Births on May 12

Joel Joffe, Baron Joffe, South African-English lawyer and politician (d. 2017)

Joel Goodman Joffe, Baron Joffe, (12 May 1932 – 18 June 2017) was a South African-born British lawyer and Labour peer in the House of Lords.

3 Jan

United Fruit Company
Martial law is declared in Honduras to stop a revolt by banana workers fired by the United Fruit Company.
18 Feb

Manchuria
The Empire of Japan declares a puppet state of Manzhouguo (the obsolete Chinese name for Manchuria) independent from the Republic of China and installed former Chinese Emperor Aisin Gioro Puyi as Chief Executive of the State.
1 Mar

Lindbergh kidnapping
Charles Lindbergh's son is reportedly kidnapped.
4 May

Al Capone
In Atlanta, mobster Al Capone begins serving an eleven-year prison sentence for tax evasion.
20 Jul

Paul von Hindenburg
In the Preußenschlag ("Prussian coup"), German President Paul von Hindenburg dissolves the government of Prussia