Purged by Fire. In Detroit, charged with forging a $27 check, Dolores Martin pleaded innocent, explained to the judge: "I knew I did something wrong, but I'm not guilty, Your Honor. I burned the money."

Moral Victory. In Pontiac, Mich., when Defendant Robert Mott showed up to fight a damage suit without a lawyer, Judge George B. Hartrick decided to defend him, presented his argument, then ruled that his client had lost the case.

Overestimate. In Cheyenne, Wyo., offered a suspended sentence if she could guess how many days the court had in mind, Fortune-Teller Olga Rambova hesitated, then replied, "I think it's 30 days," was sent to jail for 25 days.

Secret Mission. In Montgomery, Ala., the Chamber of Commerce got a letter from a woman in Florida: "Am returning herewith a pair of panties and a pin for refund ... I do not know from whom purchased. Know it was in your city and do not want to offend [the people who sent them to me]. Thanks."

Defense Counsel. In Pasadena, Calif., charged with robbery, Joseph J. Finn was asked by the judge if he wanted a lawyer, replied: "Just give me a machine gun, and I'll get out of here."

Audience Participation. In Toledo, ticketed for illegal parking. Motorist Thomas O. Bucher explained that he had become ill "watching the antics of a woman driver," stopped only long enough to buy some medicine.

False Alarm. In Fort Worth, Claude Rogers was acquitted of drunken driving after he testified that his car had been zigzagging because he was trying to take off a boot that pinched, and that he staggered after his arrest only because the boot was half off his foot.

Powhatan's Children. In Hartford, Conn., Mary J. Russell, duly elected Keeper of Wampum for the Degree of Pocahontas, pleaded guilty to taking $4,000 from the society's treasury.

Running Debate. In Sacramento, Calif., Highway Patrolman Robert Woodward watched a car zigzagging down the street, saw four hands gripping the steering wheel, investigated, found Lemrell Willis and Marie Jones fighting in the front seat, each mumbling that the other was too drunk to drive.

Time to Retire. In Denver, Col., suing for divorce, Elsie Kirkpatrick angrily testified that her husband wore pajamas to the dinner table even when she had guests for supper, often refused to sleep in the bedroom, instead spent the night in the bathtub.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.