Rebuttal. In Norwalk, Calif., Fire Extinguisher Salesman Lionel Richards, resenting the way Thomas Beauchamp pulled up alongside him at an intersection and bawled him out for speeding, grabbed a butane flamethrower out of the back seat, barbecued Beauchamp's car.

Good Intentions. In Sandusky, Mich., Robert Jolin, accused by sheriff's officers of planning a jailbreak, insisted he had dug out the bricks from his cell wall just to "walk around town for a little while" in the evening, was backed up by a lie detector, which indicated that he was telling the truth.

On Second Thought. In Ely, Nev., Al Volckart placed a notice in the Ely Daily Times: "My advertisement of Jan. 24 was an error. I will be responsible for my wife's debts."

Audition. In Detroit, Judge Vincent Brennan settled a complicated contract suit between a singer and an orchestra leader, then broke into a ditty to the tune of April Showers, said: "I just wanted you to know that I was musically qualified to decide the case."

Hair Raising. In Chicago, Mrs. Helen Lucas, after testifying that she had spoiled her husband's romance with another woman by hiding his toupee, got a divorce, then generously gave back the toupee since she "had no desire to handicap him in his future romantic adventures.''

Substitution. In Lake Geneva, Wis., members of the Methodist Church Adult Fellowship dropped a scheduled discussion of "The Women--What Should Be Done About Them and How Do We Go About It," instead talked about "The Devil."

Pouting Shot. In Adrian, Mich., Tecumseh High School Basketball Forward Jim Wilson, annoyed because he thought his team had just lost to Hillsdale High, disgustedly heaved the ball the length of the court, made a surprise basket to tie the score as the final whistle blew, went on to win the game with two baskets in the overtime period.

Self-lncrimination. In Knoxville, Tenn., Robert Miller asked police to arrest John Long for theft, was arrested himself when Long said it was not money he had stolen but illegal whisky.

Rash Venture. In Santa Rosa, Calif., Store Executive Charles DeMore good-naturedly helped Boy Scout Troop 25 set up a camping scene exhibit in his display window as part of a citywide contest, spent the next two days in bed nursing a head-to-toe poison-oak rash, learned that the exhibit had won the first prize for, among other things, "realism."

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