On October 16th, 1890, New Orleans Police Chief David Hennessy was shot to death while walking home. His death would spur violence and mass arrests, and suspicion against Italian-American immigrants who seemed to be a part of a sinister criminal conspiracy known as the mafia. His murder would result in a notorious trial, followed by an infamous event of mob justice.
By September of 1944, the Western Allies had broken out of the Normandy beachehead, and suddenly and quickly moved across northern France . By September 7th, the 90th division was stretched across the northern sector on Patton’s Third Army’s left, advancing slowly northeast. As they did so the German defenders made a risky attack in an effort to spoil the allied advance, cutting through Allied lines in a surprise action at the small town of Mairy-Mannville.