This day in history

[July 31, 2010]  (AP)  Today is Saturday, July 31, the 212th day of 2010. There are 153 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On July 31, 1910, Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen, whose wife, Cora, had disappeared from their London home, was arrested along with his mistress, Ethel Le Neve (posing as Crippen's son), aboard the steamship SS Montrose upon its arrival in Quebec, Canada. (Crippen was later convicted by a British court of murdering his wife and executed; Le Neve was acquitted of any involvement.)

On this date:

In 1777, the Marquis de Lafayette, a 19-year-old French nobleman, was made a major-general in the American Continental Army.

In 1875, the 17th president of the United States, Andrew Johnson, died in Carter County, Tenn., at age 66.

In 1919, Germany's Weimar (VY'-mahr) Constitution was adopted by the republic's National Assembly.

In 1948, President Harry S. Truman helped dedicate New York International Airport (later John F. Kennedy International Airport) at Idlewild Field.

In 1964, the American space probe Ranger 7 reached the moon, transmitting pictures back to Earth before crashing onto the lunar surface.

In 1969, the American space probe Mariner 6 flew by Mars, sending back images of the Red Planet.

In 1970, "The Huntley-Brinkley Report" came to an end after nearly 14 years as co-anchor Chet Huntley signed off for the last time; the broadcast was renamed "NBC Nightly News."

In 1972, Democratic vice-presidential candidate Thomas Eagleton withdrew from the ticket with George McGovern following disclosures that Eagleton had once undergone psychiatric treatment.

In 1989, a pro-Iranian group in Lebanon released a grisly videotape showing the body of American hostage William R. Higgins, a Marine lieutenant-colonel, dangling from a rope.

In 1991, President George H.W. Bush and Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty in Moscow.

Ten years ago: The Republican national convention opened in Philadelphia, with George W. Bush's name put into nomination for president. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak (EH'-hud bah-RAHK') survived a no-confidence vote. North and South Korea agreed to reopen border liaison offices and reconnect a railway linking their capitals.

Five years ago: Police arrested seven people during a raid on an apartment in southern England, bringing to 21 the number in custody in the relentless hunt for accomplices in the failed July 21 transit bombings in London. Jeong Jang shot a 3-under 69 to win the Women's British Open by four strokes.

One year ago: Three American tourists were arrested by Iran on suspicion of espionage during what their families have said was a simple hiking trip along the Iraq-Iran border; Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal remain in Iranian custody. Space shuttle Endeavour and its seven astronauts returned to Earth, completing a long but successful construction job that boosted the size and power of the international space station.

Today's birthdays: Actor Don Murray is 81. Jazz composer-musician Kenny Burrell is 79. Actor Geoffrey Lewis is 75. Actress France Nuyen is 71. Actress Susan Flannery is 67. Singer Lobo is 67. Actress Geraldine Chaplin is 66. Former movie studio executive Sherry Lansing is 66. Singer Gary Lewis is 65. Rock singer Bob Welch is 64. Actor Richard Griffiths is 63. International Tennis Hall of Famer Evonne Goolagong Cawley is 59. Actor Barry Van Dyke is 59. Actor Alan Autry is 58. Jazz composer-musician Michael Wolff is 58. Actor James Read is 57. Actor Michael Biehn is 54. Masssachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick is 54. Rock singer-musician Daniel Ash (Love and Rockets) is 53. Entrepreneur Mark Cuban is 52. Rock musician Bill Berry is 52. Actor Wesley Snipes is 48. Country singer Chad Brock is 47. Musician Fatboy Slim is 47. Rock musician Jim Corr is 46. Author J.K. Rowling (ROHL'-ing) is 45. Actor Dean Cain is 44. Actor Ben Chaplin is 41. Actor Loren Dean is 41. NFL quarterback Gus Frerotte is 39. Actress Annie Parisse (pah-REES') is 35. Actor Robert Telfer is 33. Country singer-musician Zac Brown is 32. Actor-producer-writer B.J. Novak is 31. Actor Eric Lively is 29. Country singer Blaire Stroud (3 of Hearts) is 27. Singer Shannon Curfman is 25.

Thought for today: "The art of life is to show your hand. There is no diplomacy like candor. You may lose by it now and then, but it will be a loss well gained if you do. Nothing is so boring as having to keep up a deception." -- E.V. Lucas, English author and critic (1868-1938)

[Associated Press]

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