Thalia Massie

About

Socialite who became the center of a racial politics case in Hawaii during its territory days in the early 1930s.

Before Fame

After disappearing from a party for several hours, she was soon found beaten and with a broken jaw, claiming that she was raped. The subsequent trial ended in a deadlock despite no evidence to support her rape claim.

Trivia

Her parents kidnapped one of her alleged assailants, and concluded his interrogation session by shooting him in the chest, which killed him. They were on their way to dump the body when they were stopped by the police.

Family Life

She came from a prominent family. Her father is a nephew of President Theodore Roosevelt and her mother a descendant of Thomas Edison.

Associated With

Clarence Darrow served on the defense attorney during the trial, whose case revealed the fault lines between the white naval officers on the island and the stereotyped "savage" natives.