Case Name: MYERS v. UNITED STATES
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1926-10-15
Citations: 15 F.2d 977
Docket Number: No. 7098
Parties: MYERS v. UNITED STATES.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Reporter 2d Series
Volume: 15
Pages: 977–990

Head Matter:
MYERS v. UNITED STATES.
(Circuit Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit.
October 15, 1926.)
No. 7098.
Booth, Circuit Judge, dissenting.
W F. Gurley and James H. Hanley, both of Omaha, Neb. (Gurley, Fitch & West, of Omaha, Neb., on the brief), for plaintiff in error.
George A. Keyser, Asst. U. S. Atty.. of Omaha, Neb. (James C. Kinsler, U S„ Atty., and Ambrose C. Epperson' and Andrew C. Scott, Asst. U S. Attys., all of Omaha, Neb., on the brief), for the United States.
Before STONE, VAN VALKENBURGH, and BOOTH, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
VAN VALKENBURGH, Circuit Judge.
January 26, 1925, there was filed against plaintiff in error in the United States Court for the District of Nebraska, Omaha Division, an information consisting of five counts. The first three counts charged sales of intoxicating liquor; the fourth count unlawful possession of such; and the fifth count was for the maintenance of a common nuisance for the keeping for sale, and for barter and sale, of intoxicating liquor. At the trial the jury found the defendant guilty upon the second and third counts, not guilty upon the first and fifth counts, and at the direction of the court, not guilty on the fourth count; objections to the search warrant which produced the evidence upon which the fourth count was predicated having been sustained.
Plaintiff in error, defendant below, filed a motion to quash the jury panel because of the exclusion, in the drawing, of jurors from Douglas county, in which Omaha is situated; it being urged that the population of Douglas county formed a large percentage of that of the division of the district in which the offense was committed and tried. The order excluding these jurors was made pursuant to a long-standing practice of the court that, in drawing jurors, the county in which the crime was committed should be excluded. Defendant also filed a demurrer to the information on the following grounds:
(1) Because section 32 of title 2 of the National Prohibition Act is unconstitutional and void.
(2) Because the information does not employ the same or similar language to that contained in the act creating and defining the offense.
(3) Because conclusions, instead of facts, are pleaded.
(4) Because the information fails to allege the name of the purchaser, a definite place of the sale, the amount of the sale price, the definite kind or character of liquor, and an approximation of the alcoholic content thereof.
(5) Because the information fails to negative exceptions.
(6) Because the information does not charge that the liquor was sold for beverage purposes.
These grounds of demurrer were repeated as challenge to all the counts.
The motion to quash the panel was properly overruled. The law authorizes the court to draw the jury as was done in this case, and it is not required to assign a reason for so doing. The presumption is that it acted in the exercise of a sound discretion. If requested to assign a reason for the purpose of making a record for review, we think proper practice would require this to be done; but, in the absence of such request, we do not think the discretion can be challenged on that ground. The burden is upon the party who seeks to challenge the alleged arbitrary action, and in this case that burden has not been successfully carried. Spencer v. United States (C. C. A. Eighth Circuit) 169 F. 562, 95 C. C. A. 60.
The cited case concerned the exclusion of the county of Polk, Iowa, which embraces the city of Des Moines, and the situation as to population approximates that urged in the instant case. The court said:
"Rev. St. § 802 [Comp. St. § 1254] providing that jurors shall be returned from such parts of the district as the court shall direct so as to be more favorable to an impartial trial, was not unconstitutional in so far as it permitted the summoning of jurors from parts of the district not containing the county in which the crime was committed, as depriving accused of a constitutional right to be tried by an impartial jury of the district wherein the crime was committed."
This ruling accords with the prevailing view in the United States that jurors, so far as possible, should be removed from any suspicion of knowledge, acquaintance, local bias or prejudice, and differs from the ancient English rule which required jurors to be summoned from the vicinage.
