Miscellany, Aug. 3, 1959

Waltz in the Street. In Osaka, Japan, to soothe motorists waiting for a long light at a busy intersection, police rigged a tape recorder that plays The Blue Danube while the light is red.

Choked Up. In El Paso, arrested for stealing a car 1,125 miles away in New Orleans, Melvin Elaine explained that the car started accidentally and he was too nervous to stop it until he reached El Paso.

Long Division. In Singapore, after telling the court he could not repay $3,300 to his 26 creditors at one time, Low Chin Boon got 83 years in which to settle up.

Free Trader. In Toledo, a seven-year-old boy got a stern lecture in court after he took a $100 bill from his home and sold it to a stranger for a quarter.

Pain of Pane. In Montgomery, Ala., Window Washer John Dickens was fined $25 for smashing all the windows in his own home.

The Harvest. In Sydney, Australia, after appealing for blood donors, the Red Cross got 37 volunteers from Her Majesty’s Australian ship Vampire.

Filling In. In Montreal, Que., charged with hit-and-run, Felix Rosa won acquittal when he explained that he left the accident only to get a snack in a restaurant while he waited for the police.

Better Rust. In Blantyre, Nyasaland, the Times reported that seven bars would lose their licenses unless they improved the quality of their water.

Plea in Abatement. In Phoenix, Ariz., charged with kicking his sister, her two boys and the family dog, James Walsh told the judge, “I didn’t kick the dog.”

Barter. In El Paso, pleading guilty to stealing, forging, and cashing a Government check belonging to her tenant, Mrs. Jesus Rodarte Ramirez insisted that she was only collecting the rent.

Hand Signals. In Tokyo, after questioning two pickpocket suspects for half an hour without getting one answer, police discovered that both were deaf and dumb.

Pointer. In Worcester, Mass., Attorney James L. Clifford won postponement of a case when he told the judge he wanted to watch his dog graduate from training school.

Bandit in the House. In Phoenix, Ariz., Mrs. Geraldine McDonald asked police to remove a slot machine from a closet in her home, averred that her children were putting all their allowance money into it, and their stepfather, who owns the machine, refused to give the money back.