Judge Sirica Will Rest His Case

--Judge John J. Sirica, who presided over the Watergate scandal from the “third-rate burglary” to the resignation of Richard M. Nixon as President, said he has earned the right to take it easy and will retire Oct. 1. “I’m just tired,” said Sirica, 82. “After pretty near 30 years, there comes a time in a man’s life when he has to take it easier.” He was appointed to the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia in 1957. “This isn’t anything sudden,” Sirica said. “I’m in very good health. My wife and I talked about it. We plan to travel a little bit in August. I haven’t had a vacation in four years.” Sirica presided over the trial of the original defendants in the Watergate break-in. On March 18, 1974, the day before he reached the mandatory retirement age of 70, Sirica ordered the Watergate grand jury’s report on Nixon turned over to the House Judiciary Committee studying impeachment of the President. The next day, Sirica stepped down as chief judge but remained on the bench and continued to preside over Watergate trials and other court actions.

--Writer Stephen King had the pleasure of serving crow to a sportswriter dressed in long johns who had doubted the abilities of King’s beloved Boston Red Sox. “This is the best lunch I ever had and I didn’t even eat anything,” King said in Bangor, Me., after about 200 people watched Bangor Daily News sportswriter Bob Haskell eat a chicken dinner while wearing a pair of cutoff long johns. The stunt was to settle a bet. Haskell wrote a column saying the Red Sox would not be in first place by Flag Day--June 14. King responded by saying if they were not in first, he would eat a chicken dinner in front of the newspaper building while wearing his underwear. Instead, Haskell ended up wearing the long johns. The bet also turned into a moneymaker for the Jimmy Fund, which helps children who have cancer. King donated $1,000.

--The head of the Ohio Insurance Department has a personal bone to pick with the industry he is in charge of regulating. George Fabe said he lost his homeowner’s policy last month after filing three claims with his insurance agency. “This sure . . . tells me in a hurry what they’re up to,” Fabe said. “What do they want to do--sell insurance only if they don’t get claims?” The wealthy Cincinnati businessman said he filed two claims for storm damage and one for theft within the last year for his 66-year-old mansion. The claims totaled $4,400. Fabe said the agent for Chubb Insurance Group told him the company could no longer sell a preferred homeowner’s policy and Fabe would have to take out a high-risk policy. Paul Nielander, a branch manager for Chubb, declined comment.