Evening star., 1917-01-15
MANN ACT APPLIES
TO PERSONAL CASES
Supreme Court Affirms Convic-
tions of F. Drew Caminetti
and Maury !. Diggs.
DIVIDED OPINION RENDERED

Interpreting the Mann white slave
law. the Supreme Court Of the United
States today decided that prosecutions
under the law for transporting women
in interstate commerce are not limited
to commercialized vice and include
personal immoral escapades. Convic-
tion of F. Drew Caminetti, and Maury
i. Diggs of Sacramento was affirmed.
The court was divided. The majority
opinion was given by Justice Day.
Chief Justice White and Justices Nc
Kenna and Clarke dissented. Justice
McReynolds took no part in considera-
tion Of the cases.
Power of Congress Upheld.
"The plain terms of the act must
take precedence over the designation.
and the report that accompanied it to
Congress-" said Justice Day "It is said
it will open the door to blackmail. but
that is to be considered by Congress.
We think the power of Congress to
regulate transportation of passengers
affords ample basis to exercise author
ity in the case of this statute"
Following Interpretation of the Mann
act the court also affirmed conviction of
L. T. Hays of Alva, Okla.
Justice Days Opinion.
Justice McKenna announced the disc
sent but did not deliver any opinion.
Justice Days majority opinion said:
"In none of the cases was it charged
that the transportation (of the women
nvolved) was for gain or for the pur-
Of fY,rp q
tuition for hire. There is no ambiguity
in the terms of this act. 1t is elemen-
tary that the meaning of statute
must in the first instances be sought
in the language of the act as framed,
and If that is plain the sole function of
the court is to enforce it according to
it's terms.
for debauchery or for an immoral pur-
pose, for which Diggs and Caminetti
were convicted. would seem by the very
statement of the facts to embrace trans
portation for purposes denounced by
the act. While such immoral purpose
would be more culpable in morals If
accomplished with expectation of gain,
such considerations do not prevent the
lesser offense against morals from the
execution of purposes within the mean
ing of the laws. To say the contrary
would shock the common understand
ing of what constitutes an immoral
purpose
Status of Women Involved.
Whether women involved become,
technically, accomplices, argued in be-
half of the three defendants, was not
directly decided by the court. 1t dis
posed of that feature as follows:
ut is urged as a further ground of
reversal of the judgments below that
the trial court did not instruct the jury
that the testimony Of the two girls was
that of accomplices, and to be received
with great caution and believed only
when corroborated by other testimony
adduced in the case. While this is So
there is no absolute rule of law pre-
venting convictions on the testimony of
accomplices if juries believe them
In conclusion. the court said:
..Much is said about the character of
the testimony adduced and as to certain
facts tending to establish the guilt or
innocence of the accused. This court does
not weigh the evidence in a proceeding
of this character. and it is enough to say
that there was substantial testimony
tending to support the verdicts rendered
in the trial courts.
First Ruling on Point.
Although the Supreme Court pre-
yiously had upheld the constitutionality
or the Mann white slave law. the ques-
tion of whether it prohibits interstate
Transformation of women only for COM
mercialized vice. or applies to mere
Immoral eScanadeS ha vino M