June 21: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
ON THIS DAY IN 1879, a Brooklyn Daily Eagle editorial said, “Judge Moore was yesterday called upon to sentence a young man, belonging to one of the most honorable professions, for a crime which has become so common, so remunerative, so fatal and so characteristic of this country that society feels bound to put it down at all hazards. This young man is a physician, and the crime he committed was that of attempting to commit an abortion. Not very long ago Judge Moore sentenced the principal offender in this particular case to ten years’ imprisonment. Dr. Wadsworth was yesterday permitted to escape with a term of one year, and the reason so much leniency was exhibited in this case is a good one. At the time when he yielded to the solicitation of the older and more guilty abortionist, who made a specialty of this crime, Dr. Wadsworth had failed to establish himself as a physician here. He was actually on the verge of starvation. Public opinion in these days no longer insists upon condemning the starving man who steals a loaf of bread to support life, or snatches a pocketbook away from some unsuspecting wayfarer. Condemning the act, it has become sufficiently enlightened to measure the temptation and the amount of resistance that can be given to it. Dr. Wadsworth succumbed to the temptation. Since that time he went into a distant country and established himself reputably. His offense was uncovered and he was brought back to meet his punishment. Considering the circumstances, Judge Moore gave him the minimum penalty. Heinous as his crime was, and necessary as it is to uproot the practice, the public will quite concur in the finding of the court and will hope that this punishment will be a warning, not only to Dr. Wadsworth but to other young men in his position, never to yield to temptation, no matter how dire may appear the alternative. To him who refuses to do wrong will eventually come aid and rescue from trouble, while the consciousness of wrongdoing, if no other punishment follows, will always be a source of self-reproach and remorse.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1942, the Eagle reported, “Many Brooklyn motorists will remain at home today due to the lack of gasoline at stations which will not be supplied until tomorrow. Long lines of automobiles waited at filling pumps yesterday. Some managed to fill their tanks, but many met with a disappointing ‘Sorry, no gas, buddy.’ William Couch, field secretary for the Long Island Gasoline Retailers Association, called the situation ‘serious’ and said there was no gas even for essential driving. Couch complained that permits for the opening of new stations had been granted since rationing went into effect. He added that if ‘the new stations can be opened, then the old established ones can be given additional gallons.’ The A&S Service Station at Howard and Pitkin Aves. reported yesterday that it had gas and supplied long lines of motorists. A similar report was given by the Alden Gas Station, 619 Coney Island Ave. The Atlas Service Station, at 310 Flatbush Avenue Extension, however, reported it had no gas and that it would not have a supply until tomorrow. The Love Lane Garage at 48 Love Lane said it expected to have a supply for today.”
Brooklyn Boro
View MoreNew York City’s most populous borough, Brooklyn, is home to nearly 2.6 million residents. If Brooklyn were an independent city it would be the fourth largest city in the United States. While Brooklyn has become the epitome of ‘cool and hip’ in recent years, for those that were born here, raised families here and improved communities over the years, Brooklyn has never been ‘uncool’.