ritter taught criminal biology at the University of Tübingen (1944-1946), and the process of denazification freed him from taking responsibility for his actions during the Nazi regime. He worked as a pediatrician with the Frankfurt Health Office in the late 1940s, but accusations surfaced that Dr. Ritter had been dishonest in his denazification hearing, and that he had been far more responsible for the fate of the Gypsies that he had acknowledged. Dr. Ritter suffered increasingly from illness, and was fired from his job by the city administration in Frankfurt, four days before his death on April 15, 1951, 29 days before his 50th birthday.

80 years ago
1931

Protest
In an attempt to quell a demonstration by striking sawmill workers in Ådalen, Sweden, soldiers opened fire and killed five unarmed people. The troops claimed that they heard shots before opening fire themselves, and thus believed the strikers to be armed.

75 years ago
1936

Born on this date
Dick Howser. U.S. baseball player and manager. Mr. Howser, a native of Miami, Florida, played shortstop and second base for the Kansas City Athletics, Cleveland Indians, and New York Yankees from 1961-1968, batting .248 with 16 home runs and 165 runs batted in in 789 games. He then became a coach, and managed the Yankees for one game in 1978 and the entire season in 1980, leading the team to the American League East Division title. Mr. Howser resigned rather than fire third base coach Mike Ferraro, as ordered by Yankees' owner George Steinbrenner, as a result of a mistake in the 1980 AL Championship Series. Mr. Howser replaced Jim Frey as manager of the Kansas City Royals late in the 1981 season, leading them to the AL West Division second-half championship before losing to the Oakland Athletics in divisional playoffs. The Royals finished second in each of the next two seasons before winning the divisional title in 1984 and then the team's only World Series in 1985. The team was struggling in fourth place in the AL West Division in 1986 with a 40-48 record, and Mr. Howser was diagnosed with a brain tumour shortly after managing the American League in the All-Star Game. He took the rest of the season off and tried to come back in spring training in 1987, but his illness was terminal, and he went to be with the Lord Jesus Christ on June 17, 1987 at the age of 51. As a major league manager, he compiled a record of 507-425-1.

70 years ago
1941

War
Sources in Cairo reported that German planes were beginning to land in Vichy-occupied Syria. Berlin sources stated that Rudolf Hess, deputy to German Fuehrer Adolf Hitler, had flown to Scotland four days earlier with the "illusion" that he could promote peace before Britain was "destroyed," and that he expected British authorities to permit him to return within two days. British reports confirmed that Mr. Hess hoped to arrange a peace through the Duke of Hamilton. The Royal New Zealand Navy minesweeper HMS Puriri was sunk, becoming the second victim of mines laid off the Northland coast by the German raider Orion. Five of her crew were killed.

Defense
The U.S. War Department announced that 214 four-engine flying fortresses had been flown from California to Hawaii during the previous 24 hours to reinforce the heavy concentration of medium bombers and pursuit planes already there. U.S. Office of Production Management Director General William Knudsen announced the creation of the Material Coordinating Committee for the United States and Canada to exchange information on their supplies of strategic raw materials.

Diplomacy
German Ambassador to Turkey Franz von Papen delivered a personal message of friendship from Adolf Hitler to Turkish President Ismet Inonu.

Politics and government
The Argentine Radical Party convention in Buenos Aires adopted a resolution affirming Argentine neutrality, denouncing totalitarian ideologies, and expressing sympathy for the Allies.

Americana
The U.S. Census Bureau reported that 62,958,703 people--47.8% of the population--lived in 140 metropolitan areas, an increase of more than 8 million since 1930.

Agriculture
The United States Senate passed a bill authorizing government loans of up to 85% of 1909-1914 parity prices to growers of five basic crops, and sent it to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Farm commodity prices soared on the Chicago markets.

Radio
Mark Ethridge, former president of the National Association of Broadcasters, resigned from a U.S. federal commission surveying the radio industry, and denounced the Federal Communications Commission for its recent anti-monopoly regulations.

Economics and finance
U.K. Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden said that the British government had rejected Japanese complaints of economic restrictions in British territories.

Labour
Employees at the Colt Fire Arms Manufacturing Company plant in Hartford, Connecticut ended their two-day strike, accepting wage increases of 5c-8c per hour.

Baseball
The Chicago Cubs released veteran pitcher Dizzy Dean, who had pitched just 1 inning in 1 game in 1941 because of a sore arm, but retained him as a coach. The same day, the New York Giants sent Dizzy’s brother Daffy, 0-0 in 5 games in 1941, down to the minors.

60 years ago
1951

On television tonight
Lights Out, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Dead Man's Coat, starring Basil Rathbone, William Post, Jr., and Norman Rose



Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Inna!

War
Israel and Syria formally agreed with United Nations representatives in Palestine to obey the Security Council plea for a cease-fire in their border area.

Burma reported the capture of Launglon, a stronghold near the southern part of Tavoy.

The U.K. government threatened to send paratroops to Iran to guard British oil interests.

World events
The People's Republic of China reported the suppression of two rebel plots in Port Arthur and the execution of many "counter-revolutionaries" in other Manchurian cities.

