The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-04-26
POOR JUDGMENT IN PICKING
CUSTOMERS DISASTK0t

ttWbk IL tNsMtNt ~ ttsNtFNo
CUSTOMERS DISASTROUS
IL a man was so indiscreet ~ 10 sell
a drink TO a prohibition agent he was
promptly locked up and eventually
fined.
One Of the chief outdoor sports was
to flag down autos returning at
night from Canada. A harricade was
erected on somo International high.
way and every ear that came along
was stopped and searched. II booze
was found, the occupants were placed
under arrest and their ear held for
confiscation. Tho coast guard han
died hoozerunnlng launches In a
similar manner.
In short. whenever and under
whatever circumstances liquor was
found. 1, was seized and the rcsponsi'
BILE parties quickly punished In court.
But before long the legal fraternity
began TO sense the drift OF things.
DEFENDANTS pleaded guilty less read
ily. They fought their eases oeca-
uaonaiiy they would win. Lawyers
began Systematically to attack the
volsssad act wherever u appeared
vulnerable. BY means OF test cases.
they secured decisions from the
Judges, and by handling these de-
cintons as an expert fencer wicids his
folds, they are enabled TO accomplish
now things that would have been I'm
possible a year ago.
EACH WET VICTORY
GRIZZLIES DRY AGENTS
And each OF these decisions THAI
aided the bootiegger's defense. hinder
ed the activities OF prohibition agents
to that extent
Federal Judg- Cushman recently
held that unless nauor that was be
ing transported in an auto was &C.
tualiy in the car at the time OF
seizure. the car could not be forfeit
81. Picture a booticgEvr making a
delivery at a house. He drives up.
Agents in disguise are waiting They
accept the liquor. and as soon as
their marked money has changed
hands they arrest the man lie II
subject to prosecution In the courts.
but his car L. In the clear. because
the deal had been completed and the
boozr was not in II ut tho time OF
arrest. The one exception allowed
by the court L. when the contraband
liquor Is thrown from the car 10 get
rid OF discriminatory evidence.
In numerous cases Il has been held
that federal agents may not search
for nor seize liquor without a search
warrant This at first applied 70
the home. n mans CASTLE but was
later extended variousiy to include
other premises az we'll
The mos; drastic search warrant
ruling was that Of Judge Rudkin. In
Spokane. who held in his Instructions
10 q jury that federal agents had no
right TO search n car on the highway
unless properly armed with a war
rant for that particular vehicle.
ssNO SEARCH WARRANTS
IN STOCK TODAY"
Search warrants are obtained from
the United States commissioner.
Usually the supply Is sufficient. but
upon one occasion recently federal
agent rushed in for n warrant. only
TO be informed that the government
office was out OF them and he would
have 10 purchase the document at a
stationery store.
Suppose. then, a bootieggcr driv.
ing down Third ave. with an auto
load Of choice Canadian liquors. At
the postofflce corner he Is spicd by
a federal prohibition agent. The lat
ter. recalling Judge Rudkin's ruling.
steps out into the street and holds
up his hand.
Pardon me, my friend" says the
agent. as the booze bus slows up. II
am a federal agent and must arrest
you. Kindly wait few minutes I'M
II I can get out search warrant"
lie opens the hood. obtains the en-
zine number. notes the make OF the
car and hurries off to the commits
xioner.
Sorry" says that individual, but
I'm all out Of warrants. Here's
schedule Of prices. The store IL only
six blocks away"
The agent buys his search war.
rant, returns to the commissioner,
who fills IL out. and dashes back to
Third and Union. Where. Of course.
the bootlegyer Is waiting for HMM
Pierce county. headed south at Is
miles an hour,