Most of the objections urged to the information are clearly ineffective. (1) The constitutionality of the act has been established beyond debate. (2) The offense need not be pleaded in the precise language of the act; but, in this ease, the requirement urged is substantially met. (3) In a statutory offense pleading the elements and ingredients" as defined and set out in the statute is not obnoxious to the charge of pleading mere conclusions. (4) The act under which this prosecution was brought specifically provides that the name of the purchaser need not be stated in the indictment or information, but may be supplied, if desired, upon application for a bill of particulars. It has been frequently held under the Volstead Act (Comp. St. § 10138]4 et seq.) that an indictment or information is not void for. failure to state the name of the purchaser. Prior thereto, under the Alaska Code, the Circuit Court of Appeals for the. Ninth Circuit held to the same effect. Booth v. United States (C. C. A. Ninth Circuit) 197 F. 283, 116 C. C. A. 645. The price paid is immaterial. An allegation that intoxicating liquor has been unlawfully sold implies payment of the price therefor. Booth v. United States, supra. The information states the specific kind and character of liquor claimed to have been sold and a sufficient approximation of the alcoholic content. In fact the term "aleohol" has a definite meaning and is specifically employed in the act. Furthermore it is unnecessary in such an information to include any defensive nega'tive averments. Massey v. United States (C. C. A. 8th Circuit) 281 F. 293; Hensberg v. United States (C. C. A. 8th Circuit) 288 F. 370; Heitler v. United States (C. C. A. 7th Circuit) 280 F. 703; Meyers v. United States (C. C. A. 2d Circuit) 3 F.(2d) 379; McDonough v. United States (C. C. A. 9th Circuit) 299 F. 30; Pane v. United States (C. C. A. 8th Circuit) 2 F.(2d) 855.
The foregoing cases dispose of the fifth assignment in the demurrer. (6) It was unnecessary to allege even the fitness for bever age purposes, much less that it was sold for such purposes. Massey v. United States and Hensberg v. United States, supra.
It remains, then, to consider the effect of the omission to state in the information (a) the name of the purchaser, and (b) the specific place of the sale as distinguished from the city, county, state, and district, on the ground urged that, because of these omissions that information failed properly to advise the defendant of sufficient facts, relative to the commission of the alleged offense, to enable him to prepare his defense and to be protected against a possible subsequent prosecution for the same acts.
That it is ordinarily unnecessary in an information, so far as the venue is concerned, to specify more than the county or city and state, nor, indeed, more than the judicial district, in order to diselose jurisdiction, is established by abundant authority, and this has been the rule from earliest times not only in this country, but in England. 1 Wharton's Criminal Procedure, § 134; 1 Bishop's New Criminal Procedure, § 376-378; 1 Baldwin's Reports, 119; 33 Corpus Juris, 716, citing cases from a number of states; Ledbetter v. United States, 170 U. S. 606, 18 S. Ct. 774, 42 L. Ed. 1162; Flack et al. v. United States (C. C. A. 8th Circuit) 272 F 680; Heitler v. United States (C. C. A.) 280 F. 703; Adamson v. United States (C. C. A.) 296 F. 110; Dukich v. United States (C. C. A.) 296 F. 691; McDonough v. United States (C. C. A.) 299 F. 30; Pane v. United States (C. C. A.) 2 F.(2d) 855.
The rule has been uniformly announced that, where the offense is purely statutory, having no relation to the common law, it is, as a general rule, sufficient in the indictment to charge the defendant with acts coming fully within the statutory description in the substantial words of the statute, without further expansion of the matter, to which is to be added that the accused must be apprised by the indictment, with reasonable certainty, of the nature of the accusation against him, to the end that he may prepare his defense and plead the judgment as a bar to any subsequent prosecution for the same offense. United States v. Hess, 124 U. S. 483-488, 8 S. Ct. 571, 31 L. Ed. 516; United States v. Simmons, 96 U. S. 360, 24 L. Ed. 819; United States v. Britton, 107 U. S. 655-661, 2 S. Ct. 512, 27 L. Ed. 520; United States v. Carll, 105 U. S. 611, 26 L. Ed. 1135; United States v. Cook, 17 Wall. 168-174, 21 L. Ed. 538; United States v. Cruikshank, 92 U. S. 542-558, 23 L. Ed. 588; Pettibone v. United States, 148 U. S. 197-204, 13 S. Ct. 542, 37 L. Ed. 419; Evans v. United States, 153 U. S. 584-590, 14 S. Ct. 934, 38 L. Ed. 830; Cochran & Sayre v. United States, 157 U. S. 287-290, 15 S. Ct. 628, 39 L. Ed. 704.
The main reasons for these requirements as stated generally are:
"(1) That the defendant's conviction or acquittal may enure to his subsequent protection, should he be again questioned on the same grounds.
"(2) To enable the court, looking at the record after conviction, to decide whether the facts charged are sufficient to support a conviction of the particular crime, and to warrant their judgment.
"(3) To enable the defendant to prepare for his defense in a particular case, and to plead in all, or, if he prefer it, to submit to the court by demurrer whether the facts alleged so support the conclusion in law, as to render it necessary for him to make any answer to the charge."