Diplomacy
The Organization of American States' special committee on Caribbean disputes disbanded after reporting that relations among countries in the area were good.

Law
The U.S. Supreme Court refused for the second time to review the cases of seven Nazi war criminals sentenced to hang in Germany for ordering the death of concentration camp inmates.

Transportation
Trains ran on the Talyllyn Railway in Wales for the first time since its preservation, making it the first railway in the world to be operated by volunteers.

Labour
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Taft-Hartley Act required officers of "parent" labour federations such as the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations to sign affidavits certifying they were not Communists before affiliated unions could use the National Labour Relations Board.

50 years ago
1961

Protest
When the Trailways busload of the first Congress on Racial Equality (CORE) Freedom Riders stopped at Anniston, Alabama to get groceries, a mob of white people attacked and beat members of the group, which consisted of six whites and seven Negroes. The bus continued to Birmingham, where the group was attacked again. A Greyhound bus carrying another group of Freedom Riders arrived at Anniston, where an Alabama state investigator who had boarded the bus on a tip barred the door to a mob of whites attempting to board. The bus continued toward Birmingham, followed by cars. Six miles out of Anniston, a flat tire halted the bus, and a fire bomb was thrown into the vehicle, which was destroyed by the resulting fire. CORE officials sent a telegram to U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, protesting and asking for "guarantees of freedom on the public highways."

Religion
Pope John XXIII, speaking at a celebration of the 70th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical Rerum Novarum, urged a worldwide war against hunger and poverty, saying, "The principle of solidarity between all human beings must be emphasized and exalted. It is necessary to recall and preach duty for communities and individuals and have an abundance of means of subsistence to aid those who are in difficult conditions." Rerum Novarum has been called the Magna Carta of Roman Catholic social principles.

40 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Too Young to Be Married--The Hollies (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): (I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden--Lynn Anderson (5th week at #1)

South Africa's Top 10 (Springbok Radio)
1 Put Your Hand in the Hand--Alan Garrity (2nd week at #1)
2 Understanding--Peanutbutter Conspiracy
3 Have You Ever Seen the Rain--Creedence Clearwater Revival
4 What is Life--George Harrison
5 A Summer Prayer for Peace--The Archies
6 Amazing Grace--Judy Collins
7 Vicki--Lance James
8 Another Day--Paul McCartney
9 She’s a Lady--Tom Jones
10 Home--Dave Mills

Singles entering the chart were Help Me Make it Through the Night by Percy Sledge (#16); and Joy to the World by Three Dog Night (#20).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 Sweet and Innocent--Donny Osmond
2 Chick-A-Boom (Don't Ya Jes' Love It)--Daddy Dewdrop
3 If--Bread
4 Jodie--Joey Gregorash
5 Joy to the World--Three Dog Night
6 Me and You and a Dog Named Boo--Lobo
7 Here Comes the Sun--Richie Havens
8 Friends/Honey Roll--Elton John
9 Brown Sugar--The Rolling Stones
10 Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)--Raiders

Singles entering the chart were Never Ending Song of Love by Delaney & Bonnie & Friends (#26); I Don't Know How to Love Him by Yvonne Elliman (#29); and Signs by the Five Man Electrical Band (#30).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKVN)
1 Brown Sugar--The Rolling Stones
2 Broken/Albert Flasher--The Guess Who
3 Love Her Madly--The Doors
4 Joy to the World--Three Dog Night
5 Hot Love--T. Rex
6 Lucky Man--Emerson, Lake & Palmer
7 That's the Way--Carly Simon
8 Me and You and a Dog Named Boo--Lobo
9 Sweet Mary--Argent
10 Chick-A-Boom (Don't Ya Jes' Love It)--Daddy Dewdrop

Singles entering the chart were It's Too Late/I Feel the Earth Move by Carole King (#28); Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian) by the Raiders (#29); and Try by Pepper Tree (#30).

Baseball
The San Francisco Giants scored 5 runs--4 unearned as a result of 2 errors--with 2 out in the bottom of the 7th inning as they overcame a 4-3 deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-4 before 30,862 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. San Francisco shortstop Chris Speier hit his first major league home run with 1 out in the bottom of the 1st after the Dodgers scored 2 runs in the top of the 1st, and Willie Mays, eight days past his 40th birthday, followed with his 636th career major league home run and 8th of the season to tie the score. Willie Davis homered for Los Angeles in the 4th.

Duane Josephson tripled to lead off the bottom of the 5th inning and Doug Griffin followed with a sacrifice fly to score Mr. Josephson with what turned out to be the winning run as the Boston Red Sox shut out the Baltimore Orioles 2-0 before 33,941 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Sonny Siebert (6-0) pitched an 8-hitter to outduel Jim Palmer (5-2), who allowed just 5 hits in a complete game.

Toby Harrah doubled to lead off the bottom of the 9th inning, advanced to third base on a ground out by pinch hitter Richie Scheinblum, and scored on a sacrifice fly by pinch hitter Paul Casanova to give the Washington Senators a 3-2 win over the Detroit Tigers before 18,694 fans at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington. Denny McLain (4-5) pitched an 8-hit complete game victory against his former team, and took a shutout into the 9th inning before the Tigers scored 2 runs on a single by Ike Brown to tie the score. Washington catcher Jim French batted 0 for 4 and made 7 putouts and an assist, participating in a double play in the 234th and last game of his 7-year major league career.

