Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-03
MRS. MORGAN HAD
rum, FUTILE TOLD
Customs Agent Ayers Repre-
sentative Said Liquor Was
in Wife's Baggage.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, April 3-United States
Attorney Charles H. Tuttle said in q
formal statement today that customs
inspector asserted that when Represen-
tative William Morgan of Ohio arrived
from Panama he said Mrs. Morgan had
four bottles of liquor and demanded
free entry.
Tuttle quoted Inspector Crawford as
saying Mr.. Morgan told him his wife
had two bottles of whisky and two of
champagne. which she had brought
with her on the liner Cristobal from
Panama for her father
The Federal attorney also said that
Mr.. Morgan obtained free entry by
telephoning the customhouse and
saying he was on a Government mis-
sion. but not saying anything about
liquor.
After preliminary investigation of the
case yesterday, Tuttle announced that
customs inspectors had neither found,
seen nor handled" any liquor in the
representatives baggage and that none
Of the baggage had been opened.
Morgan Denies Report.
When reports about liquor in
Morgan's baggage first were puhlislleti
Morgan denied them absolutely. re-
marking that he had never had 4
drink In his life. He made no mention
in any statement to the press of liquor
in his wife's baggage, an angle of the
case that came as complete surprise
today.
Tlttle's statement follows in full:
Since one Of the objects Of the in
vestigation undertaken by me the day
before yesterday was speedily to make
clear the available facts, ! have de-
termined, with the assent of the coll
rnent of Justice in Washington, to make
public at once the statements of the
customs officers made at my office on
Monday afternoon These statements
are substantially the same as those
taken at the customshouse on Satur-
day last.
Says Morgan Made Threat.
"It will be seen that, according to
the statement of Inspector Crawford
MFR. Morgan stated to him that his wife
was bringing in two bottles of whisky
and two bottles OF champagne for her
aged father. and Mr.. Morgan demanded
the same free entry as was being ac-
corded certain other members of Con-
gress and threatened to raise trouble in
Washington unless he was accorded that
privilege. @
"Mr. Morgan telephoned from the
pier to H. G. Stuart, assistant collector
of customs, and was informed that If
the examining inspector found that he
was on official business for the Govern
ment, he was entitled to free entry.
Nothing was said to Mr.. Stuart In that
conversation about liquor.
According to the statement Of Mr..
Kleinbohl, the acting deputy collector
at the pier, Mr.. Morgan then informed
him that he was member of the con-
gressional mission to the Canal Zone.
Mr.. Kleinbohl so indorsed Mr. Morgan's
written declaration, adding the words,
Free entry" and thereupon the
baggage of Mr.. Morgan and his family
was passed by Mr.. Crawford without
opening or examining it. These state
ments are from all the witnesses avail
able to the Government.
Declines Further Comment.
Under the Federal law, a wife or a
husband is not competent to testify in
criminal proceeding involving the
other, and moreover, under the prohibi-
ton law, Mr.. Morgan could not be re-
quired to testify without receiving i'm
munityf Unless, therefore, Mr.. Morgan
valves immunity, the information at
present available comes down la sub
stance to the foregoing. which clearly
would not be accepted by any Of our
Federal judges as suficient to submit
70 e jury as a basis for finding of
guilt beyond q reasonable doubt.
The question whether, Mr.. Morgan
was on official business for the Govern-
ment, whether the privilege OF free en-
try Is liable to abuse and whether one
citizen should be exempted from inspec-
ton Of baggage while others are re-
qured to submit thereto are not before
me for consideration. -
Tuttle declined to be quoted further
or to answer any questions about the
case put to. him after he had issued
the statement. S. 7--,,5'- n
At the customhouse it was learned
that no proof of the oficial nature 81
Mr.. Morgan's voyage had been asked
! for or given ct the time, his statement
/ out question. - 80