July 20, 2015

130 years ago
1885

Crime
The trial of Metis leader Louis Riel for treason began in Regina, the capital of the North-West Territories; Mr.Riel wished to plead not guilty, but his lawyers entered an insanity plea over his objections.

125 years ago
1890

Born on this date
Verna Felton. U.S. actress. Miss Felton was a radio and voice actress who used her husky voice and no-nonsense attitude to play numerous characters in animated films produced by Walt Disney. She also portrayed Pearl Slaghoople in the animated television comedy series The Flintstones (1960-1966). Miss Felton died of a stroke on December 14, 1966 at the age of 76.

Society
The Rochester Broncos beat the Columbus Buckeyes 8-3 in an American Association game at Windsor Beach in Rochester, and both teams were arrested after the game for playing baseball on Sunday.

110 years ago
1905

Canadiana
Regina and Edmonton were declared the capitals of Saskatchewan and Alberta, respectively.

100 years ago
1915

At the movies
The Picture of Dorian Gray, directed by Eugene Moore, and starring Harris Gordon, Helen Fulton, Ernest Howard, and W. Ray Johnston, opened in theatres.



80 years ago
1935

Disasters
A Royal Dutch Airlines plane en route from Milan to Frankfurt crashed into a Swiss mountain, killing 13.

75 years ago
1940

War
French and Polish troops marched from Syria into Palestine to continue the war against Germany and Italy.

Politics and government
French Prime Minister Marshal Philippe Petain appointed Admiral Jean Decoux as Governor of Indochina.

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill extending provisions of the Hatch Act to curb political activity by state and local government employees.

Defense
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the "Two-Ocean Navy" act, which called for a build-up in naval forces to 35 battleships, 20 carriers, and 88 cruisers.

Medicine
Eli Lilly and Company announced the development of a simple test doctors could administer to patients to determine if an overdose of sulfa drugs had been given.

Transportation
California opened its first freeway, the Arroyo Seco Parkway.

Business
A New York Times report showed that the top 100 corporations in the United States had increased their profits 60.5% for the first half of 1940 over the same period in 1939.

Horse racing
Sirocco won the $50,570 Arlington Classic in Chicago.

Track and field
A three-day meet opened in Helsinki to honour athletes killed in the Winter War against the U.S.S.R.

70 years ago
1945

Diplomacy
At the Potsdam Conference in Germany, U.S. President Harry Truman said that the United States sought no monetary or territorial gains from World War II.

The World Jewish Congress, meeting in London, appealed to the U.S.A., U.S.S.R., and U.K. to remedy treatment of Jewish displaced persons in Europe.

Society
The Canadian government of Prime Minister Mackenzie King sent out the first Family Allowance payments to Canadian families; critics called it a waste of money, saying it would encourage poor families to have more children.

Science
American Cyanamid Company announced its discovery of the synthesis of a new vitamin, folic acid, in the Vitamin B class.

Protest
Leaflets were distributed in Buenos Aires attacking U.S. Ambassador to Argentina Spruille Braden.

Economics and finance
The U.S. House of Representatives approved changes in the Bretton Woods legislation, and the bill was sent to President Harry Truman in Germany for his signature. The Senate approved the House version of a bill to increase the lending power of the Export-Import Bank by $2.8 billion. The House completed action on the tax bill by approving Senate changes and sending it to President Truman for his signature.

U.S. Interior Secretary Harold Ickes said that he had decided that it was imperative that the United States send six million tons of coal to Europe because the "race in Europe today is between coal and anarchy."

The United States Labor Department reported that non-agricultural employment had dropped in June to 37,495,000, the first decline in seven years.

50 years ago
1965

Space
The unmanned Soviet lunar probe Zond 3 photographed the far side of the Moon.

40 years ago
1975

Disasters
Fire burned down the business section of Springhill, Nova Scotia, destroying 25 buildings and causing over $3 million in damages.

