" TAPPING " MESSAGES.
Several instances of telephone wire tapping by police and Government agents in efforts to obtain evidence in prohibition cases have led to the introduction of a Bill into Congress to prohibit the practice. The Bill also forbids employees of telephone and telegraph services to divulge the contents of messages, and would make evidence obtained in that way or by wire tapping inadmissible in any Federal court. A recent case in which evidence was obtained by wire tapping went to the United States Supreme Court for decision on the ground that interference with private telephone wires infringed the constitutional provision in respect of unlawful searches and seizures. By a majority of five to four the Court held the opposite view. The minority opinion of the Court, which included that of Justices Holmes and Brandeis, was that wire tapping did constitute a search for evidence, and that " decency, security and liberty " alike demanded that public officials should not resort to it. The minority opinion finds much support in the Press.
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