[Hawthorn]

> It's virtually impossible to do any business transaction-- legitimate or otherwise-- without using the mails or "interstate wires." <

I understand. But Scruggs and the Judge are in the same town, Oxford. And it seems to me that Scruggs et al. surely would have been smart enough to know that they should approach the Judge only in person -- never over the phone or via post.

[Lurking Libertarian]

And it seems to me that Scruggs et al. surely would have been smart enough to know that they should approach the Judge only in person -- never over the phone or via post.

Yes, but some document in the case in which the judge was bribed will have been mailed.