April 14: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

April 13, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1895, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON, D.C., APRIL 13 — Reports to the internal revenue office here show that income tax returns are coming in very rapidly and in some cases the appointment of additional clerical force has been necessary. It is very probable that the revenue bureau still holds that the sale of standing timber and royalties on coal minerals, oil and gas well products will be treated as rents and, therefore, not subject to tax. As to the salaries of United States judges, no official action has yet been taken and it is probable that nothing will be done until the courts have decided the question. It is believed that many justices already have made returns including their salaries among the taxable items.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1929, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON, APRIL 13 — Nearly 30 percent, or 87,503, of the 307,255 immigrant aliens admitted into the United States during 1928 chose the State of New York for their future home. New York not only absorbed the largest number of aliens, but drew the greatest number of almost every individual racial group, according to statistics released by the Commissioner of Immigration. As usual, more than one-half of the new arrivals settled in States of the North Atlantic group, but the second largest group of newcomers exhibited a preference for Texas. The largest part of the Texas immigration was Mexican and this was the one racial group in which New York was way down on the list. More than one-fifth of the English immigrants chose New York State for their home, more than one-fourth of the French, more than two-fifths of the Germans, more than half of the Hebrews, two-fifths of the Italians, two-fifths of the Irish and slightly less than one-third of the Scandinavians. Africans (black), Greeks, Poles and Spanish-American peoples were destined mainly for the same State. More Dutch and Flemish favored Michigan, and Slovaks and Welsh Pennsylvania. However, New York ran a close second to these States in attracting these groups.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1937, the Eagle reported, “The Holley bill, designed to forestall delays between the time of arrest and arraignment of prisoners, which passed the State Assembly last night, ‘is a Magna Carta for punks, pimps, crooks, gangsters, racketeers and shyster magistrate lawyers,’ Mayor LaGuardia declared today. His lashing criticism of the bill was made at a meeting of the Sinking Fund Commission in City Hall before more than 100 spectators. The Mayor arrived late, having attended the funeral of Detective Michael J. Foley, who was shot down in a battle with thugs in a Bowery restaurant last Saturday morning. The Holley bill, sponsored by Ira Holley, Manhattan Democrat, provides for immediate arraignment of a prisoner following arrest, and in the event of there being no magistrate available provides for detention of the prisoner by the Department of Correction, thus preventing grilling by investigating police. Mayor LaGuardia strode to the dais, his face flushed with anger, and apologized for being late, saying: ‘I went to the funeral of one of our police officers who was shot down last Saturday in the performance of his duty. I went to express the appreciation of the city for the loyalty of this brave officer. He shot it out with bandits and, although the chambers of his revolver were empty, he held off other gunmen until his partner could call reinforcements. I know the people of this city are behind the police in their battle with crooks, gangsters and racketeers. Only last night a bill passed the Assembly, which if it becomes law, will simply cripple the Police Department. Racketeers, crooks and gangsters will have to be arraigned immediately after arrest and police will have no opportunity to make investigations. Anyone with the slightest knowledge of police work knows how necessary it is to make such an investigation. This bill is simply a Magna Carta for punks, pimps, crooks, gangsters, racketeers and shyster magistrate lawyers.’”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1940, the Eagle reported, “TORONTO, APRIL 13 — The Rangers won the Stanley Cup tonight, defeating the Leafs, 3 to 2, in overtime. The Rangers, trailing by 2-0 going into the third period, came from behind. The victory gave them the series, four games to two.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1945, the Eagle reported, “Brooklyn stores and theaters were closed today, most of them all day, as the borough joined in the general mourning on the day of President Roosevelt’s funeral. War plants remained open in the interest of increased production. All major department stores in the downtown area shut their doors, following a recommendation of the Retail Dry Goods Association of New York City, and local merchants’ associations halted business. Brooklyn motion picture theaters will be closed until 6 p.m. in accordance with a request of the war activities committee of the motion picture industry. Leadership among the local merchants’ associations was taken by the Flatbush Chamber of Commerce. A similar decision to close was made by the merchants’ associations of Pitkin Ave., Sutter Ave., Utica-Parkway and Grand Ave., the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce and the 86th St. Board of Trade … Drug stores, because of the essential nature of their business, remained open. Most food stores will close at 4 p.m. or shut down for an afternoon period. At 4 p.m., starting time of the President’s funeral, all subway and elevated trains will come to a stop.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1953, the Eagle reported, “GREAT MISSEDEN, ENGLAND (U.P.) — A pub formerly known as ‘The Prince Charles’ was operating as ‘The Valiant Trooper’ today after the management was informed Queen Elizabeth did not like pubs to be named after her children.”

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Sarah Michelle Gellar
Christopher Smith/Invision/AP

David Justice
Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include Oscar-winning actress Julie Christie, who was born in 1940; Major League Baseball’s all-time hits leader Pete Rose, who was born in 1941; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple), who was born in 1945; Human Genome Project leader Francis Collins, who was born in 1950; “Everybody Loves Raymond” star Brad Garrett, who was born in 1960; former N.Y. Yankees outfielder and 2000 ALCS MVP David Justice, who was born in 1966; Baseball Hall of Famer Greg Maddux, who was born in 1966; “The Breakfast Club” star Anthony Michael Hall, who was born in 1968; “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” star Sarah Michelle Gellar, who was born in 1977; and “Scream Queens” star Abigail Breslin, who was born in 1996.