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$335,000 for a room of one's own in London

By TIMES WIRES
Published January 23, 2007

A 77-square-foot apartment has little going for it. But in London's exclusive Knightsbridge neighborhood, just such a cubbyhole is going for $335,000, and it's a fixer-upper to boot. Real estate agent Andrew Scott, above, said it would cost an additional $59,000 to make the room, which has no electricity or heating, habitable - but it's really, really close to all the best shopping, so it's quite the catch. The sale of this dark, mildewy room illustrates the astronomical rise in property values across London, but apparently there are buyers out there. Scott said he has already had three offers.

The bar wouldn't have approved

Even though Kentucky's high court has twice let drinking by the jury slide, a September case of inebriation drove one Louisville judge to his limits. No one seemed to notice that the juror sipping from a plastic water bottle throughout a traffic accident suit was taking nips of vodka. But by deliberations she was disruptive, uncooperative, and basically unable to participate in the judicial process. Jefferson County Circuit Judge Geoffrey Morris, who said he didn't find out about the juror's state until after the verdict was read, decided this month to order a new trial, despite the legal precedents set in 1895 and 1915, the Courier-Journal reported. A dismissal from jury duty and the possibility of hangover were the juror's only punishment.

Breaking a thief, a message at a time

When Pan Aiying's bag was snatched from her Friday in the eastern province of Shandong, China, she thought about calling the police. But instead she decided to take her chances on finding a soft spot in the thief's heart. The bag held her bank cards, about 4,900 yuan ($630) and her cell phone, and Pan began a text messaging campaign to get her stuff back, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the Qilu Evening News. "You must be going through a difficult time. If so, I will not blame you," Pan wrote in her first message. After 21 messages and no response, Pan began to despair. But on Sunday morning, she found her bag, its contents safe inside, in her courtyard. "I'm sorry. I made a mistake. Please forgive me," a letter inside said. "I'll correct my ways and be an upright person."

Store owner sues homeless for $1M

A New York antiques dealer tired of four homeless people sleeping, drinking alcohol and urinating in front of his store has sued them for $1-million. Karl Kemp also wants the four, named in the lawsuit filed last week as John Doe, Bob Doe, John Smith and Jane Doe, kept 100 feet away from his store on Manhattan's Madison Avenue.

[Last modified January 23, 2007, 01:34:14]