This episode first aired in 2005 on "The American Experience" and was called "The Massey Affair". Now in 2018, it's been re-aired and, inexplicably, renamed "The Island Murder".
I have never heard of the Massie Affair and my bet is that you haven't either. It's a VERY sad part of American history--a part that is thankfully long past. Here is a brief summary: Thalia Massie was a headstrong and erratic wife of a US Navy officer stationed in Hawaii. She was well-known for her outbursts and unpredictable behaviors. One night she disappeared and when she returned the next day, she claimed that she'd been raped by a group of Hawaiian men. The problem was that her story was quite vague and often changed through the course of the investigation. A group of men were apprehended by the police and instead of a normal lineup, the police essentially told Massie that these were the men who raped her. However, the men had alibis and the case was pushed into court mostly because the Navy wanted something done and fast. The men, however, were found not guilty and you'd think that would be the end of it--justice was served. However, Thalia's society mother and her husband decided that they would take the law into their own hands. I'd say more--but don't want to ruin the rest of the story. Suffice to say, a great evil was done and the folks responsible got away with it--a horrible sign of the times and the prejudices that were acceptable back in the 'good old days'.
This is a very interesting and worthy installment of "The American Experience"--one of the best programs you'll find on television. Exquisitely made throughout, you should be forewarned--it is VERY depressing and a bit hard to watch. And, like me, you might find yourself getting very mad as you see what took place back in 1932.
I have never heard of the Massie Affair and my bet is that you haven't either. It's a VERY sad part of American history--a part that is thankfully long past. Here is a brief summary: Thalia Massie was a headstrong and erratic wife of a US Navy officer stationed in Hawaii. She was well-known for her outbursts and unpredictable behaviors. One night she disappeared and when she returned the next day, she claimed that she'd been raped by a group of Hawaiian men. The problem was that her story was quite vague and often changed through the course of the investigation. A group of men were apprehended by the police and instead of a normal lineup, the police essentially told Massie that these were the men who raped her. However, the men had alibis and the case was pushed into court mostly because the Navy wanted something done and fast. The men, however, were found not guilty and you'd think that would be the end of it--justice was served. However, Thalia's society mother and her husband decided that they would take the law into their own hands. I'd say more--but don't want to ruin the rest of the story. Suffice to say, a great evil was done and the folks responsible got away with it--a horrible sign of the times and the prejudices that were acceptable back in the 'good old days'.
This is a very interesting and worthy installment of "The American Experience"--one of the best programs you'll find on television. Exquisitely made throughout, you should be forewarned--it is VERY depressing and a bit hard to watch. And, like me, you might find yourself getting very mad as you see what took place back in 1932.
