Evening star., 1932-02-07
RUM RUNNERS USE
OUTLAW STATIONS
Smuggling Operations Exploit
Radio on Atlantic, Pacific
and Gulf Coasts.

- CORES OF OUTLAW" radio statioU
are being used by the big run
running cliques in smuggling
operations along the Atlantic
Pacific and Gulf seaboards, Fed
eral radio officials have learned In the
course Of their recent offensive against
these violators. outlaw broadcasting
stations, carrying programs and adver-
t4sing without the requisite govern
mental licenses are also being subjected
to criminal prosecution.
In recent months Federal operatives
have successfully prosecuted a number
of liquor rings which used radio 10
guide ships to safe landings OF their
Illicit cargoes. Efforts are now being
redoubled and there are 10 cases in
yolvtng criminal radio litigation pend
ing in United States courts at this
writing. Several of the indictments
charge the operation Of unlicensed sta
tions, which were uncovered after they
had caused interference with reception
of licensed stations.
Ben S. Fisher, assistant general coun-
| sci of the Federal Radio Commission,
declared this week some so other cases
now are in process of preparation and
will be brought to bar as soon as ade-
| Cuate evidence is obtained. At one time,
| he asserted, about 100 cases were "on
report" but the number dWindled rap
idly when the Federal forces started
their drive TO rid the air Of outloTs.
Dozen Stations Exploited.
It is believed also that at least
dozen amateur stations, licensed for ex-
| pertmental purposes only, are being ex-
plotted in the secret dispatchtng Of
smugglers. The organized amateurs,
| however, are not being held responsible
in any way for these activities, and In
fact the bona flde hams are frequently
assisting the authorities in tracing down
outlaw stations.
Federal radio inspectors, assisted by
! Coast Guard personnel, are checking
these operations closely, intercepting
/ and DECIDING messages. so that sum-
cient evidence may be procured TO bring
about indictment Of the violators and
conflscation Of their stations. Raids are
made by Federal forces only after weeks
Of surveillance and after the station has
/ been located by radio intercept"
methods learned during the war.
The radio division Of the Department
. Of Commerce has been playing an i'm
portant part in the campaign against
Z pulldNSr AS lIlc HJIICe lUtCc vi bllc
ether, the radio division does not ac-
/ tually prosecute cases in which radio
stations are being used illicitly. Evil
/ dence procured by it or by the commits
sion is turned over to the Depar n ent OF
| Justice, which is empowered to make
/ the arrests, and il licensed stations are
/ inv olyed, summary action against the
/ liCenSee is recommended to the Radio
Commission.
w. D. Terrell, director Of radio of tht
| Commerce Department, Is authority for
the statement that radio stations have
! become very important factors in con-
nection with rum-running and other
smuggling activities. The American
Radio Relay League, the parent ANA
teur organization. is cooperating in
every way possible In curbing the i'm
proper use Of amateur sations. With
some 10000 licensed amateurs through
out the country. however, it is not sur
prising that a few of them should stray
and become party to Illicit cliques.
Only One Not Guilty,
Mr.. Fisher asserted that in the dozen
cases which have been prosecuted so fal
only one resulted in a verdict of not
/ guilty That was in the case of JOY
| P. Miller. Ashland. Nebr., charged with
operating an unlicensed broadcasting
station without an operators license.
Edwin Miles Of the same city, however,
. pleaded guilty to the same charge last
November 21, and was indicted, but
sentence has not yet been paSS,ed.
In every case pending, Mr.. Fisher
declared the charges are the same as
those in the Miller Miles case, alleging
violations of the radio act of 1927. The
penal provisions Of the law provide for
a maximum of $4,000 rne, five years
imprisonment, or both. The .proSecu-
tions are conducted by the United
States attorney of the district involved,
assisted by the commission.
Expert testimony and assistance in
the cases pending have been igivs0 by
William E. DOWney, aSSistantl director
of the radio division: George S. Smith,
chief license division OF the Icommis-
sion. and w. J. Chairman, chief inves-
tigatOr of the commission.
Mr.. Fisher said that I. c. Iankford.
jr., Wichita Falls. Tex, has been SEN
fenced to 10 days in Jail and $500 fine
for operating an unlicensed broadcast
ing station, after having pleaded guilty
on November 10. In the caSe of Lee
Elton Spencer of Pittsburgh. )under a
similar charge the jury found the de-
fendant guilty upon all 10 counts in
two indictments. The case was tried
last month, and a motion for new
trial is now pending
In third broadcasting case, Harold
G. Boden. Jonesboro. Ark, was indicted
for operating a station without an
operators license November % The
defendant pleaded not guilty and the
case was continued to permit the pro-
curement of a new Indictment on the
additional count of operating the sta
tion without a license. Charles c.
McCollum, also involved, was dismissed
from the case.