Wichita Sequel

In Wichita, Kans. last week the Eagle screamed with delight. Its owners, the brothers Victor & Marcellus Murdock, had the supreme joy of seeing their despised rival, the Beacon, convicted of fraudulent advertising. The Beacon and its publishers Max & Louis Levand were tried for labeling certain merchants' advertisements in their Beacon with a "Seal of Quality" bearing the signature of Dr. Russell Eugene Hobbs, until lately city physician. Dr. Hobbs had told the grand jury he had not consented to the use of his signature (TIME, Nov. 6).

The Levands testified that Dr. Hobbs had given permission and the Murdocks had put him up to repudiating it, and, besides, the Beacon should be commended for advertising clean establishments and, besides. Brother Louis was out of town when the ads were solicited and, besides, not a soul could prove that Brother Max had a thing to do with it.

The Levands personally were acquitted. The Beacon was found guilty on five counts--first conviction under the 11-year-old Kansas law. Maximum penalty: $500 on each count. But nobody who knew anything about the Levands believed that the Beacon was more than momentarily dimmed.

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