◆ SpookStack

D-380 (Rev. 7-16-63) _treasu “BY BUD GORDON News staff writer Privacy — like the whooping crane — is fast becoming ex- tinct in the U.S. ‘Even in Alabama, thé long treasured freedom of secret speech and action is vanishing, exposed by electronic “eaves- dropping” devices and “super cameras which can take pictures in the dark. Three miniature electronic de- yices for monitoring telephone conversations have been found in Alabama during the past month, according to Public Safety Director Al Linge. One such device was found telephone wire in a Birmingham) home. Another was located in a Birmingham home about three weeks ago. Still another was o- cated on the telephone of Miss Sybil Poole, member of the Alabama Public Service Com-| mission. In alt three cases, the de-” vices were tiny, self powered short wave radios, capable of broadcasting phone conversa- tions several blocks away to a receiver. Ail three devices were ingen- jously constructed at a cost from. $150 to $250..They were cleverly concealed. ALTHOUGH THE state has| “a good suspect,” persons who} installed these electronic bugs: are ngt known. Tracing the in- struments, according to Lingo, is, almost impossible. Manulactured in Miami and San Francisco, the bugs bear ne manufacturer's label. A few, Lingo said, are being made: right here in Alabama by skilled| electronic technicians. A few years ago, tapping a _ Phohe wire was a major project, ‘ond the capabilities of ordi- . y ‘agencies — private or pub- lic. But recent strides in minia-| i Tiny; sensitive last Thursday, attached to thé] pa hath inn om a oD (Mount Clipping In Space Below) me vented, red saaaye teak : furizea electronic devices using tiny transistors instead of tubes Ihas brought the wiretapper's art, within the reach of the ordinary, investigator or espionage agent.| Time Magazine recently re- | vealed the federal government 1 buys ‘some $20 million of tele- phone bugging devices a year. Many of these bugs are used. by, federal officials on their t own phones to record conver- 5 sations in secrecy. 1s Most expensive among the bugs is the tiny transmitter. Some of these are no larger than a lump of sugar and many are smaller than a pack of cig- jarets, . Most popular is the simple‘ ‘in- duction coil, which picks up both lends of a phone conversation. (Indicate page, name of newspaper, city and state.) ___ PAGE A-38 THE BIRMINGHAM NEWS > A FEW ULTRA-sophisticated bugs can perform their spy- chores without being connected to a phone. The only limit to the size of the instrument is battery ipower, Experts predict nuclear power will further reduce their size. Atty. Gen. Robert Kennedy put a bill before Congress in 1962, which would permit feder- al authorities, under orders of the Attorney Genera], to wire- tap, with a court order. ! In certain situations — such a5 espionage, subversion, murder, Kidnapping, interstate racketeer- ling and narcotics — wiretapping would be legal, and would yield legal court evidence. In espionage, the Attorney |General could sidestep the court, ‘if he thought asking for a court order would endanger the na- tional interest. ‘Under the bill, all other forms of wiretapping would be prohibited and punishable by a 10,000 fine or two years federal prison. ee But, the bill has met opposi- a ma hae ENCLOSURE: Date: Edition: Author: Editor: 8/16/64 FINAL tite: = ="TINY, SENSI- TIVE ‘BUGS’ MAKE TREASURED PRIVACY Character: EXTINCT or Classification: Submitting Office: Bi rmingha [_} Being Investigated (CONTINUED) Md 7?