1997A civil jury in Santa Monica, California finds O.J. Simpson liable for the deaths of his ex-wife, Nicole and her friend, Ronald Goldman. Goldman’ father Fred. “Our family is grateful, for a verdict a responsibility which is all we ever want it. And we have it. Thank god.” 1974Newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst is kidnapped in Berkeley, California, by a group calling itself the Symbionese Liberation Army. Hearst who is captured the following year says her kidnappers had brainwashed her into committing robbery and extortion.

2004The Massachusetts high court says same sex couples are entitled to nothing less than marriage and their civil unions are not sufficient. 1976In Central America, a server earthquake strikes Guatemala and Honduras, killing more than 22,000 people.

And 1902Aviator Charles Lindbergh, who made the first nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean, is born in Detroit.

Today in History, February 4th , Brian Thomas,  the Associated Press.