Tag: March 1934
London’s Lord Londonderry Cracks Down on Illicit Sweepstakes
In a bold move to root out the illicit sweepstakes that have been raking in millions from the US and Britain, Lord Londonderry, a member of the House of Lords, has introduced a bill to abolish the practice altogether. The bill, which was given its first reading on March 27, 1934, is a direct attack…
Winter’s Grip: A Chilling Reminder of Nature’s Fury
As the people of the Valley struggled to come to terms with the biting cold, a different kind of frost descended upon the nation. A cold wave, born in the Rockies and nourished by the chill winds of the east, had wrapped its icy fingers around the nation, squeezing tight from Norfolk to Asheville. Boston…
Virginia’s Whiskey Boom Sparks Moonshine Fears
Roanoke Rapids, NC – March 22, 1934: The sale of whiskey has just become legal in Virginia, with state dispensaries now stocking the potent spirit in larger cities like Richmond and Norfolk. While the move may bring cheers from those who enjoy a good dram, it’s a different story for law enforcement in North Carolina.…
The Shadow Syndicate of Stavisky: A Scandal of Blood and Betrayal
In the City of Light, a dark and sinister force lurked in the shadows. Alexandre Stavisky, a cunning banker, masterminded a $30 million failure that shook the nation. But this was no ordinary financial scandal. Behind the scenes, Stavisky orchestrated his own private mafia, a ruthless gang that would stop at nothing to silence his…
Spy Ring Tangled in Web of Deceit: US Authorities on High Alert
March 20, 1934 – Washington, D.C. – In a shocking twist, the US authorities are bracing themselves for a potential spy ring infiltration, as a top inspector from the French Surete Generale is set to arrive in the United States. The move comes hot on the heels of the high-profile Paris espionage case, where American…
Touhy Gang Torn Asunder: Justice Served in Chicago and New York
In a major blow to the kidnaping racket, a Chicago jury found Basil ‘The Owl’ Banghart, a notorious member of the Touhy gang, guilty of snatching John ‘Jake’ the Barber Factor, a wealthy promoter, from the streets of Chicago. Banghart was swiftly sentenced to 99 years in jail, a punishment that sent shockwaves through the…
Bloodshed Breaks Out in Alabama Coal Mine Strife
March 13, 1934, marked a dark day in the labor dispute-ridden Jefferson County, Alabama. Violence erupted at the Bradford mine operated by the Alabama Products Company, where striking miners clashed with non-striking workers. Sheriff J.M. Hawkins and his deputies rushed to the scene, but not before the striking miners had beaten up numerous men attempting…
Mass Hysteria in Henderson: Was it a Pretext for Something More Sinister?
On March 7, 1934, a sea of faces flooded the Stevenson Theatre in Henderson, North Carolina, as the town came together to witness the Passion Play. The event drew in a crowd of over 1,000 patrons, including hundreds of schoolchildren and their chaperones. The spectacle, which promised to bring the biblical drama to life, was…
