Chief Justice Taft resigned
On February 3, 1930, Chief Justice William Howard Taft, former President of the United States, resigned from the United States Supreme Court for health reasons. He died 5 weeks later. Learn more about the life and career(s) of William Howard Taft and review his complex medical history.
Last execution in Australia
On February 3, 1967, Ronald Ryan became the last person executed in Australia. He was hanged in Pentridge Prison in Melbourne for killing a guard during an escape attempt. Belief in Ryan's innocence led to protests across the country, culminating in the Death Penalty Abolition Act of 1973. The Last Man Hanged, a documentary about the execution of Ronald Ryan, was released in 1993.
