PROHIBITION: Fall Guy

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Returning via Key West from a Caribbean junket two years ago, Chicago's Congressman M. Alfred Michaelson was allowed "free entry" for ponderous baggage, which, on investigation, was found to contain kegged gallons of rum, bottled quarts of strong liquors. A U. S. judge at Key West harkened to the Congressman's plea that the liquor belonged to his brother-in-law Walter Gramm. Congressman Michaelson was exonerated (TIME, May 20). Last week another U. S. judge at Key West accepted Brother-in-law Gramm's plea of guilty, fined him $1,000 and costs.

"He was a 'fall guy,' " frankly explained Gramm's lawyer.

Said the judge: "I have no desire to punish him for the faults of the escaped

Congressman—one of those who votes dry and drinks wet."

But not entirely "escaped" was Congressman Michaelson. The department of Justice sent an agent to trace the itinerary of the Michaelsonian junket. At Port au Prince, Haiti, the agent obtained affidavits from the police chief, customs officers, a night club proprietor. All easily recalled details of the memorable visit of the Congressman and his jolly party. The Department of Justice's interest in the Michaelson case seemed to centre around the black word "perjury."