Years Ago

Today is Wednesday, Sept. 5, the 249th day of 2012. There are 117 days left in the year.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

On this date in:

1774: The first Continental Congress assembles in Philadelphia.

1793: The Reign of Terror begins during the French Revolution as the National Convention institutes harsh measures to repress counter-revolutionary activities.

1912: American avant-garde composer John Cage is born in Los Angeles.

1939: Four days after war had broken out in Europe, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issues a proclamation declaring U.S. neutrality in the conflict.

1945: Japanese-American Iva Toguri D’Aquino, suspected of being wartime broadcaster “Tokyo Rose,” is arrested in Yokohama. (D’Aquino is later convicted of treason and serves six years in prison; she is pardoned in 1977 by President Gerald R. Ford.)

1961: President John F. Kennedy signs legislation making aircraft hijackings a federal crime.

1972: Terrorism strikes the Munich Olympics as members of the Palestinian group Black September attack the Israeli delegation; 11 Israelis, five guerrillas and a police officer are killed in the resulting siege.

1975: President Gerald R. Ford escapes an attempt on his life by Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, a disciple of Charles Manson, in Sacramento, Calif.

1997: Mother Teresa dies in Calcutta, India, at age 87.

VINDICATOR FILES

1987: Mahoning County Common Pleas Judge Charles J. Bannon rules in favor of the Youngstown Board of Education and says Lock P. Beachum must remain in his new position as principal of Princeton Junior High School. Supt. Emanuel N. Catsoules transferred Beachum from East High to Princeton.

Austintown police confiscate nearly two pounds of Cocaine with a street value of $100,000 in raids on two homes.

The law firm of Harshman, Waldman and Gervelis holds an open house at the firm’s new offices at 105 E. Boardman St. Atty. Michael S. Harshman said the proximity to the courts and a commitment to downtown redevelopment made the project a good investment.

1972: Mrs. Eleanor McGovern, wife of the Democratic presidential nominee, tours the Sherwin-Williams Co. plant in Hubbard.

Austintown teachers approve a new two-year pact providing a base pay of $7,100 a year.

1962: An Ashland Oil Co. twin-engine Lockeed Lodestar carrying 11 company executives and two pilots crashes in Portage County just west of the Mahoning County line, killing all 13 aboard.

Three Youngstown police officers are bruised and strained after their stationwagon is struck from behind by a car driven by Atty. Angelo Mavrigan, chief deputy auditor, at Market Street and Evergreen Avenue.

Model airplane builders from a five-state area will compete at the former Watson Airport on Jacobs Road in an event sanctioned by the Academy of Model Aeronautics.

John Kashmar, 48, dies of smoke inhalation after falling asleep in his parked car on Route 18 in front of Lock Heating Co. The cigarette ignited the car seat.

1937: A woman is injured by shattered glass, a dog has its hair burned off around his neck and a horse is killed by lightning that struck an estimated 30 homes in the Youngstown area.

Sixty-eight new cases of infantile paralysis are reported in Ohio in recent weeks, but only two are recorded in Youngstown.

Eli Brate, 66, dies after being struck by a car while crossing Depot Street in Niles.