May 4: ON THIS DAY in 1937, Edward embraces Wally as exile ends

May 4, 2020 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1912, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “The will of Benjamin Guggenheim, who lost his life in the Titanic disaster, was filed today in the Surrogate’s Court in Manhattan. He leaves $175,000 to public and private charities. To his two sisters and a daughter of a deceased sister he leaves $75,000 each. He also bequeaths to two sisters-in-law $25,000 each. He bequeaths to his widow, Loretta Guggenheim, his home and furnishings. The remainder of his estate is divided as follows: One-third to his widow and two-thirds to his children. His widow and his brothers, Simon and William Guggenheim, are named as executors and trustees, and are empowered to act in all proceedings. The value of the estate is not given.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1937, the Eagle reported, “MONTS, FRANCE (AP) — Edward, Duke of Windsor, was reunited in the moss-covered Chateau de Cande today with the woman for whom he renounced an empire, Wallis Warfield Simpson. Five months and one day of enforced loneliness for the former King Edward VIII and ‘the woman I love’ ended at 1:45 p.m. (8:45 a.m. Eastern daylight time), when the Duke, like a knight returning to his damsel fair, reached the ancient chateau … He came from St. Wolfgang, Austria, by train and by motor. His betrothed was free to marry him, and that was what was foremost in their hearts. He had not seen her since the dark night of Dec. 3 when she fled to France from the abdication crisis that changed crowns for a quarter of the world. Rumors flew thick and fast that the couple might again confound the world by marrying tomorrow. However, both the Mayor of Tours and the Mayor of Monts said they had not been approached to perform the ceremony. Breathless and radiant, Wallis Simpson met her beloved on the doorstep of the rambling chateau.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1946, the Eagle reported, “SAN FRANCISCO (UP) — An all-out attack against the armed band of convicts still holding out behind the bullet-riddled walls of Alcatraz Prison appeared imminent today. At 5 a.m. (8 a.m. Brooklyn time), a prison official told the United Press by telephone that the situation was ‘unchanged’ after an uneventful night during which no shots were fired by either side since shortly after 10 p.m. Attacking U.S. marines and prison guards held bazookas, demolition bombs, hand grenades and white phosphorous grenades in readiness as daylight came over the strife-torn island.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1954, the Eagle reported, “GENEVA (U.P.) — The United States and 14 other nations which fought Communism in Korea today pressed the South Korean Government to agree to a compromise plan for elections under United Nations supervision, in both halves of divided Korea. Meanwhile, a five-man Communist Vietminh delegation arrived by air to take part in the Indo-China phase of the conference. Indo-China peace talks are expected to get underway within 48 hours. The Western bloc was attempting to hammer together an acceptable elections plan for Korea to counter the rejected Communist formula. Previously, South Korea, strongly backed by the United States, had argued that free elections already have been held in South Korea and that all that remains to be done is to hold similarly free elections in the Communist north.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1963, the Eagle reported, “’The Birds,’ famed suspense master Alfred Hitchcock’s latest thriller, enters the sixth week of its world premiere engagement at the RKO Palace and Sutton Theatres on Thursday. The new Universal release, in Technicolor, has been enjoying record-breaking box office business following generally enthusiastic endorsements by New York’s newspaper critics. In addition, ‘The Birds’ has established an equally fast box office pace in many important ‘perimeter’ theaters in the New York area. With a starring cast including Rod Taylor, Jessica Tandy and Suzanne Pleshette, ‘The Birds’ introduces screen audiences to Alfred Hitchcock’s latest star discovery, the beautiful ‘Tippi’ Hedren. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, ‘The Birds’ brings a highly unique story to the screen. Evan Hunter’s screenplay, based upon Daphne du Maurier’s gripping suspense novel, tells the tale of a savage, mysterious warfare which the birds of the world suddenly wage upon mankind.”