Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-19

III
The facts and points of law involved
are so interesting to the average citi-
zen that I shall outline them briefly.
Wires Tapped.
Roy Olmstead was formerly a lieu-
tenant of police in Seattle. Wash. He
embarked in the liquor business and his
trial became nationally famous as the
whispering wires" case. In one Of the
cases in which he was involved 81 peo-
pie were indicted, charged with con-
spiracy to violate the national prohi-
bition act by importing. transporting
and selling intoxicating liquor. OF
these many lived in Canada and So
were not apprehended, but OF the re-
naming 49,. 4 pleaded guilty ana ana, Il
were convicted by the jury. Only D
were acquitted.
1t will be seen from this how extern
sive were Olmstead's operation and now
important 1t was to secure convictions
i'm order to end the operations OF
gang that was flooding the Pacific
Northwest with liquor.
The gathering Of evidence in the case
continued for many months. MOST OF
it was secured by interceptng mes
sages on telephones of the conspirators.
tapped Just outside OF their homes.
The organization had an Office and the
telephone line from the office was also
tapped. The tapping" was done WITH
out trespassing on any Of the properly
OF the defendants.
For many months Federal prohibition
agents listened on these lines. Steno-
graphic notes were made OF converse
lions heard and knowledge was thus OBJ
tanned of enormous transactions IN
liquor.
Plenty of News for the Tappers.
In this manner prohibition agents
heard orders given for liquor by Gus
toners, conversations between the MEM
bers of the bootlegging gang, instruc-
lions as to delivery Of liquor, and also
many highly interesting If not edifying
bits of conversation about Government
officers in general and In particular.
The agents also heard through this tap
ping operation much news" that was
no news to them, such as word passed
between members of the gang as to cap
ture of the organizations vessels. the
arrest of their men and the seizure OF
their liquor in garages and other places.
Over the whispering wire came to the
prohibition agents messages showing
how arrested members of the gang had
been released, and details OF attempted
bribery of officers.
The operations of OlmStead were as
UNIQUE in character as they were ex-
tensiye in volume. He made connec-
lions with man having some radio
knowledge and talent and together they
purchased and operated radio broad.
casting station. This station was USED
for the purpose of getting news to in
coming boats employed by Olmstead 10
bring in cargoes of liquor. Mrs. Ohm
stead frequently broadcasted on TINS
station and her programs consisted
largely of bedtime stories. It was the
belief of the agents and investigators
that the stories constituted code Sig
nails to the boats at sea, advising them
when the coast was clear and where
the Coast Guard boats were likely to be.
Olmstead's radio partner, a man
named Hubbard, was arrested and
Joined as a conspirator in one Of the
cases. He was not tried, however, but
assisted the prohibition officials at
Seattle as a confidential tnformer.
Later an effort was made to indict Hub
bard on evidence gathered by the in
telligence unit of the Treasury Depart
ment intended to show that Hubbard
had worked both sides of the street"
using his knowledge as prohibition
agent to help Olmstead In his opera
lions and using his knowledge of Ohm
steads plans to hold his position with
the Government as informer. There
was evidence that Hubbard had entered
the prohibition service as a poor man,
and yet allegedly had lived "like a
king" on SITS a month.
Bitterness in Treasury Department.
The effort to indict Hubbard failed,
however and there were charges that