INTERESTING BITS OF LOCAL NEWS Twenty persons; mostly wom en and children, had narrow es capes from death in early morn ing fire at 540 W. 12th' street. Women tried to jump to the, street, but were restrained. Sev eral were' overcome' by smoke, but were rescued by firemen and policemen. Two patrols of policemen hur ried to 1119 S. Marshalfield ave. early today in response to word that a murdered man was in the basement there. The policemen saw the form of a man in the cor ner. One officer grabbed him and shuddered. The man's head came off. Cheer up, it was a ''straw" man. And the coppers didn't like the joke. Speaking of "straw" men, many a salf-made man worships his own creator. W. R. H. take notice. Third fire in three days in plant of Swift & Co., in the stockyards, occurred today on third floor of Warehouse No. 19, Exchange ave. and S. Loomis street. Peter Baranowski, 11, 527 155th street, West Hammond, pointed "unloaded" rifle at his 5-year-old sister, Anna. She died instantly. Part of jewelry taken from Mrs. May Perlett, 4031 Evans ton ave., by man who attacked her in her home recovered in pawnshop. Police have clew pointing to an ex-convict. Nicholas Korngold, civil serv ice commission investigator, who testified against Inspector Wheeler and his four aids, now on trial, was discredited by attor neys for the defense yesterday. Korngold said his wife was in California, but she was produced in the commission's rooms by Attorney Devine. Korngold also admitted having borrowed sums of from $5 to $100 from divekeep ers during the time he was in vestigating. Mrs. Alma C. Anderson, 5718 S. Peoria street, committed sui cide at her home yesterday by in haling gas. Left note asking hus band's forgiveness. Mrs. Rene Morrow, charged by the police with having killed her husband, Charles D. Morrow, an inventor, at their home, 4545 S. Michigan ave., a week ago, says she can prove an alibi "through one of her woman boarders. Au topsy will be held on Morrow's body today at request of his wid ow, who hopes to clear mystery connecting her with the case. Home of Charles Hill, 303 N. Park ave., destroyed by fire. Damage, $25,000. J. E. O'Connor, "L" road guard, and William J. Halpin, Ar mour & Co. employe, arraigned on serious charge preferred by Lillian Malm, 16, who disappear ed from her home in Blue Island last week. Case continued to Tan. 15. Archibald T. Fitzgerald, 1523 Elk Grove ave., arrested recently on charge of mistreating several young women, failed to appear in court yesterday when his case was called. Bond of $1,500 for- 1 feited.