TODAY IN HISTORY: Truscott trial begins
In 68 AD, the brutal and paranoid Roman emperor Nero committed suicide at age
31. Nero is regarded as one of the worst of Rome”s emperors, better known for devoting himself to horse racing, singing, dancing and sexual exploits than administrative duties. He is often accused of “fiddling while Rome burned” although historians generally agree that he did in fact try to control the fire that destroyed much of the city in 64 AD.
In 1549, the Church of England adopted “The Book of Common Prayer,” compiled by Thomas Cranmer.
In 1846, a fire ravaged St. John’s, Nfld., leaving nearly 12,000 people homeless.
In 1866, a 20-year-old Irish soldier won the only Victoria Cross awarded for an act of valour on Canadian soil. Private Timothy O”Hea saved 800 German immigrants locked in converted boxcars on a train stopped at Danville, Que. All by himself, O”Hea put out a fire in another boxcar filled with ammunition before it exploded.
In 1870, British author Charles Dickens died at age 58. He wrote 15 major novels, including “A Tale of Two Cities” and “Great Expectations,” as well as countless short stories and articles. The inscription on his tombstone in Poet’s Corner, Westminster Abbey, reads: “He was a sympathizer to the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed; and by his death, one of England’s greatest writers is lost to the world.”
In 1915, Les Paul, one of the most influential guitarists in music history, was born in Waukesha, Wis. With his wife Mary Ford, he had a string of hits in the late ‘40s and early ‘50s including, “Mockin’ Bird Hill,” “How High the Moon” and “The World is Waiting for the Sunrise.” Those recordings were among the earliest to use multi-tracking. Paul also designed guitars which were marketed by the Gibson company and became the favourites of pop, rock and country musicians. Paul also built the first eighttrack tape recorder, which helped pioneer multitrack recording. And he invented “sound-on-sound” recording, now known as overdubbing. He was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2005. He died on Aug. 13, 2009 of complications from pneumonia at age 94.
In1959, one of Canada’s most famous criminal cases began when 12-year-old Lynne Harper was murdered near the southwestern Ontario community of Clinton. Fourteen-year-old Steven Truscott was convicted and served 10 years in prison. In 2007, the Ontario Court of
Appeal unanimously overturned that conviction, declaring the case “a miscarriage of justice.” Although there are many theories, Lynne’s murder is unsolved.
In 1968, the first national televised debate of Canadian political leaders was held. It featured Pierre Trudeau, Robert Stanfield, Tommy Douglas and Real Caouette.
In 1969, guitarist Brian Jones quit The Rolling Stones because he said he no longer saw eye-to-eye with the other members of the band. He was replaced within a week by Mick Taylor, formerly with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. Jones was to form his own band, but on July 3, 1969, he was found dead in the swimming pool at his home. The coroner’s verdict was death by misadventure. He was 27.
In 1973, Secretariat became thoroughbred horse racing’s first Triple Crown winner in 25 years. New Brunswick-born jockey Ron Turcotte rode “Secretariat” to an incredible 31-length victory in the Belmont Stakes.
In 1978, the Mormon Church announced it would, for the first time, admit black men to the priesthood.
In 1993, the U.S. Postal Service issued a 29-cent stamp honouring country legend Hank Williams. His son, Hank Williams Jr., presided over the official unveiling.
In 2008, CTV Inc. acquired the rights to “The Hockey Theme” in perpetuity, after Copyright Music & Visuals was unable to renew a deal with CBC Sports that had used the tune on its “Hockey Night in Canada” broadcast since 1968.