Today In History

In 1887: Thomas A. Edison received a patent for his “Kinetoscope,” a device which produced moving pictures.

In 1888: Mary Ann Nicholls was found murdered in London’s East End, generally regarded as the first victim of “Jack the Ripper.”

In 1969: Boxer Rocky Marciano died in the crash of a light plane in Iowa, a day before his 46th birthday.

In 1980: Poland’s Solidarity labor movement was born with an agreement signed in Gdansk that ended a 17-day strike.

In 1985: Richard Ramirez, later convicted of California’s “Night Stalker” killings, was captured by residents of an East Los Angeles neighborhood.