Beyond question this information states all of the essential elements and ingredients of the offense as defined by statute. It alleges the sale by the defendant on a specific date, in a specific city, county, and state, within the jurisdiction of the court. It identifies the article sold as one prohibited by law. The venue necessary to diselose jurisdiction is thus stated, and all the elements essential to constitute an offense are present. The information is therefore good against general demurrer. The question then is whether it contains sufficient definiteness to enable the defendant to prepare his defense and to be protected against a second prosecution for the same acts, and, if it does not, to what extent it is defective, whether it is wholly void, or whether its omissions may be supplied-by bill of particulars, if attacked by motion to quash or special demurrer. Beyond question, if not so attacked, the court, looking at the record after conviction, could decide without difficulty that the facts alleged were sufficient to support a conviction of the crime charged.
Of the cases above cited United States v. Carll, United States v. Britton, United States v. Cook, United States v. Hess, and United States v. Simmons were certified cases, in which abstract rulings were requested, not involving the review of a judgment after trial on the merits. In all these cases, as in United States v, Pettibone, an essential element' of the offense was either omitted, or so inadequately pleaded that the court, in inspecting the record, could not determine that the facts charged were sufficient to support a conviction of the particular crime.
In United States v. Simmons the general rule is restated that it is sufficient in an indictment to charge the defendant with, acts coming fully within the statutory description in the substantial words of the statute without any further expansion of the matter, adding, however, the requirement that he should be apprised by the indictment with reasonable certainty of the nature of the accusation against him.
In Evans v. United States it was said:
"An indictment should charge the crime, alleged to have been committed, with precision and certainty, and every ingredient of which it is composed must be accurately and clearly alleged; but it is not necessary in framing it to set up an impracticable standard of particularity, whereby the government may be entrapped into making allegations which it would be impossible to prove," especially where no useful purpose to the defendant is subserved.
The court further observes that:
"While the rules of criminal pleading require that the accused shall be fully apprised of the charge made against him, it should, after all, be borne in mind that the object of criminal proceedings is to convict the guilty, as well as to shield the innocent. 'The defendant/ said the court, 'is entitled to a formal and substantial statement of the grounds upon which he is questioned, but not to such strictness in averment as might defeat the ends of justice.'. ".
In Cochran & Sayre v. United States it was held that:
"In such indictment the true test is, not whether it might possibly have been made more certain, but whether it contains every element of the offense intended to be charged, and sufficiently apprises the defendant of what he must be prepared to meet, and. in case any other proceedings are taken against him for a similar offense, whether the record shows with accuracy to what extent he may plead a former acquittal or conviction."
In Ledbetter v. United States, 170 U. S. 606, 18 S. Ct. 774, 42 L. Ed. 1162, substantially all of the eases just cited were considered. The court said:
"The cases wherein it is held that an indictment in the exact language of the statute is not sufficient are those wherein the statute does not contain all the elements of the offense, as in United States v. Carll, 105 U. S. 611 [26 L. Ed. 1135], where a statute against passing counterfeit money failed to aver the scienter; but, where the statute sets forth every ingredient of the offense, an indictment in its very words is sufficient, though that offense be more fully defined in some other section [citing cases]. • • * Notwithstanding the eases above cited from our reports, the general rule still holds good that upon an indictment for a statutory offense the offense may be described in the words of the statute, and it is for the defendant to show that greater particularity is required by reason of the omission from the statute of some element of the offense. Where the statute completely covers the offense, the indictment need not be .made more complete by specifying particulars elsewhere obtained. •
"Good pleading undoubtedly requires an. allegation that the offense was committed on a particular day, month, and year, but it does not necessarily follow that the omission to state a particular day is fatal upon a motion in arrest of judgment. Neither is it necessary to prove that the offense was committed upon the day alleged, unless a particular day may be made material by the statute creating the offense. Ordinarily, proof of any day before the finding of the 'indictment, and within the statute of limitations, will be sufficient. Properly speaking, the indictment should state, not only the county, but the township, city, or other municipality, within which the crime is alleged to have been committed. But the authorities in this particular are much less rigid than formerly. While in this country it is usual to state the town as well as the county, it has not been generally deemed necessary to do so, and most of - the authorities assume that an allegation is sufficient after verdict which shows it to have been done within the jurisdiction of the court."
It is then held that "this indictment might not have been open to special demurrer for insufficiency as to the allegations of time and place, but upon motion in arrest of judgment we think it is sufficient."
