Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-30
HOUSE MEMBERS
ARREST ORDERED
Michae!son Case to Be Push.
ed-Morgan Accused of
Importing Liquor.

With word from Chicago today that
the arrest of Representative M. A.
Michaelson of Illinois had been ordered
on a charge of violation Of the dry
law, it was said at the Department OF
Justice that he would be prosecuted
without fear or favor.
Although he was indicted by Fed
eral grand jury in Jacksonville, Fla,
for importing liquor into the United
States, warrant was not issued for his
arrest until yesterday in Chicago, but
the preliminaries having been estab-
lished by the Government, it was
learned today that his case viii be
pushed forward In the regular manner
and under the scrutiny of washington
officials charged with carrying out the
prohibition laws, s----- ~@s.. Iss.s .S
In the mean time, another member
of Congress, Representative William
NJ. Morgan of Ohio, continued today
to deny he had brought in four bottles
of liquor when he arrived on American
soil from the Canal Zone.
Inspectors Report Find.
Customs inspectors. according to their
statement, found four bottles in his
baggage, but as yet no official report
of the matter has reached the Treasury
Department, according to Assistant Sec
retary of the Treasury Lowman. Nor
gan also voted for the Jones law.
The case of Representative Michael
son developed at Jacksonville. but his
identity was only recently disclosed. II
was learned that the United States at
torney in Jacksonville, when he re-
ported the case to the United States
attorney in Chicago for removal pro-
ceedings, failed in the first instance to
identify Michaelson as member OF
Congress or even to furnish Chicago
with his street address.
Later, when it was learned in WASH
ington that the man under indictment
was a member of Congress, it was de-
cided to leave the action in the case
to the district attorney in Michaelson's rs
home district in Illinois, where he
maintains residence.
Trunks Found Leaking.
The department. refrained, it was
tacular proceeding by taking action
against Michaelson while he was sit
ting In Congress. Removal proceedings
probably could not have been heard
here by the court, anyway, 1t was
learned, until after adjournment OF
Congress and after Michaelson had re-
turned home. With the warrant Issued
for his arrest. however, 1t was UNDER
stood here today that the district attor.
ney in Chicago intends to carry forward
the case without delay.
The indictment was returned by q
Florida grand Jury after local author
ities in Jacksonville claimed they found
LIQUOR leaking from Michaelson's trunks,
which had been admitted through Gus
toms from Key West. Upon seizure. the
trunks were found to contain liquor
and wearing apparel. They nad been
consigned to Michaelson's residence.
Mr.. Morgan repeated today II have
never taken drink in my life. and
there was not single drop OF liquor In
my baggage" He added that ne regards
the incident as closed.
Mr.. Morgan repeated, i have never
taken drink in my life, and there was
not q single drop OF liquor In my bag
gage" He added htat he regards the IN
cident as closed.
Representative Selvig of Minnesota,
another member of the Panama party,
declared he had no knowledge OF any
one having LIQUOR in his possession on
arriving In New York He said he per-
sonally did not believe the charges.
In their report to superiors, the in
spectors quoted the Representative as
admitting the presence Of liquor In one
of his hays and added that they readily
located and removed 1t. The report de-
clared Mr.. Morgan protested and threat
Continued on Page 2, Column -