Dr. Moore Hurls Fruit At U.S. Customs Men

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29278, 9 August 1960, Page 13

Dr. Moore Hurls Fruit At U.S. Customs Men

SAN FRANCISCO, August 8. Dr. Barbara Moore, the British vegetarian walker, pelted customs men with fruit today, when they told her that Californian law forbade the importation of oranges, tomatoes, bananas, passion fruit, avocados and a cucumber she had brought from Australia.

Dr. Moore arrived aboard a Qantas airliner from Sydney, saying she had lost her money on the way. As a matter of routine, the supervising customs inspector, Mr George Muller, asked her if she had any fruit or vegetables to declare. “No,” said tire 57-year-old doctor. Mr Muller, however, peered into one of her six travelling bags. He came up with an orange and said, “What’s this?” Dr. Moore cried: "Don’t take that, it’s the biggest one I’ve ever seen.” Another customs Inspector, Mr Adrian Bennett, and a California Department of Agriculture inspector, Mr Robert Davis, were summqned. They went into a huddle around the bags. Then they pulled out the fruit and a cucumber. “I brought that from England.” cried Dr. Moore, grabbing the cucumber. "You can’t bring it into this country.” Mr Muller told her. When Mr Davis picked up another large orange. Dr. Moore snatched it out of his hand. “1 won’t have ' anything to eat.” she said. “I’ve lost my money and now you’re taking my food.” She began peeling the orange

and told the inspectors: “I’ll eat it here.” Mr Bennett and Mr Davis opened a bag at Dr. Moore's feet and out popped two large, bewildered turtles. “My God,” said Mr Bennett. “I thought it was a snake.” Dr. Moore wrestled with him for possession of the turtles until Mr Bennett assured her they were permitted to enter the country. Then Dr. Moore began throwing fruit at Mr Davis and Mr Muller. They ducked behind their desks. “Brutality," she cried. "I suppose you want my flowers, too.”' With that, she threw a package of Hawaiian flowers at Inspector Muller, who meekly explained: “But lady, they’re all right. You can have them.” Dr. Moore then began to repack her bags, trying to slip in the cucumber she said she had brought from England, along with the half-peeled orange. “No. no,” said Mr Davis. “You can’t take tLat with you." “I’m a vegetarian.” she replied. “I’m sorry," said Mr Davis. Dr. Moore began to weep. “I’ll starve.” she wailed. “I’ll starve. They don’t give me anything to eat on the airline but tinned food. It makes me sick.”