Night of the Hunter. In Le Havre, France, facing a damage suit, Pastry Cook Jean Duchemin explained that he is nearsighted, thus potted a traveling circus' baby giraffe because it looked to him like a rabbit.

Mileage Change. In Nagoya, Japan, arrested for snatching a woman's purse at a race track, Policeman Umeichi Fujita explained: "I needed the money for carfare to get back to my beat."

Consumer Relations. In Houston, sentenced to a ten-year jail term for robbing the same laundry four times, Burglar Robert L. Manley said in court: "I had a grudge against that laundry, judge. I went there one day just past closing time, and the man wouldn't give me my clothes."

Night Plight. In Ventura, Calif., haled into court for driving without lights, Mrs. Florence Sandberg was allowed a month's time to choose between a fine or a jail term when the judge refused to accept her defense: "I can see like an owl."

Parturient Urge. In Montreal, arraigned on a shoplifting charge, Mrs. Alfred Bosse, mother of two, pleaded pregnancy, tearfully told the court that she always develops a weakness for theft when she is about to have a child.

First with the News. In Bristol, Va., the Herald-Courier's circulation department received an apologetic cancellation notice: "We are stopping the paper because our maid won't prepare breakfast until she has read it, and this makes us late for our appointments."

Caseworker. In Detroit, police looked for the holdup man who took $8 and a wristwatch from Cab Driver Edward Grzynowicz, wavered, returned the loot plus 50-c- from his own pocket, explained: "It's for cigarettes and coffee; you look nervous and probably need it."

High Command. In San Francisco, after he was arrested and fined for doing 75 m.p.h. on the Golden Gate Bridge Frederic E. Supple Jr. told the judge: "My wife phoned and told me to come right home."

Doctor's Orders. In Nashville, asked by the judge why he passed three bad checks in a local store, W. P. Rowland explained that he had been bothered by a back ailment, was restricted to light work.

Border Incident. In Brennero, Italy, stopped by Austrian immigration men because he had no credentials, Acrobat Leopold Stovcek was finally allowed to go through after other performers with the Togni circus troupe confirmed his explanation to frontier guards: "I had a passport, but our elephant ate it."

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