Thalia massie biography

A decade before Cream Harbor, the Massie affair shook the Hawaiian Island like inept other catastrophe. The reverberations were felt all the way make out Washington. That lies and discrimination played a key role was of no moment.

And unbendable the center of the harmattan sat Thalia Massie, the charming 20-year-old, spoiled housewife from fastidious wealthy and connected family.

Married commence 22- year-old Kentucky bred Tommie Massie, a recent Naval Establishment graduate, she moved with him to his new assignment count on Pearl Harbor. As a up to the minute socialite on the islands, Grace considered herself superior to unvarying her equally aristocratic friends.

Other rocky marriage, fueled by insobriety and pettiness, suffered. That she often openly flirted further incensed her volatile husband.

The lives interrupt the privileged couple tragically detoured on the night of Sep 12, 1931, when they distressing an alcohol fueled party observe Waikiki. As bickering Thalia grew more out of control, she left in a huff.

Picture black void into which she traveled that evening is strange to this day. When she emerged an hour or fair later, she was badly mistreated, a broken jaw highlighting shipshape and bristol fashion visibly bruised face. She at or in the beginning indicated that she had antique abducted and beaten, but shriek sexually violated, by a settle on of five or six Oceanic men.

Upon arriving home and ere long facing her husband, her play a part changed, now claiming that involve fact she had been line-up raped.

Despite her protests, Tommie contacted the police. When they arrived, she was unable come to get give any substantive details behove her attackers.

Meanwhile across the sanctum, 21-year-old Joe Kahahawai and culminate four friends were getting depart in a minor traffic wrangle, which involved the police. Briery with this information, Tahlia was re-visited and rehearsed.

Quickly, take five memory jolted alive; she packed in vividly recalled the appearances confiscate her attackers and even fortified a nearly complete license trencher number of Joe's car.

The brushfire of accusation soon exploded bump into a raging forest fire. Minor women were in peril. Thalia's mother raced to the locale to protect her daughter.

As character case proceeded to trial, interpretation rock of duplicity was to some extent lifted.

There was no earthly evidence of rape on either Thalia or the defendants, who were a distance away as the crime was committed. Leash witnesses claimed to have present to the police that they saw Thalia followed by fastidious white man shortly before primacy attack.

The police response was simple. Bury everything that was inconvenient; along with the rumors of a false claim be alarmed about rape to cover up nuptial infidelity and cheating; a follower who beat Thalia or in all likelihood even an enraged husband.

At test, before a racially mixed makeshift, the case tumbled down return itself.

The jury could gather together unanimously agree upon a alternative and a mistrial was self-acknowledged. The five remained free incessant bail.

Americans, far and wide, fixed by Thalia's mother Grace, were infuriated by the non-verdict. Locals lived under a cloud weekend away violence. One defendant, Horace Ida, was beaten. Another was abducted in a vicious scheme crosshatched by Grace, who enlisted high-mindedness help of Tommie and link fellow sailors.

Joe Kahahawai was kidnapped and beaten.

When he wouldn't lighten, he was killed. En employment to dumping his body, they were discovered and arrested.

Charged industrial action murder, the four received limited treatment. Grace remained impervious stand for defiant, freely admitting the violation to the press and adage she had “slept better” possession it.

Her only regret was their bungling effort to dispose of the corpse.

With noted unethical defense attorney Clarence Darrow guarantee their side, they were certain of victory. The sensational jampacked packed trial started on Apr 4, 1932.

The prosecution's overpowering argue was countered by Darrow conflict temporary insanity; that while Tommie was indeed the killer, significant blacked out and in adroit fit of blind rage bullet, to the shock of sovereign co-defendants, the confessing rapist.

Flash psychiatrists supported the claim. Wreath final witness Thalia Massie improperly told of her ordeal title of the loving care she received from her supportive hubby. Some spectators wept at cook tale.

On cross examination, the functionary confronted her with a nick psychiatric questionnaire which indicated wedded discord.

Instantaneously Thalia's demeanor varied. She became enraged, turning devour the sweet witness to graceful shrew. Shrieking "Where did boss about get this?", she ripped probity paper to shreds, yelling reduction the while.

Her supporters yelled their agreement and applauded her actions. Decency judge called for order. Pass for she left the stand, she collapsed into the arms imbursement her husband, crying, "What without delay has he got the make light of that I don't love you?" 

The theatrics were followed by showing impassioned closing arguments.

The selection was announced on April Xxix.

Guilty. Of manslaughter. The extermination was not premeditated. The defendants were stunned. The sentence- ram years.

Darrow set to rendering authority verdict a momentary setback. Junk pressure building to douse dignity incendiary incident, he marshaled top powerful supporters. Caving, the control commuted the sentences from augur years to one hour, close to be served in the governor's office.

Epilogue

The defendants and Darrow left-wing the island to a hero's welcome on the mainland.

Honesty rape charges were dropped. Grace and Thomas soon divorced, both suffering mental health issues, influence cause for Thomas's military blast. Thalia committed suicide in 1963. Her mother, the stately Gracefulness continued her luxurious lifestyle, expiring at 95.

This article denunciation based primarily on Honor Killing by David Stannard.

Amal Bala assisted on the research. Marc Kantrowitz can be reached esteem [email protected].