Graig Nettles' solo home run with 2 out in the top of the 6th inning broke a 1-1 tie as the Cleveland Indians edged the New York Yankees 2-1 before 10,541 fans at Yankee Stadium. Ray Lamb (1-0) pitched a 7-hitter for his first American League win, outduelling Steve Kline (4-2).



Cesar Tovar led off the bottom of the 9th inning with a triple and scored on a bases-loaded fielder's choice ground ball by pinch hitter Rich Reese to give the Minnesota Twins a 4-3 win over the Chcicago White Sox before 8,322 fans at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota.

In an International League game, the Syracuse Chiefs blew an 11-1 lead, but eventually defeated the Winnipeg Whips 15-13 in 12 innings. The Whips hit 9 home runs to tie the game 13-13.

30 years ago
1981

Hit parade
Edmonton's Top 20 (CHED)
1 High School Confidential--Rough Trade
2 Just the Two of Us--Grover Washington, Jr.
3 Take it on the Run--REO Speedwagon
4 Her Town Too--James Taylor and J.D. Souther
5 Angel of the Morning--Juice Newton
6 I Missed Again--Phil Collins
7 It Just Occurred to Me--Peter Pringle
8 Kiss on My List--Daryl Hall & John Oates
9 Sweetheart--Franke and the Knockouts
10 While You See a Chance--Steve Winwood
11 Bette Davis Eyes--Kim Carnes
12 Morning Train (Nine to Five)--Sheena Easton
13 Somebody’s Knockin’--Terri Gibbs
14 Watching the Wheels--John Lennon
15 Ain’t Even Done with the Night--John Cougar
16 You Better You Bet--The Who
17 Being with You--Smokey Robinson
18 Babe--Jack Green
19 Turning Japanese--The Vapors
20 I Love You--Climax Blues Band

Economics and finance
The Bank of Canada raised its lending rate to a further record high of 18.98%.

Soccer
English FA Cup Final replay @ Wembley Stadium, London
Tottenham Hotspur 3 Manchester City 2

Ricardo Villa's second goal of the game, in the 76th minute, broke a 2-2 tie as Tottenham Hotspur edged Manchester City, five days after the teams had played to a 1-1 tie. The winning goal came six minutes after Garth Crooks scored the tying goal for Tottenham Hotspur.



Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Minnesota 3 @ New York Islanders 6 (New York led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Denis Potvin scored 2 goals and 2 assists and Mike Bossy scored 2 goals to lead the Islanders past the North Stars at Nassau County Coliseum in Uniondale. Bob Nystrom and Ken Morrow also scored for New York. Dino Ciccarelli, Brad Palmer, and Steve Payne for the North Stars, who used rookie Don Beaupre in goal after playing veteran Gilles Meloche in game 1. Billy Smith was again in goal for the Islanders.



Basketball
NBA
Finals
Boston 102 @ Houston 91 (Boston won best-of-seven series 4-2)

Larry Bird scored 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the Celtics to their 14th National Basketball Association championship, defeating the Rockets before 16,121 fans at the Summit. Cedric Maxwell added 19 points for Boston, and was named the Finals' Most Valuable Player. Robert Reid led Houston scorers with 27 points, and Moses Malone added 23 points and 16 rebounds.



25 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Dover-Calais--Style (5th week at #1)

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Clarence S. Campbell Conference Finals
St. Louis 1 @ Calgary 2 (Calgary won best-of-seven series 4-3)

20 years ago
1991

Died on this date
Aladár Gerevich, 81. Hungarian fencer. Mr. Gerevich, the "greatest Olympic swordsman ever," won seven gold medals, a silver medal, and a bronze medal in sabre team and individual competition in six straight Summer Olympic Games from 1932-1960, as well as a bronze medal in the foil team event at Helsinki in 1952.

Crime
Winnie Mandela, wife of South African anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela, was sentenced to six months in prison for her part in the kidnapping of four youths.

Protest
Angry truckers blockaded Parliament Hill in Ottawa; they claimed they couldn't compete due to higher taxes in Canada than in the United States, and that diesel fuel was also 10-20¢ per litre cheaper in the U.S.

Politics and government
Canadian Immigration Minister Barbara McDougall reprimanded the Department of External Affairs for letting former Iraqi Ambassador to the United States Mohamed Al-Mashat into Canada on a fast-track.

10 years ago
2001

Literature
Alistair Macleod's novel No Great Mischief, set in Cape Breton, won the IMPAC Dublin award, worth $172,000, the world's richest literary prize for a single work of fiction.

Society
New Brunswickers voted to keep the province's addictive video lottery terminals by a narrow majority; it was Canada's first provincial referendum on VLTs.

Law
The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that there was no exception in federal law for people to use marijuana to ease their pain from cancer, AIDS, or other illnesses.

Health
British experts on "mad cow disease" warned that the outbreak could get worse within a few years.