Task: songer_juryinst

What follows is an opinion from a United States Court of Appeals. The issue is: "Did the court conclude that the jury instructions were improper?" Answer the question based on the directionality of the appeals court decision. If the court discussed the issue in its opinion and answered the related question in the affirmative, answer "Yes". If the issue was discussed and the opinion answered the question negatively, answer "No". If the opinion considered the question but gave a mixed answer, supporting the respondent in part and supporting the appellant in part, answer "Mixed answer". If the opinion does not discuss the issue, or notes that a particular issue was raised by one of the litigants but the court dismissed the issue as frivolous or trivial or not worthy of discussion for some other reason, answer "Issue not discussed". If the opinion considered the question but gave a "mixed" answer, supporting the respondent in part and supporting the appellant in part (or if two issues treated separately by the court both fell within the area covered by one question and the court answered one question affirmatively and one negatively), answer "Mixed answer". If the opinion either did not consider or discuss the issue at all or if the opinion indicates that this issue was not worthy of consideration by the court of appeals even though it was discussed by the lower court or was raised in one of the briefs, answer "Issue not discussed". If the court answered the question in the affirmative, but the error articulated by the court was judged to be harmless, answer "Yes, but error was harmless". 

PER CURIAM.
The defendants, Claude E. Brody and Leonard B. Brody, Jr., brothers, were charged in a two-count indictment with willfully possessing an unregistered shotgun in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 5861 (d) and with transportation of two sawed-off shotguns in interstate commerce for the purpose of committing a bank robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(b). The jury returned a guilty verdict on the “possession” count, [§ 5861(d)] and a not guilty verdict on the “transportation” count for both defendants. The District Court sentenced each defendant to ten years imprisonment on the first count.
On appeal, the defendants filed identical briefs, contending that there was insufficient evidence to support the jury’s verdict, that an instruction given by the District Court in response to a question by the jury concerning the time of the offense was prejudicial, and that the District Court erred in denying a motion to suppress the sawed-off shotgun found in Claude Brody’s automobile.
The defendants’ three arguments merit brief discussion. First, the “sufficiency of the evidence” contention rests on a claim that two Government witnesses testified unreliably concerning defendants’ possession of the shotgun on dates other than July 7, 1972 (the day of defendants’ arrests). One of these two witnesses informed the police that the shotgun could be found in Claude Brody’s car. The defendants do not contend that the shotgun was not found in Claude Brody’s car. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to supporting the jury’s verdict, we conclude that there was ample evidence to support the convictions. United States v. Holt, 427 F.2d 1114, 1116 (8th Cir. 1970); Hanger v. United States, 398 F.2d 91, 108 (8th Cir. 1968), cert, denied, 393 U.S. 1119, 89 S. Ct. 995, 22 L.Ed.2d 124 (1969).
The defendants also argue that the District Court gave an improper instruction to the jury. During the jury’s deliberations, the jury gave the bailiff an envelope containing the following question:
“Does Count One of the Indictment mean at the time of the arrest or possession of the gun at any previous time covered by the evidence at trial ?”
The District Court and all counsel agreed that the court should respond to the question with a written instruction, which was given as follows:
“Count One of the indictment in this case charges that the offense charged therein was committed ‘on or about the 7th day of July, 1972.’ The proof need not establish with certainty the exact date of the alleged offense. It is sufficient if the evidence in the case establishes beyond a reasonable doubt that the offense was committed on a date reasonably near the date alleged.”
The defendants objected to this instruction, contending it purportedly interjected prejudicial new issues into the case, for it allowed the jury to convict based upon evidence of possession of the shotgun by defendants on days other than July 7, 1972, the day of defendants’ arrests. The Government responds that the grand jury indictment “charged not simply ‘on July 7’ but ‘on or about’ July 7,” and that such a charge encompasses possession on days other than the actual arrests. We agree with the Government’s position and further note that this instruction is commonly approved. Bradford v. United States, 413 F.2d 467, 470-471 (5th Cir. 1969); Yaw v. United States, 228 F.2d 382, 383 (9th Cir. 1955); Devitt and Blackmar, Federal Jury Practice and Instructions § 14.02 (2d ed. 1970).
Last, defendants contend that the District Court should have suppressed the evidence of the shotgun due to an illegal search and seizure of Claude Brody’s automobile. The defendants claim that the police officers did not have probable cause to arrest defendants or search the automobile. We have reviewed the record and think that there was adequate probable cause to support the warrantless search of the automobile. Husty v. United States, 282 U.S. 694, 700-701, 51 S.Ct. 240, 75 L.Ed. 629 (1931); Brinegar v. United States, 338 U.S. 160, 174-176, 69 S.Ct. 1302, 93 L.Ed. 1879 (1949).
Judgment of convictions affirmed.

Question: Did the court conclude that the jury instructions were improper?
A. No
B. Yes
C. Yes, but error was harmless
D. Mixed answer
E. Issue not discussed
Answer:

Answer: A