In view of the fact that the Supreme Court eases above cited, which are the leading older cases, and which state the rule as fully and as strongly as it can be stated, were cited and considered in Ledbetter v. United States, it would seem that these earlier cases must be read with the modifications stated in this later decision.
In New York Central R. R. Co. v. United States, 212 U. S. 481-497, 29 S. Ct. 304, 308 (53 L. Ed. 613), it is said:
"Section 1025 of the Revised Statutes of the United States [Comp. St. § 1691] provides that no judgment upon an indictment shall be affected by reason of any defect or imperfection in matter of form which shall not tend to the - prejudice of the defendant,. and, unless the' substantial rights of the accused were prejudiced by the refusal to require a more specific statement of the manner in whieh the offense was committed, there can be no reversal. Connors v. United States, 158 U. S. 408, 411 [15 S. Ct. 951, 39 L. Ed. 1033]; Armour Packing Co. v. United States, 209 U. S. 56-84 [28 S. Ct. 428, 52 L. Ed. 681]."
The latter case was upon certiorari to the Circuit Court of Appeals for this circuit. In the opinion below the rules respecting the requirements of an indictment were stated with all the technical precision for whieh defendant here contends. The Supreme Court, in affirming, repeated the language just quoted from Ledbetter v. United States and said:
"In the present case no objection was made to the indictment until after verdict by motion in arrest of judgment. Had it been made by demurrer or motion, and overruled, it would not avail the defendant, in error proceedings, unless it appeared that the substantial rights of the accused were prejudiced by the refusal to require a more specific statement of the particular mode in which the offense charged was. committed. See Rev. Stat. U. S. § 1025; Connors v. United States, 158 U. S. 408, 411 [15 S. Ct. 951, 39 L. Ed. 1033], There can be no doubt that the accused was fully advised of and understood the precise facts which were alleged to be a violation of the statute."
In Connors v. United States, supra, the following statement is added:
"There is no ground whatever to suppose that the accused was taken by surprise in the progress of the trial, or that he was in doubt as to what was the precise offense with which he was charged."
In Holmgren v. United States, 217 U. S. 509-523, 30 S. Ct. 588, 591 (54 L. Ed. 861,19 Ann. Cas. 778), it is said:
"This objection does not appear to have been specifically pointed out in the demurrer, or otherwise taken advantage of upon the trial. In this proceedingit is too late to urge such objections to a matter of form, unless it is apparent that it affected the substantial rights of the accused."
In Brown v. United States (C. C. A. 8th Circuit) 143 F. 60, 61, 65, 74 C. C. A. 214, 216, Judge (now Mr. Justice) Van Devanter, after stating the general rule, said:
"But it is to be borne in mind that what is required is reasonable, not absolute or impracticable, particularity of statement; else the rules of criminal pleading will be deflected from their true purpose, whieh is to secure the conviction of the guilty, as well as to shield the innocent [citing cases]. It is also to be borne in mind that a defect in matter of substance is fatal, while a defect in matter of form only — and this includes the manner of stating a fact — which does not tend to the prejudice of the accused, is immaterial."
And again: "An indictment is not required to set forth matters of evidence, but only ultimate matters of fact."
In Horn v. United States, 182 F. 721-728, 105 C. C. A. 163, 170, this court, after quoting section 1025 of the Revised Statutes, said:
"This of course is not to be construed as permitting the omission from the indictment of any matter of substance; but it is applicable where the only defect complained of is that some element of the offense is stated loosely and without technical accuracy. Dunbar v. United States, 156 U. S. 185 [15 S. Ct. 325, 39 L. Ed. 390]."
The court then proceeds to lay down the true test of an indictment upon writ of error. It said:
"The true test therefore is, not whether the indictment might possibly have been made more certain, but whether it contains every element of the offense intended to be charged and sufficiently apprises the accused of what they must be prepared to meet, and, in case any other proceedings are taken against them for a similar offense, whether the record shows with accuracy to what extent they may plead a former acquittal or conviction [citing cases]. (Italics ours.) It is seldom that an indictment is drawn with such precision that some plausible objection may not be lodged against it upon an overeritical analysis of the same, or that it might not be improved in some particulars after trial."
In McGrath v. United States (C. C. A. Second Circuit) 275 F. 294, the court dismissed an alleged defect in the indictment in the language of the Supreme Court in Lamar v. United States, 241 U. S. 103, 36 S. Ct. 535, 60 L. Ed. 912:
"It is moreover to be observed that there is not the slightest suggestion that there was a want of knowledge of the crime whieh was charged or of any surprise concerning the same, nor is there any intimation that any request was made for a bill of particulars concerning the details of the offense charged. Under this situation we think that the ease is clearly covered by section 1025, Revised Statutes."
