JANUARY 15, 1931

Full News Archive

• Headline: Newark Free Press Enters Receivership. Impact: The Newark Free Press going into receivership led to an inevitable decline in local journalism, which caused a rise in conspiracy theories, as nobody was there to fact-check the wild claims that followed. Thanks, Newark.. Fact: The term 'receivership' sounds like a fancy way of saying, 'We can't pay our bills, send help!'.
• Headline: Historic Harpsichord Played at Yale Concert. Impact: The performance of a 1769 harpsichord at Yale may have sparked a hipster revival of early music, leading to countless coffee shops filled with plaid-clad musicians trying to make the harpsichord cool again.. Fact: A harpsichord is basically a piano's quirky ancestor—like that weird uncle everyone has who never left the 18th century..
• Headline: Will of the A.P. Cummings Filed.. Impact: The filing of A.P. Cummings' will might have triggered a series of family feuds that could have inspired a reality TV show, proving that even in death, some people just can't let go of the drama.. Fact: Wills are just legally binding ways of saying, 'I loved you, but not enough to leave you any of my stuff.'.
• Headline: CITY WINS PENSION SUIT.; Recovers $2,948 From Bank That Paid Checks Sent to Dead Man.. Impact: The city's victory in the pension suit against a bank marks yet another chapter in the saga of how government entities can’t quite figure out how to keep their own financial ducks in a row—resulting in a never-ending cycle of trials and tribulations.. Fact: Nothing says 'financial responsibility' like having to sue a bank over money paid to a dead man. Talk about kicking a corpse while it’s down!.
• Headline: $20,000,000 TRADE IN NARCOTICS BARED; Grand Jury to Get Charge That Two Parisians Head World Ring Operating Here. CONVICT AIDS INQUIRY Federal Prasecutor's Assistant Reveals Code Messages and TracesPayments. Conviet Aids Prosecuter. Ring Sent Code Messages.. Impact: The narcotics trade revelation exposed the underbelly of organized crime, leading to a series of law enforcement initiatives that would eventually inspire far too many bad action movies.. Fact: If only the Grand Jury had a reality show, we could've seen how the 'code messages' were delivered—probably via carrier pigeons or smoke signals..
• Headline: LOSES $91,691 TAX SUIT.; Abraham & Straus Is Held Deficient In Income Payments.. Impact: Abraham & Straus' tax suit loss served as a cautionary tale for businesses: Always keep your receipts, or you might find yourself in a tax black hole that swallows your profits whole.. Fact: Tax appeals are just the IRS's way of saying, 'Surprise! You owe us money for being successful!'.
• Headline: Gives $100,000 for Foster Memorial.. Impact: Mrs. O.S. Hirshman's generous donation for the Foster Memorial could have sparked a trend in philanthropic giving that made wealthy individuals feel like modern-day Robin Hoods, albeit without the whole 'stealing from the rich' part.. Fact: Philanthropy: the art of giving away money while still keeping the majority for yourself. Bravo, Mrs. Hirshman!.