"Private Gov't Regulation"

When a U. S. dry agent kills a legger suspect, the State seizes him, indicts him for murder. Promptly the U. S. Government, stepping in to protect its own, has the agent's murder case transferred to a Federal court where the State prosecutes, while the U. S. District Attorney defends. This procedure has saved many a homicidal dry agent from conviction--free of charge.

Last month at Tecumseh, Okla., a U. S. dry agent prepared to raid a farm. With him went one Jeff Harris, private citizen with no official standing except his dry zeal. During the raid Citizen Harris killed two citizen farmers (TIME, July 15). The State of Oklahoma indicted him for murder.

Suddenly last week the U. S. threw an arm of protection about Citizen-Killer Harris, removed his case from the State to the Federal courts. Private Oklahoma citizens inquired how this could be done as Harris was no dry agent. U. S. District Judge Edgar Sullins Vaught put his fingers over his lips, whispered: "Private Government regulation."