In Weisman v. United States (C. C. A.) 1 F.(2d) 696, Judge Kenyon said:
"No indictment shall be deemed insufficient by reason of any defect or imperfection in form only, which does not tend to the prejudice of defendant. The particular manner in which a fact is stated is a matter of form."
In Tubbs v. United States, 105 F. 59-61, 44 C. C. A. 357, 359, this court recognized the function of a bill of particulars and that parol evidence may be resorted to to protect against a subsequent prosecution for the same offense. It is said in the opinion:
"Defendants in this class of eases commonly affect ignorance of what they are indicted for, and great apprehension lest they shall be indicted a second time for the very same offense, and be unable to prove by the record a former conviction or acquittal. No case of the kind has ever occurred, or is ever likely to occur, but the affected apprehension of each defendant that it may occur in his • ease is perennial. The supreme court has put a quietus on these stock objections by repeatedly pointing out that the defendant may apply for a bill of particulars [citing cases], and that parol evidence is always admissible, and sometimes necessary, to establish the defense of prior conviction or acquittal."
It is clear that on writ of error the record, as well as the indictment and judgment, can be considered, provided guilt clearly appears, and, in that view, substantial justice has been done and no substantial prejudice to the defendant has resulted; not only so, but resort may be had to parol evidence to protect against further prosecution. It is true that if a more particular statement has been asked for and refused, or if a seasonable special challenge to the indictment or information has been made without avail, with resulting substantial prejudice, an appellate court should grant appropriate relief; but it by no means follows that in all cases, where every element of the crime has been stated, though with less particularity than the defendant is entitled to upon application, the prosecution wholly fails.
The function of a bill of particulars to cure loose statement or omission of detail's deemed necessary by or for a defendant to enable him to prepare his defense and to protect him against a second prosecution for the same offense has been so generally recognized that it cannot successfully be denied. Rosen v. United States, 161 U. S. 29, 16 S. Ct. 434, 480, 40 L. Ed. 606; Durland v. United States, 161 U. S. 306, 16 S. Ct. 508, 40 L. Ed. 709. In the latter case it was said:
"There was a partial identification of the letters by the time and place of mailing, and the charge was that defendant 'intending in and for executing such scheme and artifice to defraud and attempting so to do, placed and caused to be placed in the post office,' etc. This, it will be noticed, is substantially the language of .the statute. If defendant had desired further specification and identification, he could have secured it by demanding a bill of particulars."
It is argued that this privilege is applicable only to certain classes of eases, but there is no basis for such distinction. The office of a bill of particulars attaches without distinction, where the indictment states all the ingredients of the offense and further detail may be required or .demanded for the protection of a defendant.
In United States v. Claflin et al., 25 Fed. Cas. 433, Fed Cas. No. 14,798, there was a very general description of the property involved. The court said:
"It is not necessary to describe property in an indictment with such particularity as will obviate all necessity for proof outside the record to support a plea of once in jeopardy. A reasonable amount of detail in describing property is all that is necessary in an indictment, and, if more detail is required, a bill of particulars may be demanded."
In Dunbar v. United Sattes, 156 U. S. 185-192, 15 S. Ct. 325, 328 (39 L. Ed. 390), this language appears:
"If, for instance, the description of the property does not so clearly identify it as to enable him to prepare Ms defense, he should raise the question by some preliminary motion, or perhaps by a demand for a bill of particulars; otherwise it may properly be assumed as against him that he is fully informed of the precise property in respect to which he is charged to have violated the law."
The rule is thus stated in Bartell v. United States, 227 U. S. 427, 33 S. Ct. 383, 57 L. Ed. 583:
"Under the federal practice he had a right to apply for such bill of particulars, and it was witMn the judicial discretion of the court to grant such order, if necessary for the protection of the rights of the accused."
The doctrine finds abundant support and recogmtion throughout the circuits. In United States v. Tubbs (D. C.) 94 F. 356,' it was held that when the indictment is good against a general demurrer the defendant, if entitled to some further information, may resort to a bill of particulars. This statement by Judge Carland was approved by this court on appeal.
In Tubbs v. United States (another case) 105 F. 59, 44 C. C. A. 357, the right to a bill of particulars and the duty to apply for it is recognized by this court.
