Opinion ID: 280190
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Refusal of the Trial Court to Strike the Rebuttal Testimony

Text: 13 The government called Doctor Felix Fudge, a customer of Charters, as a rebuttal witness. He testified as to two of Charters' checks, payable to Michael Light, each in the amount of $3,000, which were endorsed to Fudge's order, and deposited in the latter's account at Charters. Light had testified that the checks represented loans from himself to Fudge. The latter, however, not only disclaimed any knowledge of the checks, but denied ever having borrowed from Light. Three other checks were also offered, which were payable to Fudge and endorsed with his purported signature, and deposited in Charters' account. Fudge testified that these signatures were not his and that he had authorized no one at Charters to sign his name. Appellants moved to have this testimony stricken as it imputed to them the commission of larceny and forgery, both felonies, and collateral to the crime charged in the indictment. 14 It is the rule in the federal courts that 'evidence of another crime may be introduced if, though only if, it 'is substantially relevant for some other purpose than to show a probability' that the defendant 'committed the crime on trial because he is a man of criminal character. United States v. Bozza, 365 F.2d 206, 213 (2d Cir.1966); see also, United States v. Deaton,381 F.2d 114, 117 (2d Cir.1967) and cases cited therein; 1 Wigmore, Evidence (3d ed.1940) 216. The prosecution offered Fudge's testimony for the purpose of showing that appellants had used his account to conceal the influx of moneys to Charters from illicit payments and also the payments of kickbacks to Broadwall. This testimony, notwithstanding its being evidence of other criminal conduct, was to show the plan or device for carrying out the crime charged in the indictment and thus, under the rule stated above, was clearly admissible. 15 Appellants cannot claim prejudicial surprise because Fudge was not listed on the government's pre-trial witness sheet. He was called as a rebuttal witness to counter the claims of the appellants that they had borrowed from and made loans to Fudge. This area had been opened up by appellants themselves and they cannot now complain that the prosecution has introduced evidence to rebut their proof. 16