IRISH TIMES ODDITIES: Allen Fosterreveals some of the stranger stories from The Irish Timesarchive
MONKEYS AID PICKPOCKETS
A gang of pickpockets from Aboutig, Upper Egypt, have been arrested, together with a troupe of monkeys, which they had trained to help them.
According to Reuters' Alexandria correspondent, this is how they worked: A member of the gang would peddle a monkey round the street until he saw a likely victim, at whom he would let loose the monkey. The animal jumped on to the victim, and pretended to bite him. Then the pickpocket would run to the "rescue" of the pedestrian, struggle with the monkey, dislodge it from the man's back, and at the same time relieve him of the contents of his pockets.
15 July 1933
CAMOUFLAGED CATTLE
An entirely new method of smuggling was uncovered in the wild wastes of Binn Mountain, on the Border between Swanlinbar, Co Cavan, and Florencecourt, Co Fermanagh, early yesterday morning, when a police party under Sgts McCarthy and Boyle, of Kinawley, captured five fat cattle, valued at £150, after 24 hours' continuous duty and a chase that brought the police and cattle several miles around the mountain base. The first animal captured had its white head painted black, which is the first Fermanagh instance of smugglers trying out camouflage. The animals peculiar colouring would ordinarily make it easy identified.
11th May 1946
A PIOUS FRAUD
A new kind of swindling has been invented in Paris by a man named Wittschi. Taking advantage of the well-known good fellowship of priests among themselves, he used to present himself to an ecclesiastic, dressed in soutans, and pretending he had lost or forgotten his purse, borrowed, under a false name, a sum of money, which he never returned.
The tribunal, agreeably to the instructions of the Avocat Imperial, has condemned Wittschi to five years imprisonment and a 100 franc fine. He has not however, thought proper to surrender himself to the police.
30th May 1862
LEIPZIG ZOO NOVELTY
An aluminium leg has just been put on a crane in the Zoo here, according to the local newspapers.
The crane escaped for an adventure last winter, and returned home with a crippled foot. A local firm dealing in surgical supplies had him operated on. The crane is now stalking about proudly with his aluminium leg. He has returned to his customary pond where he has been known for years to the Leipzig population. He has resumed his old friendship with a one-eyed crane, who lost the other eye battling with a purple heron.
8th August 1927
BLUE BODIES
Fifteen nude sunbathers lying on a Corsican beach in search of an all-over tan ended up a different colour when angry local councillors painted them blue.
Led by Pierre Morganti, the mayor of the small village of Ogliastro, the vigilante councillors attacked the nudists with paint brushes, rollers and spray cans.
22nd July 1975
FERMANAGH FREAK
A heifer calf belonging to Mr Wm Crawford, Waughtennerry, Enniskillen, has been born with two heads. The calf has two mouths, two noses, four eyes and two ears. It drinks out of either mouth, and is gaining in strength.
Mr F Hart VS, who has seen the calf, says that the four eyes are perfect, and he believes that there are two sets of brains in one skull cavity. The calf cannot stand on account of the weight of its head.
3rd May 1929