Miscellany, Oct. 11, 1937

Release

In Idaho Falls, Idaho, Eldon Cleverly was sentenced to jail for attempted rape. His pregnant wife promptly went to Boise, paraded through the State Capitol corridors, announced: “I will walk up and down till something is done for my husband. I’ll have my baby in the hallways.” Impressed, Governor Barzilla Clark let it be known that he would appeal to the State Pardon Board for the prisoner, because “such action on my part may be warranted.’-‘

Taxi

In Joliet, Ill., Taxidriver Guy Tremper picked up a fare who asked to be shown the bright lights. After $40 worth of sightseeing, the fare jumped from the taxi, disappeared. At police headquarters’ rogues’ gallery, Driver Tremper identified his fare as one Floyd Earl, who was known to have only $10 because he had that day been released from Stateville prison after serving eleven years for burglary.

Actor

In Hollywood, ex-Convict Jeareld McDonald was hired as technical adviser for gangster films, decided he wanted to act, secured a “bit.” A friend saw the picture, told Mrs. Estelle O’Neal whom he had married in 1927. Mrs. O’Neal had Jeareld McDonald arrested for bigamy because later he had married Mrs. Katherine Mandel without bothering about a divorce. Jeareld McDonald went back to jail for ten years.

Contest

In Harrow, Ont., at the annual Dominion egg-laying contest, George A. Winton’s hen suddenly stopped laying, began growing wattles and a comb, before the contest was over had turned into a rooster.

Discussion

In Columbia, Mo., University of Missouri Students Albert Waters and Jack Kilpatrick were having a theological discussion. Said Student Waters, “I feel a sudden urge to commune with my Maker.” Student Kilpatrick handed him a revolver in fun, stuck his fingers in his ears, was terrified when Student Waters pumped a bullet through his brain.

Jealous

In Marysville, Kans., Mrs. Charles Joseph, 84, sued her husband for separate maintenance, insisted that he “accused me of running around with other men.” When the suit was granted, jealous 52-year Husband Joseph, also 84, declared: “I’m glad it’s all over.”

Ad

In the Colorado, (Tex.) Weekly Record appeared the, following advertisement: “FOR RENT—Notwithstanding we have not tolerated drunks, gambling, nor lewd women since July, 1935, and it is easy to verify that statement, there are people who tell newcomers that the Alamo Hotel is not a suitable place to occupy with their families on that account. That is part of our punishment for tolerating such for the few years we did so. See our apartments and get rates.”

Yo-yo

In Columbus, Ohio, Mrs. Minette H. Stahl sued F. W. Woolworth Co. & Donald F. Duncan (top distributors) for $31,304 damages incurred when, during a demonstration, she was hit on the back of the, head by a whirling yo-yo top.

Shrewd

In Baltimore, shrewd Eugene B. Smith was sentenced to a year in jail because he: 1) told two undertakers and a minister that his grandmother was dead, made funeral arrangements, borrowed money— to be paid back from the insurance; 2) told Mrs. Emma Appleby that his grandmother and niece were dead on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, asked her to pack up and go with him to take charge of double funeral arrangements, swiped her baggage.

Memory

In Chadron, Neb., two men arrived at the town jail to visit their inmate brother. Sheriff William Moody locked them up with their brother, promptly forgot them, went off to a meeting in another town. Several hours later he remembered, telephoned his wife to release them.

Cut-up

In Detroit, a policeman halted a car that had been careening down the street, arrested bloody Ben Ryser and irate wife. Said Mr. Ryser in court: “I tried to get her to leave a beer garden. I had to coax her away with a bottle of whiskey. She fell asleep in the car, but woke up near home and asked for a drink. … I was trying to get home but I was relieved when the police came alongside. She had picked up a piece of glass and was stabbing at me with it.”

Premature

In Attica. N. Y., oldtime commuters on the Attica-Batavia branch of the New York Central Railroad planned a lugubrious “last-ride” ceremony to celebrate the discontinuance of the line. The ceremony was canceled when somebody found that, unnoticed, part of the line already had been torn up.

Rush

In Chicago, John Kay rushed out of his office to go to a hospital to visit his wife and newborn child, ran down the hall, dashed through an open elevator door, dropped five floors to his death.

Attack

In Lakeview, Ore., a mad coyote attacked Marvin Gess, 7, bit him five times in the calf of one leg. Ranchers clubbed the coyote to death, slit its throat, pried its jaws loose from Marvin Gess’s calf.