SNIPPETS

NOVEMBER 18,  2009

SWANSEA, Wales, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- A Welsh man accused of slaying his wife strangled the woman because he was having a dream about fighting a burglar, his attorneys said.  Lawyers for Brian Thomas, 59, told Swansea Crown Court in Wales that Thomas strangled his wife of nearly 40 years, Christine, 57, while they slept in a camper van because he was having a dream about struggling with an intruder, The Daily Mail reported Tuesday.

And you know the craziest part?  The prosecution agreed, and recommended that the jury clear the killer or find him not guilty by reason of insanity.  They'll probably give him a medal for protecting his home.

NOVEMBER 17,  2009

WAUKEGAN, Ill., Nov. 16 (UPI) -- An Illinois attorney said a family legend led to the discovery of the phrase "Thank God we have a government" inside of President Abraham Lincoln's watch.  Douglas Stiles of Waukegan said the discovery was the result of his investigation into his family's claims that his great-grandfather, Washington watchmaker Jonathan Dillon, had inscribed a message about the start of the Civil War inside the president's watch in 1861, the Arlington Heights (Ill.) Daily Herald reported Monday.

This is a classic example of a recycled news story.  It made the rounds several years ago, although the reporter writing it probably wasn't aware of the earlier appearance.