Postman, May 22, 1920.
The dramatic news that Carranza, who had been such a large figure in the Mexican Revolution, and the American Press, had been assassinated hit in the U.S.
Also taking headlines was the flight of Grover Cleveland Bergdoll, a millionaire draft dodger.
Bergdoll had first been in the press as a pre World War One aviator, showing that he at least had an element of personal courage. But when the war came, he skipped his draft physical and evaded the authorities for two years. He was finally arrested in January, 1920.
He was tried and convicted, and then oddly allowed out of prison when he claimed the need to recover a cache of gold he'd buried while a fugitive. On a stop at his home in Philadelphia, while under guard, he managed to escape and flea with his chauffeur.
He went, oddly enough, to Germany, where he further avoided attempts to kidnap him by American soldiers of fortune on two occasions, killing one of them. He returned to the United States twice while a fugitive and even toured a bit on one occasion. He finally surrendered to authorities in 1939 and served the remainder of his term plus added time, being released in 1944. He remained under psychiatric care until his death in 1966.
The Belmont was run on this day in 1920.
United Hunts Racing Association meet at Belmont Park Terminal track, May 22, 1920.
Beatrice Clafin and M.M. Van Beuren at the United Hunts Racing Association meet at Belmont Park Terminal track, Belmont, New York, May 22, 1920.
The Civil Retirement Act went into effect on this day, providing retirement for employees of the United States government.
We're so used to thinking of this as always having existed we fail to appreciate that in fact a century ago retirement was not only not a sure thing, it was contrary to the norm.
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