Baseball
The Atlanta Braves defeated the Montreal Expos 5-4 in the completion of a suspended game from May 15, while the Expos came back to win the regulary-scheduled game 6-5 in 11 innings before 16,056 fans at Jarry Park in Montreal. The Braves had been leading the May 15 game 4-1 in the bottom of the 4th inning when the game had been called because of rain, but Atlanta manager Clyde King had protested that the umpires hadn't waited long enough before calling the game. National League President Chub Feeney upheld the protest, and the game was resumed from the point at which it had been called. Phil Niekro was on the mound when the game was called on May 15, and resumed his position when the game resumed. He pitched 8 2/3 innings for the win. In the regularly-scheduled game, the Braves scored a run in the top of the 9th to tie the game 5-5, but the Expos scored the winning run when Pete Mackanin singled home Tim Foli with 1 out in the bottom of the 11th.

Dave Kingman drove in 6 runs with 2 home runs and a single, and his second homer, a 2-run blast off Wayne Granger, climaxed a 4-run 8th inning as the New York Mets edged the Houston Astros 10-9 before 20,242 fans at Shea Stadium in New York.

The Philadelphia Phillies scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 1st inning and 4 more in the 3rd as they beat the Cincinnati Reds 11-4 before 44,134 fans at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. Cincinnati starting pitcher Clay Kirby allowed a hit, 5 bases on balls, 4 earned runs--3 earned--and threw a wild pitch in just 1/3 inning in taking the loss.

The St. Louis Cardinals swept a doubleheader from the San Diego Padres 3-1 in 11 innings and 10-2 before 24,031 fans at San Diego Stadium. Ron Fairly doubled home Lou Brock and Reggie Smith with 2 out in the top of the 11th to give the Cardinals the win in the first game, while second baseman Mike Tyson drove in 4 runs with 2 singles and a double, and scored 3 runs for the Cardinals in the second game. Winning pitcher John Curtis pitched a 5-hit complete game and batted 2 for 4 with 3 runs.

With 2 out in the bottom of the 12th inning, Bill Buckner beat out an infield single and John Hale followed with a home run to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-3 win over the Chicago Cubs before 42,800 fans at Dodger Stadium.

The Chicago White Sox swept a doubleheader from the Milwaukee Brewers 9-2 and 10-5 before 24,719 fans at White Sox Park. Ken Henderson batted 4 for 5 with 3 runs batted in for Chicago in the first game, and Bill Stein hit his first major league grand slam in the 4th inning as the White Sox came back from an early 4-0 deficit to win the second game. Bill Melton added a 3-run homer for Chicago in the 7th.

The New York Yankees swept a doubleheader from the Minnesota Twins 14-2 and 5-4 before 23,782 fans at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington. Roy White and Thurman Munson each had a home run and 3 runs batted in for New York in the first game, while pinch hitter Ed Herrmann, who had batted 3 for 6 in the first game, doubled home Rick Dempsey with the winning run to climax a 2-run rally in the top of the 9th inning of the second game.

The Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers split a doubleheader before 13,775 fans at Arlington Stadium. The Rangers won the first game 10-5, as Lenny Randle batted 2 for 2 with a double, triple, a run, and 3 runs batted in. The Red Sox won the second game 3-2, as Reggie Cleveland, with relief help from Jim Willoughby, won the pitching matchup against Steve Hargan, who pitched a complete game in defeat. The games were the last for Billy Martin as Texas manager; he was fired the next day and replaced by third base coach Frank Lucchesi.

Ken Clay, recently called up from West Haven of the Eastern League, made his debut with the Syracuse Chiefs, pitching a 5-hit complete game as the Chiefs routed the Richmond Braves 9-1 in the first game of a scheduled International League doubleheader. Juan Bernhardt hit a home run for Syracuse. Rain postponed the second game.

The Sacramento Solons beat the Albuquerque Dukes 15-10 in a Pacific Coast League game at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento. Dave Lindsey, Jim Rosario, Jack Lind, and Juan Lopez hit home runs for Sacramento, while Cleo Smith and Orlando Alvarez homered for Albuquerque. Jerry Augustine was the winning pitcher, with relief help from Lowell Palmer.

One Ed Acosta defeated the other as the Mexico City Reds blanked Villahermosa 2-0 in a Mexican League game. Ed Acosta Lopez was the winning pitcher, while Ed Acosta Montenegro took the loss.

