Slow news day

Having recently returned from London with a fresh batch of research provides a good opportunity for presenting another instalment of in my occasional series of those interesting-but-unintended things which turn up while searching through old newspapers.

(Previous posts on this topic are available here, here and here.)

The following appeared on one of those 'In Other News' sorts of pages in the Manchester Guardian on 12 July 1928 (p. 11). There were several brief reports of events happening throughout the world. Here is a selection.

WOMEN POLICE IN GERMANY
Growing Appreciation

Cologne, Wednesday

As has from time to time been reported in the "Manchester Guardian," the value of women police is becoming more and more appreciated in Germany. Following Frankfort [sic], Cologne, and other cities, Elberfeld has now a force of women police. The first policewomen who officiated in Germany were trained in Cologne, during the time of the British occupation, under the direction of Commandant Allen.

CHICAGO "JUNGLE" WARFARE
Gunman's Poisoned Bullets

Chicago, Wednesday

Poisoned bullets are the very latest thing in Chicago gang warfare. While searching the house of a well-known gunman yesterday, the police came across a silk glove, in each finger of which was a bullet filled with poison. "The gangmen are resorting to the methods of the jungle," said a high police official after the discovery. "These bullets are worse than dum-dums."

LOVE-MAKING IN CEMETERIES
'A National Problem' in U.S.

New York, Wednesday

The prevention of flirting in cemeteries has become a national problem, according to the secretary of the Association of American Cemetery Superintendents. "Cemeteries all over the country are faced with the same question," he says. "Complaints have been received not only from New York but from Chicago, Cleveland, and Cincinnati. The other day nocturnal 'petters' (flirters) broke the locks and forced open the gates of a cemetery in Ohio. Many cemeteries have found it necessary to string electric lights over inviting nooks in consequence."

HOME-MADE WINE DANGER
Fatal Case of Wood Alcohol Poisoning

Recording a verdict of death by misadventure at an inquest yesterday on Rachel Elizabeth Burton, Gowland Place, Beckenham, the coroner (Mr. H. B. Sewell) said that death was due to coma produced by methyl alcohol poisoning due to excessive drinking of home-made wine.
The husband, a chimney sweep, said that every year his wife made quantities of dandelion and beetroot wines. Last week she made the usual amount. She seemed strange when he came home, and he advised her to leave the wine until it was in a a proper condition to use. He did not know how much of the wine she drank.
The police divisional surgeon said that death was due to wood alcohol poisoning owing to the drinking of the wine before it was ready for use. This poisoning, he said, was fairly common in the prohibition States of America.

A BISLEY INCIDENT
Marksman's Narrow Escape at Firing-Point

A competitor had the misfortune to discharge his rifle accidentally near the firing point at Bisley yesterday and as a consequence may be deprived of any prizes that he has won unless the Council of the National Rifle Association take a lenient view of the matter.
Another competitor who was on the firing point at the time of the accident stated that the rifle was lying crossways on the point, and that the bullet ploughed up the ground within a foot of himself and a number of other marksmen. "It was a very startling happening," he said, "and caused several of us to drop points."

Yes, I think an incident of that sort would be enough to cause anyone to "drop points"... Could it be that that - perhaps like the 'flirting' mentioned above - was a handy euphemism?