In Fisher v. United States, 2 F.(2d) 843, the Circuit Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has this to say:
"There is no doubt that the indictment in the case before us charges an offense against the United States. The defendants contended that the offense was not charged with sufficient definiteness. The objection, even if well taken, is met by the fact that upon order of the District Judge a bill of particulars was furnished which fully set out the details of the charge."
This court has repeatedly declared to the same effect. In Dismone v. United States (C. C. A.) 12 F.(2d) 63, Judge Kenyon said:
"It is to be observed that no objection of any kind was made to the information in the trial court. There was no motion to quash, no demurrer, no application for any bill of particulars, no challenge thereto in any way."
And in like manner, in Chew v. United States (C. C. A.) 9 F.(2d) 348, Judge Booth, speaking for the court, used this language:
"Finally, it may be said generally, in reference to this indictment and the foregoing attacks thereon, that reasonable particularity was all that was required. Brown v. United States, 143 F. 60, 74 C. C. A. 214 (C. C. A. 8); Horn v. United States, 182 F. 721-727, 105 C. C. A. 163 (C. C. A. 8). And if the language of the indictment was such that the defendant felt that he was liable to be surprised at the evidence which might be offered, it was his right and duty to apply for a bill of particulars. Rinker v. United States, 151 F. 755-759, 81 C. C. A. 379 (C. C. A. 8)."
See, also, Pane v. United States (C. C. A.) 2 F.(2d) 855; Hovermale v. United States (C. C. A. Fourth Circuit) 5 F.(2d) 586; Horowitz v. United States (C. C. A.) 10 F.(2d) 286.
It has long been an established rule of criminal practice in the courts of the United States that an indictment or information which charges all the essential elements and ingredients of a statutory offense is good as against general demurrer, and therefore, after verdict, if unchallenged by special demurrer, or other appropriate pleading, and, even if so challenged, unless substantial prejudice has resulted. United States v. Tubbs (D. C.) 94 F. 356; Connors v. United States, 158 U. S. 408-411, 15 S. Ct. 951, 39 L. Ed. 1033; Dunbar v. United States, 156 U. S. 185-192, 15 S. Ct. 325, 39 L. Ed. 390; New York Central R. R. Co. v. United States, 212 U. S. 497, 29 S. Ct. 304, 53 L. Ed. 613; Armour Packing Co. v. United States, 209 U. S. 56-84, 28 S. Ct. 428, 52 L. Ed. 681; Lamar v. United States, 241 U. S. 103, 112, 116, 36 S. Ct. 535, 60 L. Ed. 912; Hovermale v. United States (C. C. A.) 5 F.(2d) 586; Cochran & Sayre v. United States, 157 U. S. 286, 15 S. Ct. 628, 39 L. Ed. 704; Weisman v. United States (C. C. A.) 1 F.(2d) 696, 697; Brown v. United States, 143 F. 60-62, 74 C. C. A. 214; Holmgren v. United States, 217 U. S. 509-523, 30 S. Ct. 588, 54 L. Ed. 861, 19 Ann. Cas. 778; Ledbetter v. United States, 170 U. S. 606-614, 18 S. Ct. 774, 42 L. Ed. 1162; McGrath v. United States (C. C. A.) 275 F. 294.
And it is equally well established that the record and parol testimony may be resorted to to protect against a second prosecution, and that the defendant is not restricted to the indietment.and the judgment entry. Wharton's Crim. Pl. Pr. § 481; 2 Bishop's Crim. Procedure, § 816.
In Meyers v. United States (C. C. A. Second Circuit) 3 F.(2d) 379, the Circuit Court of Appeals held that:
"It is sufficient to describe liquor as 'intoxicating liquor,' and transaction can be identified by parol to bar further prosecution for same act."
In Bartell v. United States, 227 U. S. 433, 33 S. Ct. 384 (57 L. Ed. 583), Mr. Justice Day said:
"As to the objection that the charge was so indefinite that the accused could not plead the record and conviction in bar of another prosecution, it is sufficient to say that in such cases it is the right of the accused to resort to parol testimony to show the subject-matter of the former conviction, and such practice is not infrequently necessary" — citing with approval United States v. Claflin, 25 Fed. Cas. page 433, No. 14798; Dunbar v. United States, 156 U. S. 185, 15 S. Ct. 325, 39 L. Ed. 390; Tubbs v. United States, 105 F. 59, 44 C. C. A. 357.
See, also, Connors v. United States, 158 U. S. 408-411, 15 S. Ct. 951, 39 L. Ed. 1033.