Tom Poquette of the Jacksonville Suns singled home Joe Zdeb to apparently tie their Southern League game against the Orlando Twins 3-3, but Orlando manager Dick Phillips protested that Mr. Poquette had used a bat with pine tar applied too high on the handle, in violation of the new rule 6.06 (d), which prohibited hitting a fair ball with a "doctored" bat. The umpires called Mr. Poquette out, ejected him from the game, and returned Mr. Zdeb to second base, where he was subsequently stranded. Orlando held on to win 3-2.

Abelino Pena pitched a 7-inning perfect game as the Burlington Brewers blanked the Cedar Rapids Giants in the second game of a Midwest League doubleheader in Cedar Rapids. It was only the second perfect game in Midwest League history, with the first coming from Dennis Ribant of Quad Cities in a 9-inning 1-0 win over Clinton on July 2, 1961.

30 years ago
1985

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): A View to a Kill--Duran Duran (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Dancing in the Dark--Bruce Springsteen (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): I'm on Fire--Bruce Springsteen

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Frankie--Sister Sledge (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Frankie--Sister Sledge (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): A View to a Kill--Duran Duran (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Raspberry Beret--Prince and the Revolution
2 A View to a Kill--Duran Duran
3 Sussudio--Phil Collins
4 Everytime You Go Away--Paul Young
5 You Give Good Love--Whitney Houston
6 Would I Lie to You?--Eurythmics
7 Shout--Tears for Fears
8 Voices Carry--’Til Tuesday
9 If You Love Somebody Set Them Free--Sting
10 Glory Days--Bruce Springsteen

Singles entering the chart were Don't Lose My Number by Phil Collins (#48); Shame by the Motels (#64); Wild and Crazy Love by Mary Jane Girls (#79); Only for Love by Limahl (#82); Hangin' on a String (Contemplating) by Loose Ends (#84); and Thinking About Your Love by Skipworth and Turner (#90).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Never Surrender--Corey Hart (3rd week at #1)
2 Axel F--Harold Faltermeyer
3 A View to a Kill--Duran Duran
4 Walking On Sunshine--Katrina and the Waves
5 Everytime You Go Away--Paul Young
6 Would I Lie to You?--Eurythmics
7 Never Ending Story--Limahl
8 If You Love Somebody Set Them Free--Sting
9 19--Paul Hardcastle
10 The Goonies 'R' Good Enough--Cyndi Lauper

Singles entering the chart were Dare Me by the Pointer Sisters (#91); All Day by Idle Eyes (#95); Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake) by Freddie Jackson (#96); and Kayleigh by Marillion (#97).

World events
The government of Aruba passed legislation to secede from the Netherlands Antilles.

Law
The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench fined former school teacher Jim Keegstra $5,000 for willfully promoting hatred against Jews; he had taught Eckville students that the Holocaust didn't happen and that a Jewish conspiracy controlled world affairs.

Archaeology
Treasure hunters found the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Atocha, which sank off the coast of Key West, Florida in 1622 during a hurricane. The ship contained over $400 million in coins and silver ingots.

Football
CFL
Toronto (1-2) 27 @ Winnipeg (2-1) 28

The Blue Bombers scored 2 touchdowns in the last 1:38 of the game to erase a 27-14 deficit before 27, 941 at Winnipeg Stadium. John Hufnagel handed off to Willard Reaves for a 1-yard touchdown, converted by Trevor Kennerd at 13:22 of the 4th quarter. The Blue Bombers were able to stop the Argonauts and get the ball back, and Mr. Hufnagel completed a 9-yard scoring pass to James Murphy, converted by Mr. Kennerd with 26 seconds remaining. The Argonauts scored just one offensive touchdown, on a 14-yard pass from Condredge Holloway to Terry Greer with 6 seconds remaining before halftime. Hank Ilesic’s convert gave Toronto a 10-4 lead. Just 1:13 into the 3rd quarter, Sterling Hinds of the Argonauts blocked a Bob Cameron punt and recovered in the Winnipeg end zone for his first CFL touchdown. Unfortunately, Mr. Hinds, who had won a bronze medal for Canada in the 4 x 100 relay in the 1984 Olympics, suffered a serious leg injury later in the game, and never played again. Mr. Hufnagel replaced Tom Clements at quarterback for the Blue Bombers late in the 3rd quarter, and threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Glenn Steele at 2:37 of the fourth quarter to reduce Toronto’s lead to 20-14. The Argonauts added a touchdown 5 minutes later when Dennis Clay intercepted a pass from Mr. Hufnagel and returned it 40 yards for the major score.

