Miscellany, Jan. 25, 1943

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Icicle Built for Two.

In Newark, N.Y., a search party finally found six-year-old Anthony Gullo, unharmed but helpless under an icicle he had pulled over on himself. Icicle's weight: 300 Ib.

Benefit of the Doubt. In Salem, Ore., when a man charged with being a habitual criminal complained that Judge E. M. Page was prejudiced against him, the judge, who said he had never seen him before, nevertheless made out an affidavit of prejudice persuasively attacking his own qualifications, read it, was persuaded, signed it, disqualified himself.

Sanctuary. In a Chicago tavern a sign was posted on a slot machine: "In case of an air raid, stand next to this machine. No one has ever hit it."

The Unwilling Samaritan. In the Flathead National Forest, Mont., Rancher Henry Holmes encountered two deer fighting with their horns locked, shot at them, struck the horns, set them free.

Encounter. In San Pedro, Patrolman Joseph Hansen found a body in a doorway, on the body found an identification badge. The name: Joseph Hansen.

Hmmm. ... In Dearborn, Mich., the city council learned it had spent only $150 of a $500 deposit made by a utility company to cover the expenses of a special election on a franchise, ordered a closer inquiry, presently found it had spent $352.70, inquired further, finally determined that expenses had come to exactly $500.

Good-By to All That. In Richmond, Hyman Hyman Hyman embraced the anonymity of the Army.

Tantrum. In Manhattan, a policeman complained that when he told Peddler Raymond Vasquez to move along he had thrown himself on the ground and lain there screaming and kicking.

No Longer Afraid. In Chicago, Sayed Mehrem announced he was 132, confided he had concealed his age for decades "for fear I would lose my job."

Power of Deduction. In Des Moines, Sportswriter Leighton House, whose pay check carried on its stub the usual list of wartime deductions (for Social Security, hospital insurance, company pension, Community Chest, war bond, victory tax), made a natural mistake, tore up the check, tried to deposit the stub at his bank.

Reclamation. At Fort Belvoir, Va., an Army supply sergeant found diapers on a laundry list, learned that one soldier carried them 1) to clean his rifle, 2) to polish his mess kit, 3) to dust his shoes, 4) to pad the inside of his helmet.