The language of the Supreme Court in Dunbar v. United States, 156 U. S. 185, 15 S. Ct. 325, 39 L. Ed. 390, is very pertinent to the issues under consideration:
"It is true some parol testimony might be required to show the absolute identity of the smuggled goods, but such proof is often requisite to sustain a plea of once in jeopardy. It is no valid objection to an indictment that the description of the property in respect to which the offense is charged to have been committed is broad enough to include more than one specific article. No objection was made to the sufficiency of the indictments by demurrer, motion to quash, or in any other manner until after the verdict. While it may be true that a defendant by waiting until that time does not waive the objection that some substantial element of the crime is omitted, yet he does waive all objections which run to the mere form in which the various elements of the crime are stated, or to the fact that the indictment is inartificially drawn. If, for instance, the description of the property does not so clearly identify it as to enable him to prepare his defense, he should raise the question by some preliminary motion or perhaps by a demand for a bill of particulars; otherwise it may properly be assumed as against him that he is fully informed of the precise property in respect to which he is charged to have violated the law."
A very illuminating ease is that of Flack et al. v. United States (C. C. A. Eighth Circuit) 272 F. 680, opinion by Judge Hook. The indictments of which he speaks laid the venue in Washington county, in that part of Oklahoma that was formerly Indian Territory. The evidence indicated a sale in Nowata county and the variance was urged. Judge Hook said:
"The indictments would have been good against general demurrer had the name of the county been omitted. The variance that occurred did not affect the jurisdiction -of the court; it did not pertain to the venue. It is conceivable that such a variance could have caused surprise at the trial, and could therefore possibly have affected the presentation of the defense, but whether it did or.not would depend upon circumstances. It does not appear that the accused were misled, or that any contention to that effect was made. Prejudice from such a variance does not necessarily arise as an inference of law. The accused were not placed in danger of a second prosecution for the same offense. The indictments are not the sole evidence of what was tried; the record can be resorted to, and oral evidence, if necessary."
The argument is advanced that demand for a bill of particulars affords little or no protection for the reason that cases may be found wherein it is stated that the granting or refusing of such a bill rests in the discretion of the court and wherein error predicated upon such refusal has not been indulged. The Supreme Court, in Bartell v. United States, supra, says that a defendant under the federal practice has "a right to apply for such bill of particulars," and that it is "within the judicial discretion of the court to grant such order, if necessary for the protection of the rights of the accused." A judicial discretion means a sound discretion; and abuse of such discretion is subject to review. Certainly the courts of the United States, from the Supreme Court down, in a multitude of decisions, have not employed empty language in enjoining upon defendants, not only the right, but the duty, to apply for bills of particulars, where such are indicated, and in penalizing them for failure to exercise such right and to discharge such duty. See further, on this point, Rosen v. United States, 161 U. S. 29-35, 16 S. Ct. 434, 480, 40 L. Ed. 606; Kettenbach v. United States, 202 F. 377, 120 C. C. A. 505; Moens v. United States, 50 App. D. C. 15, 267 F. 317-318; Arnstein v. United States, 54 App. D. C. 199, 296 F. 946-949; United States v. Pierce (D. C.) 245 F. 878-890.
From the foregoing review of the cases the following principles are logically to be deduced. An indictment must contain every essential element and ingredient of the offense and each element should be so completely stated as to enable a defendant to prepare his defense and to protect him from subsequent prosecution. If the indictment or information fails to allege any matter of substance, that is, any material ingredient of the crime, it is fatally defective. If, however, it fails to advise the defendant with sufficient particularity of matters necessary to enable him to prepare his defense and to safeguard him from further prosecution for the same act, such details may be supplied by a bill of particulars without affecting the integrity of the prosecution. In such case, the duty devolves upon a defendant to make seasonable and appropriate application for the information desired. The test is whether the indictment is good against general demurrer. United States v. Tubbs (D. C.) 94 F. 356, 360. An indictment which states every essential ingredient of an offense, in which ease the court can see that an offense is stated, is good against a general demurrer, and sufficient after verdict in absence of seasonable attack. The federal Constitution provides certain safeguards for those accused of crime. These provisions should be jealously guarded by the courts when their protection is invoked. It will not do, however, for a defendant to remain silent when a case sufficient against general demurrer is stated against him. Neither the Constitution nor the law generally imposes that burden upon the government. It is incumbent upon him to bring sharply to the attention of the court the matters of form or incompleteness of which he complains.
