MArrEB OF S 

In DEPORTATION Proceedings 

A-10891495 

Decided by Board May 22, 1959 

Crime involving moral turpitude—Carrying concealed and deadly weapon with 

intent to use against the person of another, Minnesota. 

Carrying a concealed and deadly weapon with intent to use against the person 

of another in v iirlaLlun of section 6115.41, Minnesota Statutes (Annotated--

1957), is a crime involving moral turpitude. 

CHARGE : 

Order: Act of 1952—Section 241(a) (4) [8 U.S.C. 1251(a) (4)1—Convicted 

of crime involving moral turpitude committed within 5 years after 

entry and sentenced to confinement for a year or more, via., carrying 

concealed weapon (Minnesota). 

BEFORE THE BOARD 

Discussion: This case is before us by certification. The respondent is a 19-year-old unmarried male alien, a native of the Ukraine 

(Soviet Union) alleged to be stateless, who last entered the United 

States on April 6, 1957. Following expulsion hearing, a special inquiry officer on March 10, 1959, rendered an oral decision in which 

he directed deportation on the charge in the order to show cause. 

Subsequently, upon further consideration of the pertinent issue of 

deportability, he prepared a decision on March 30, 1959, in which 

all of the pertinent points relating to the grounds for deportation 

have been carefully and thoroughly discussed. It has been decided 

that the allegations in the order to show cause are established by 

documentary evidence in the record and the pertinent law applicable thereto. The case has been certified to the Board for review. 

The question of deportability is the only issue before us. 

Deportability is predicated on documentary evidence which shows 

that the respondent pleaded guilty to a criminal charge (an information) on October 28, 1958, which set forth that he had committed the crime, carrying a concealed weapon, m violation of section 

616.41, Minnesota Statutes (Annotated-1957), (committed on or 

about October 20, 1958) in the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin 

County, Minnesota. The pertinent charge reads: 

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* * * then and there heinZ, did willfully. unlawfully, wrongfully and knowingly 

carry, conceal and have in his possession and on his person, with intent to use 

against the person of one J C C ,a certain dangerous weapon, to 

wit: a .38 caliber pistol commonly called a revolver, a more particular description of said revolver being to me unknown, said revolver being then and 

there loaded with gunpowder and leaden bullets, the said Y—S-- not 

then and there being a public officer * * *. 

Respondent was convicted in District Court, Fourth Judicial District, Hennepin County, Minnesota, and sentenced on December 3, 

195S, for the term of one year, "Defendant to be paroled after serving 6 months with 41 days time off for time served in County Jail." 

Although the case is submitted without argument or brief, the 

respondent challenges the finding that he has been sentenced to a. 

term of "one-year or more" within the meaning of section 241(a) (4) 

of the Immigration and Nationality Act.' 

The applicable provision of law in the Minnesota Statutes (Annotated), defining and specifying the elements of the crime committed by the respondent., and the statute tinder which he was convicted, 

is section 616.41 entitled "Deadly weapons" which reads as follows: 

Every person who shall manufacture, or cause to be manufactured, sell, 

keep for sale, offer, or dispose of, any instrument or weapon of the kind 

usually known as a slung-shot, sandclub, or metal knuckles; or who shall 

attempt to use against another, or with intent so to use, shall carry, conceal, 

or possess, any of the weapons hereinbefore specified, or any dagger, dirk, 

knife, pistol, or other dangerous weapon, shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor. The possession by any person, other than a public officer, of any 

such weapon concealed or furtively carried on the person shall be presumptive 

evidence of carrying, concealing, or possessing with intent to use the same. 

The punishment or penalty for crimes committed in violation of 

the aforementioned statute (gross misdemeanors), is set forth in 

section 610.20 of the Minnesota Statutes (Annotated), which reads: 

Whoever shall be convicted of a gross misdemeanor for which no punishment is prescribed by any statute in force at the time of conviction and sentence shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 

one year, or by a fine of not more than 84,000. 

First, we will briefly review the elements of the offense herein 

involved and considered whether such crime is one having the elements of moral turpitude. In other words, we will determine by 

review whether there is a basis for action other than that which has 

been taken by the special inquiry officer. 

Concisely, the overt acts that are the basis for the alien's conviction are contained in the information to which the respondent enSEC. 241. (a) Any alien in the United States (including an alien crewman) 

shall, upon the order of the Attorney General, he deported who— * * ■ 

(4) is convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude committed within 

five years after entry and either sentenced to confinement or confined therefor in a prison or corrective institution, for a year or more * * *. 

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.56271 3—C 1 24 
tered a plea of guilty. These acts were that he willfully, unlawfully, wrongfully and knowingly did carry on his-person, conceal 

and have in his possession and on his person, a certain dangerous 

weapon, a loaded revolver, with intent to use the weapon against 

the person of another. It is essential to know the specific kind of 

weapon used in the concealment and possession of a weapon with 

intent to use it, or attempt to use the weapon against the person of 

another, in order to determine whether it is dangerous (Matter of 

B ,11. Le; N. Dec. 52). 

The weapon in the instant case was a revolver, 'loaded, which has 

been held to be a dangerous weapon; and the shooting of a person 

has been held to be a crime involving moral turpitude (United States 

ex rel. Morlacei v. Smith, 8 F.2d 663). Nor can it be disputed that 

the use of a dangerous weapon against the person of another is motivated by an evil, base, and vicious intent. The essence of the 

offense is the carrying of the dangerous weapon with a hare, evil 

and vicious intent to injure another (State v. Simon, 163 Minn. 317). 

The intent to commit an offense having the elements of moral turpitude has the same elements as the offense (United States ex rel. 

Meyer v. Day, 51 F.2d 336). The special inquiry officer, after thorough consideration of the issue, has reached the conclusion that carrying a concealed weapon with intent to use it against the person 

of another is a crime involving moral turpitude. We concur in that 

decision. 

The sentence of the respondent to imprisonment for the term of 

one year satisfies the provisions of section 211(a) (1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The sentence is measured by the possible maximum time the alien is liable to serve.'- The maximum time 

this respondent was given to serve was a term of one year. 

Respondent has complained that he was not represented by counsel 

at the time of his appearance and arraignment before the State 

Court in the criminal trial. While the matter of legal representation at the time of court trial and conviction is not a matter for our 

consideration, we observe that the court record shows the respondent did have legal representation. 

In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, and our review 

of the record in the case, the decision of the special inquiry officer 

will be affirmed. The respondent may be able to apply for an executive pardon to relieve him from deportation. 

Order : It is ordered that the decision of the special inquiry officer be affirmed. 

z Matter or 1?-, 1 1. Zt N. Dec. 209, 211; aryl Matter 0.1` *G 1. & N. 

Dec. 578. 

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