Around the world
VOICE OF HOPE: Pierre Holmes, whose voice on the BBC during World War II passed coded messages to the French resistance and served as a beacon of hope for the French under occupation, died at 81. Holmes died Dec. 7, in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, a village where he lived near the southern city of Avignon, officials said Friday. They did not disclose the cause of death. From 1942 to 1944, Holmes announced a nightly 15-minute segment from London on the British Broadcasting Corp. called "Les francais parlent aux francais" (The French speak to the French).CHAPLIN: An anonymous British collector paid $82,500 Friday for Charlie Chaplin's trademark bowler hat and cane. The hat and cane worn by Chaplin in the 1940 film, "The Great Dictator," were sold by a private Danish collector who bought them in 1987 from Chaplin's studio manager Alfred Reeves, Christie's said.
Across the nation
WEAVER FREED: White separatist Randy Weaver was released from jail in Friday, 16 months after a shootout that left his wife, son and a federal marshal dead. Weaver slipped out a back door of the Canyon County Jail about 30 miles west of Boise and was picked up by one of his attorneys. In Boise, he was reunited with co-defendant Kevin Harris, who was wounded during the shootout at Weaver's cabin in remote northern Idaho.
RETRIAL: A man once sentenced to die for the car-bombing murder of a reporter was found innocent in a retrial, but he was sent back to jail - this time accused of trying to kill a prosecution witness. A jury in Phoenix acquitted James Robison of murder and conspiracy Friday, in the June 2, 1976, slaying of Don Bolles, a reporter for The Arizona Republic.
DEPUTY FINED: An undercover Sacramento, Calif., deputy sheriff has been fined $1,000 for the gun and badge he lost when he dashed into a convenience store for coffee and a doughnut. He left his engine running, somebody drove off in the car, and when it was recovered the gun and badge were missing.
GUNS FOR TICKETS: Los Angeles city officials have joined Ticketmaster in offering two free tickets to a concert or sporting event to anyone who turns in a gun during a two-week exchange program. Police said those who turn in guns will not face any questions.