◆ SpookStack

by the Department, there appeared to be no necessity to seek authorization from the Attorney General for the installation of a contact microphone outside the space occupied by the subject. This was so since there was no trespass involved and, at that time, this type of installation was regarded as legal. The Executive Conference of June 9, 1950, observed that the Department had, of course, indirect notice of the Bureau's use of the microphone technique. This indirect notice stemmed from the Bureau's requests, over the years, for Departmental opinions as to the admissibility of evidence obtained in a variety of hypothetical situations involving the use of uicrophones. The Department also had direct knovledge that the FBI was using microphones from the Bureau's replies to questions concerning the availability of witnesses and the admissibility of evidence in some cases being considered for prosecution. For example, a microphone was utilized in the espionage case involving Judith Coplon, an etiployee of the Justice Department. Nevertheless, the Conference noted that, under existing policy, the Bureau was installing and using