MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 years ago — 1995
LOS ANGELES – The prosecution ripped apart the veracity of O.J. Simpson’s sole alibi witness Thursday, getting her to retreat on the pivotal issue of when she saw the defendant’s Bronco in front of his house and demonstrating that she lied almost constantly under oath on other matters. During a blistering cross-examination of Rosa Lopez, a maid who used to work next door to Simpson, prosecutor Christopher Darden also suggested a motive for her decision to back the defendant — that she disliked Nicole Brown Simpson for having slapped her maid, a friend of Lopez; and that she may have received $5,000 in exchange for her testimony.
50 years ago — 1970
George Howard Putt, charged with five sex-oriented murders here in 29 days last August and September, has been held legally sane and competent to stand trial by psychiatrists at Central State Hospital in Nashville. Criminal Court Judge William H. Williams yesterday set May 4 as the date for Putt’s trial to begin.
75 years ago — 1945
CORREGIDOR – General Douglas Macarthur returned to Corregidor in an emotion-filled visit and directed the re-raising of the Stars and Stripes on this historic, battletorn island fortress. “Let your men raise the colors,” Macarthur said at the conclusion of a speech of congratulations to Col. George Jones of Memphis, commander of the forces that recaptured Corregidor.
100 years ago — 1920
E.P. Mickel of Nashville addressed the City Club luncheon yesterday. There is “too much dross in the American melting pot and it ought to be thrown out,” he said, referring to American indifference to the propaganda of Reds and destructionists.
125 years ago — 1895
NASHVILLE – The Davidson County Grand Jury report recommends that the jailers at the county jail be relieved of their duties and charges them with gross negligence in the mass escape three weeks ago. It seems the jailers were playing seven up with some prisoners upstairs and left the keys lying on a table downstairs.