Case Name: UNITED STATES v. McGEE et al.
Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1930-03-13
Citations: 39 F.2d 135
Docket Number: No. 4045
Parties: UNITED STATES v. McGEE et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Reporter 2d Series
Volume: 39
Pages: 135–136

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES v. McGEE et al.
No. 4045.
District Court, E. D. New York.
March 13, 1930.
Howard W. Ameli, U. S. Atty., of Brooklyn, N. Y. (Frederick J. Peper, Asst. U. S. Atty., of Brooklyn, N. Y., of counsel), for plaintiff.
Harry K. Nadell, of Brooklyn, N. Y., for defendants.

Opinion:
MOSCOWITZ, District Judge.
This is an action brought by tbe United States of America in tbe nature of a scire facias on a recognizance to recover from tbe defendant Detroit Eidelity & Surety Company tbe sum of $1,000 on a forfeited recognizance executed by tbe Detroit Eidelity & Surety Company to assure tbe appearance of Hugb McGee, tbe principal herein, before this court.
This action has been submitted to tbe court for decision upon tbe stipulation of tbe parties and tbe record in tbe criminal proceedings against Hugb McGee.
On July 28, 1923, tbe Detroit Fidelity & Surety Company executed a bail bond on behalf of one Hugb McGee, tbe principal herein, for tbe sum of $1,000, which bond reads as follows:
"United States of America, Eastern District of New York, ss.:
"Be it remembered, that on this 28th day of July, A. D. 1923, before me, a United States Commissioner for tbe said Eastern District of New York, personally came Hugb McGee, Principal, and Detroit Eidelity and Surety Company, as Surety, and jointly and severally acknowledged themselves to owe tbe United States of America the sum of One thousand Dollars, to be levied on their Goods and chattels, lands and tenements, if default be made in the condition following, to wit:
"Tbe Condition of this Recognizance is such, that if tbe said Hugh McGee who sued out a writ of error from judgment of conviction in tbe United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York for review in tbe United States Circuit Court of Appeals for tbe Second Circuit shall personally appear before tbe United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York on tbe 27th day of August, 1923 at 10 o'clock A. M. and when notified after the filing in tbe said Court of tbe Mandate of tbe U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals and from time to time thereafter to which the ease may be adjourned to answer any further proceedings and abide by and perform any judgment which may be rendered by said United States Circuit Court of Appeals for tbe Second Circuit and surrender himself when so required by said Court and not depart from said District without leave, then this Recognizance to be void, otherwise to remain in full force and virtue.
"Hugb McGee
"Detroit Eidelity & Surety Co.
"Joseph Buff a, Atty. in Fact
"Taken and acknowledged before me on tbe day and year first above written.
"Edmund E. Hennessy
"United States Commissioner,
"Eastern District of New York."
An information was filed against Hugh McGee charging him with violation of title 2, sections 3 and 21 of tbe National Prohibition Act (27 USCA § 12, 33). On July 27, 1923, McGee was tried and after a verdict of guilty was sentenced to pay a fine in tbe sum of $200, and to be imprisoned for sixty days. Defendant appealed and by an order signed on July 28,1923, a writ of error was allowed and McGee was admitted to bail upon furnishing tbe bond in suit.
On October 22, 1924, there was filed in this court a certified copy of an order dismissing tbe appeal of McGee. This order was based upon tbe notice of motion and affidavit of an Assistant United States Attorney, and a certificate of tbe clerk of this court, copies of which were served upon McGee's attorney. The motion was returnable on May 20, 1924, at 10:30 a. m., in tbe United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. An order dismissing tbe appeal was made in that court on May 22,1924.
The record in tbe criminal proceedings is as follows:
"Oct. 27/24 Before Inch, J. Deft, not present default noted.
"Nov. 10, 1924 Before Garvin, J. Deft, not present default noted. Bench warrant ordered on motion of U. S. Atty.
"Apr. 22/29 Burrows, J. Deft, not present, default noted — Adjd. to May 6/29 for forfeiture.
"May 6/29 Inch, J. Case called and adjd. to June 24/29 for forfeiture.
"June 24/29 Galston, J. Case called and adjd. to July 1/29 for forfeiture.
"July 1/29 Moseowitz, J. Deft, not present — Bond forfeited on motion of Asst. U. S. Attorney Printzlein."
It appears that after notice McGee failed to appear in this Court on April 22, 1929, and his default was noted. It further appears from the stipulation filed herein that on April 23,1929, notice was given to the Detroit Fidelity & Surety Company that McGee had defaulted in his appearance on April 22, 1929, and that a written request signed by the United States Attorney was mailed to the Detroit Fidelity & Surety Company on April 23, 1929, requesting the production of McGee on May 6, 1929. On May 6, 1929, there was an adjournment to June 24, 1929; on June 24, 1929, the forfeiture was adjourned to July 1, 1929, and on July 1,1929, McGee failed to appear and the bond was forfeited.
It further appears that McGee failed to appear, and, after notice to McGee and the Detroit Fidelity & Surety Company, the bond was forfeited.
The Detroit Fidelity & Surety Company contends that the United States Commissioner had no authority to accept the appeal bond.
The United States Commissioner was authorized to take the bond, and the bond having been properly taken is valid. In United States v. Louis (C. C.) 149 F. page 277, at page 279, the Court said:
"The court and judge having jurisdiction of the matter and of the defendant Browne having allowed and fixed bail at the request and on the application of the defendant, it is clear that such bail could be taken by any officer having authority to take bail in such a case. I find no statute restricting the power to take bail in such a case to the court or to a judge of the court. It is clear that [Rev. St.] section 1015 [18 USCA § 594] authorizes the admission to bail at any Stage of the proceeding — before a hearing, or after; before indictment, or after; and, of course, pending an appeal. This is apparent when we read section 33 of the act of 1789. We are not to give the language of this section a narrow construction, and confine the power to admit to bail to the time of the arrest and bringing the offender before the court, judge, or commissioner, and thus defeat its beneficent purposa Hoeffner v. United States, 87 F. 185, 30 C. C. A. 610, sustains this proposition."
Judgment may be entered herein in favor of the United States of America against the Detroit Fidelity & Surety Company for the full amount of the recognizance.
Settle judgment on notice.