MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 years ago — 1993
NEW YORK — Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman, whose followers have been linked to bombing conspiracies in New York, surrendered to U.S. authorities at his Brooklyn mosque Friday. Muslim supporters shouted “God is Great!” and Jewish opponents yelled “Drop dead!” as the fundamentalist cleric, surrounded by aides, walked to a federal command post, ending a tense standoff with U.S. officers. Atty. Gen. Janet Reno had rejected earlier arguments to have the blind cleric arrested, preferring to observe him instead and learn more about the Islamic network on the East Coast. But Justice Department officials became concerned that the cleric would go underground.
50 years ago — 1968
LONDON — A British judge Tuesday rejected the defense’s contention that the slaying of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a political crime, and approved the United States government’s request for extradition of James Earl Ray to stand trial for the slaying. Ray’s lawyers announced they will appeal the decision to Britain’s High Court. In Washington Atty. Gen. Ramsay Clark said he hoped Ray could be returned to the United States without undue delay so the prisoner could have his “right to a speedy trial.”
75 years ago — 1943
WASHINGTON — The American public was warned yesterday by the War Department spokesmen that the Axis powers may bomb United States cities this summer. The Axis would be trying to cripple forthcoming Allied offensives by creating a clamor for air protection on the home front.
100 years ago — 1918
The Memphis Driving Club will sponsor five harness races tomorrow at the Tri-State Fairgrounds. Betting is heavy on Sallie Goodman, owned by Julius Goodman, and the tipsters are talking about a horse named Red Light owned by Fred Orgill.
125 years ago — 1893
At least 300 persons gathered at the Memphis Cotton Exchange yesterday to show public disapproval of the Sherman Silver Law. Representative Josiah Patterson of the 10th District addressed the meeting and said he opposes the law and also the free coinage of silver. Col. William R. Moore then read a resolution, which was adopted, petitioning President Cleveland to call an extra session of Congress to repeal the law. Banks all over the country are failing because of it and the nation’s gold reserves are being depleted.