EVERYBODY LOVED NEW YORK’S BEST MAYOR (1934-1945)

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In the book “Try and Stop Me,” written by Bennett Cerf, there is this anecdote about Fiorello H. LaGuardia, elected mayor of N.Y.C in 1934:

LaGuardia often officiated in municipal court. He handled routine misdemeanor cases, including, as Cerf wrote, a woman who had stolen a loaf of bread for her starving family. LaGuardia insisted on levying the fine of ten dollars.

Then he said “I’m fining everyone in this courtroom fifty cents for living in a city where a person has to steal bread in order to eat!” He passed a hat and gave the fines to the defendant, who left the court with $47.50

Bio of his life and career…http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiorello_H._La_Guardia