Baseball
Darryl Strawberry hit a grand slam and a 3-run home run to lead the New York Mets to a 16-4 win over the Atlanta Braves before 35,650 fans at Shea Stadium in New York.

The Seattle Mariners came back from deficits of 4-0 and 7-3 to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 13-10 before 29,899 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee. The teams combined for 32 hits.

25 years ago
1990

At the movies
The Freshman, starring Marlon Brando and Matthew Broderick, opened in theatres.

Terrorism
An Irish Republican Army bomb blew a 10-foot hole in the London Stock Exchange.

Law
Justice William Brennan, 84, announced that he was retiring from the United States Supreme Court, effective immediately, after almost 34 years on the bench. He was recognized as the leader of the court’s liberal bloc, refusing to rule in accordance with what the U.S. Constitution actually said, imposing liberal biases on the Constitution instead.

Scandal
A three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. suspended Oliver North’s conviction on three felony counts in the Iran-Contra scandal. The panel voted 2-1 that trial judge Gerhard Gesell had failed to insure that witnesses testifying at Mr. North’s trial had not used his 1987 Congressional testimony, under which he had been guaranteed immunity from prosecution, to refresh their memories. The majority held that if the case were to proceed, Judge Gesell must demonstrate that Mr. North’s testimony was not used by witnesses or by the office of prosecutor Lawrence Walsh. The panel set aside convictions for aiding and abetting an obstruction of Congress (someone else’s obstruction, not his own) and for receiving an illegal gratuity (accepting an electric fence to protect his house from terrorist Abu Nidal), and overturned Mr. North’s conviction for destroying government documents.

Business
Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co (A&P) bought 58 Miracle Food Marts and 11 Ultra-Mart food and drug stores from Steinberg Inc. for $235.5 million. The stores were mostly in the Toronto area.

Football
CFL
Toronto (0-2) 17 @ Winnipeg (2-0) 34

Robert Mimbs rushed 23 times for 112 yards and a touchdown for the Blue Bombers. Toronto quarterback Matt Dunigan tied a CFL single-game record by throwing 7 interceptions--3 were by Less Browne, 2 by Ken Pettway, and 1 each by Darryl Sampson and James West. Carl Brazley returned a missed field goal 108 yards for an Argo touchdown in the 3rd quarter. 25,691 were in attendance at Winnipeg Stadium.

Baseball
The Baltimore Orioles traded outfielder Phil Bradley to the Chicago White Sox for designated hitter/first baseman Ron Kittle. Mr. Bradley was batting .270 with 4 home runs and 26 runs batted in 72 games with the Orioles in 1990. Mr. Kittle, who had joined the White Sox late in the 1982 season and been named the American League Rookie of the Year in 1983, was traded to the New York Yankees in 1986 and rejoined the White Sox in 1989. In 83 games with Chicago in 1990, he was batting .245 with 16 homers and 43 RBIs.

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): One of Us--Pandora (2nd week at #1)

Academia
With the strong support of Governor Pete Wilson, the California Board of Regents voted 14-10 to end consideration of race, sex, religion, colour, ethnicity, or national origin in the admission of students. The board voted 15-10 to end affirmative action in the hiring of faculty and awarding of contracts.

10 years ago
2005

Died on this date
James Doohan, 85. Canadian-born U.S. actor. Mr. Doohan, a native of Vancouver, was best known for playing Chief Engineer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott, Chief Engineer of the Starship Enterprise on the television series Star Trek (1966-1969) and seven movies from 1979-1994.