RUM-RUNNERS SAFE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11842, 25 January 1933, Page 5

RUM-RUNNERS SAFE

OVER HOUR’S DISTANCE FROM SHORE.

, U.P.A by Elec. Tel Copyright*

WASHINGTON, Jan, 23

The Supreme Court ruled to-day that British or Canadian rum-running vessels . cannot legally bo boarded, searched, or seized by eoastguardsmen when more than an hour’s sailing distance from the shore. The decision was handed down in a case brought by Frank Cook, a Canadian. Unusual interest attached to it because of the frequent friction from the search and seizure of Canadian and British vessels by coastguardsmen on'tlie look-out for rumrunners.

The court held that the treaty, with Britain, of 1924, which authorised the boarding of British vessels suspected of liquor-smuggling if found within an hour’s sailing of the United States shores had superoded the conflictive provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930, under which the United State contended that coastguardsmen were authorised to board British vessels within four leagues of the coast. The Supreme Court ruling regarding the seizure of rum-runners, was handed down in a case which had brought a protest from Canada regarding the seizure of the vessel Mazeltov, 11.1 miles off the Massachusetts coast. The vessel had a speeu of only eight to nine knots.