These rules of practice and procedure, which are as old as the administration of the criminal law in this country, are, on their side, for the protection of society, of as much force and entitled to as much respect, as are the safeguards thrown about the accused for his protection. It is as much the object of the law to convict the guilty as it is to shield the innocent. Defects of the nature of which plaintiff in error complains must be challenged by special demurrer or other pleading tantamount thereto. If the point is well taken the court should order the information or details asked to be supplied; if it fails to do so, if the discretion exereised is not sound, and the record otherwise does not supply the necessary matter, the appellate court should grant appropriate relief. But even though the particularity prayed be denied, though a special demurrer be interposed and overruled, or, it would seem, a bill of particulars be requested and refused, nevertheless the judgment of conviction will not on this account be reversed if from the whole record it appears that no substantial prejudice to the defendant has resulted.
The argument is made that an indictment must be ruled upon at the outset without reference to what may be shown thereafter from the record as a protection against a second prosecution. It is true that an indictment which states an offense, even though in general terms, must be.so dealt with provided, and provided only, it has been seasonably and adequately challenged; but even in such cases, upon error, the record will be examined to determine whether prejudice has resulted; otherwise, all that has been said concerning resort to the record and to parol evidence, as frequently necessary, must be ignored, because it is only in eases where an indictment might have been more specifie that resort to such sources of protection could become necessary. If a bill of particulars cannot be employed to supply such earmarks and details as will enable a defendant to prepare his defense and to protect himself against subsequent prosecution, it is difficult to conceive a criminal case in which such a bill is permissible. The fundamental error in the argument for plaintiff in error is that details and specific facts of value to the accused in preparing his defense and in safeguarding his future are placed upon the same plane as are the essential ingredients of the crime itself. This argument is unsound. It is as much a crime to sell liquor on one street of a city as it is on another street, provided both streets are within the jurisdiction of the court; and if the place where the sale was made sufficiently appears from the record,, and neither surprise nor prejudice to the defendant is disclosed, the judgment will not be disturbed. So, equally, it matters not, as an essential of the crime, to whom the liquor was sold.
Coming then more specifically to the facts in the instant case, the charge is that plaintiff in error sold intoxicating liquor, sufficiently described, on a certain day at Omaha, in the state of Nebraska, and within the jurisdiction of the District Court; that, if true, states a complete offense, good against general demurrer and after verdict, if not seasonably challenged. The defendant did interpose a special demurrej;, which was overruled. He made no demand for a bill of particulars; he sought only to have the information quashed. The court, on its part, ordered no bill of particulars; neither did it refuse one, because one was not asked.' Where such a special demurrer is interposed, our judgment is, that in the absence of anything in' the record to supply the information desired, even though indirectly or constructively solicited, it would be the duty of the court to overrule such special demurrer, if at all, upon condition that such particulars be furnished; but, where this is not done, we have resort to the record to ascertain whether prejudice has resulted, and whether, in substance, the defendant has been denied the constitutional protection to which he is entitled.
This information was accompanied by the jurisdictional affidavits, which set out with complete particularity the person to whom the sale was made and the exact spot in the city of Omaha where it was made. Not only so, but in the fifth count of the information itself the place of business of the defendant was stated, which is the same place in which the sales were made, as shown by these affidavits and by the testimony of the witnesses. Furthermore, there is no pretense, that the accused was taken by surprise, that he was not fully informed as to the nature and circumstances of the offenses with which he was charged, nor that he was embarrassed in preparing his defense to meet those charges. As protection against a second prosecution, the affidavits referred to were filed, so marked, and appear in the transcript. They are an integral part of the record, and furnish complete protection against the same charge in any subsequent prosecution; to this parol evidence may be added, if necessary. It may or may not be that the testimony, which is fully set out in the transcript, and thus preserved, may not be used, because not a part of the record proper; but it furnishes all information essential to future pro teetion by parol testimony in ease of the death or absence of material witnesses. The record proper is as much a protection as is the indictment itself and the judgment thereunder. The information charges a crime and the record amply supports and identifies the charge. The defendant was clearly guilty and so pronounced. The overwhelming weight of authority supports this judgment, and strict refinement should not be indulged to work a failure of justice.
We do not, however, approve the looseness in pleading which has led to the contention under discussion, and which, if persisted in by district attorneys, must result, in some cases, in the discharge of defendants of unquestioned guilt. The facts set out in the affidavits accompanying the information were, of course, known, and could as well have been set out in the information itself. Such looseness in pleading should, and does, meet with emphatic disapproval. Upon the entire record, however, we feel that this conviction should be sustained.
The judgment accordingly is affirmed.