Sky Smugglers

Last week immigration inspectors in Los Angeles heard that ten Chinese immigration-law evaders were being smuggled over the Mexican border in airplanes. Hastening to the Eagle airport, landing field near Los Angeles, they hid in the weeds and bushes, waiting. Toward dawn three airplanes arrived. Before the first to land had come to a full stop, officials ran forward with drawn guns. According to their version, the aviator attempted to take to the air, whereupon they fired, killed the aviator, captured the two other pilots, found no Chinese. In the running gear of the planes were tangled bunches of green oats, proving, officials maintain, that the aviators had landed in a nearby oatfield, unloaded their Oriental contraband. The dead pilot was Arthur I. Daugherty of Los Angeles. Fellow-pilots denied smuggling Chinese, said Pilot Daugherty was shot down without being given a chance for his life. The shooters were held for questioning by their superiors.