Brooklyn Today for May 8

May 7, 2013 Brooklyn Daily Eagle

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Good morning. Today is the 128th day of the year. On this day in 1902, according to the original Brooklyn Daily Eagle, there was quite a bit of trouble near the current sites of BAM, BRIC and the new entrance to the Long Island Rail Road. In those days, a physician, Dr. William E. Thomas, lived at 18 Hanson Place, and his wife alleged that he performed “illegal operations,” or abortions, on women. Furthermore, she charged, the bodies of fetuses were buried in the back yard. In at least one case, a woman gave birth to a live child, whereupon Dr. Thomas allegedly wrapped the infant in a sheet and buried him.

Well-known people who were born today include singer Enrique Iglesias, race-car driver Bobby Labonte, author Thomas Pynchon (“Vineland,” “Gravity’s Rianbow,” singer Toni Tenille (Captain & Tenille) and comedian –actor Don Rickles (“Blazing Saddles,” “The Dean Martin Show”).