Opinion ID: 234075
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: 18 There is further evidence detailing Aikman's post-arrest conversation with Stirsman at state police headquarters. This aspect of Aikman's testimony also followed adverse rulings on objections interposed by defense counsel who contend that such evidentiary matters stemmed from Aikman's allegedly unlawful search and seizure. But we have disposed of that point. During Aikman's interrogation of Stirsman it appeared that the defendant paid $3600 to a Paul E. Gray, a man he met in a tavern in Phoenix City, Alabama, for the Cadillac which Stirsman was operating at the time of his apprehension. Stirsman received an Alabama title, to that vehicle, from Gray who was paid with money that Stirsman won with 'crooked dice.' Stirsman did not know why he told Mr. Murphy (of Murphy Auto Sales) that he (Stirsman) purchased the Cadillac new, and he (defendant) had been working at the General Electric Company, Hamilton, Ohio. 19 During Aikman's questioning, the defendant said that his name was not Joseph David Brewer, but that he was George Stirsman from Evansville, Indiana. Stirsman said he was a gambler and could 'get by without making a tax return in his own name' if he used the name Brewer. Stirsman also told Aikman of finding the identification cards, viz., social security, photostatic copy of the army discharge and Florida duplicate driver's license, in Jacksonville, Florida. Asked about the Ohio license plates, by Aikman, Stirsman replied that he bought these tags in the clerk's office at Hamilton, Ohio. His reason for this registration, was that a police officer had stopped him in Hamilton, and advised him to purchase Ohio plates if he was going to remain in Ohio. When Stirsman was apprehended he had an Indiana title certificate issued on February 5, for a Cadillac, motor number 526286065. Aikman impounded this vehicle and later released it to Continental Insurance Company. 20 Various government exhibits were admitted in evidence below. A copy of Dr. Hayes' original title certificate for his Cadillac, established its motor number to be 5262-37869. An Indiana certificate of title, issued to one Joseph D. Brewer for a 1952 Cadillac, bearing motor number 526286065. Copes of an Alabama Bill of Sale and Registration and an application for an Ohio certificate of title for a 1952 Cadillac coupe, motor number 526286065, all issued to Joseph D. Brewer, were placed in evidence. Paul E. Gray was the name of the purported vendor to Brewer, but an agent of the F.B.I. was unable to locate Gray. The notary public failed to recall any Gray, Brewer or Stirsman when interviewed by that same agent. Joseph D. Brewer was named as the owner of a 1952 Cadillac, motor number 526286065 in an Ohio certificate of title, dated January 30, 1953. An automobile assessment, tax receipt and tag application, 5 dated January 8, 1953, issued by an Alabama tax assessor, named Brewer as owner of a 1952 Cadillac, motor number 526286065. 21 It was clearly established through testimony of an automobile salesman for Hackett Auto Sales, the owner of the Murphy Auto Sales, and his sales manager, and still another auto dealer, Concannon, that in the first week of February, 1953 the defendant using Brewer as his name, tried to interest each of them in buying a 1952 Cadillac coupe, bearing Ohio plates and from which the Cadillac emblems had been removed as hereinabove described. Under part I, of this opinion we have sufficiently narrated other salient points found in the testimony of this group of government witnesses and it is unnecessary to repeat such material. The defense rested at the conclusion of the government's case. The trial judge rightly refused to enter a judgment of acquittal pursuant to defendant's motion. United States v. Hack, 7 Cir., 1953, 205 F.2d 723, 726. And only a word need be said in reply to that tenuous argument urged by defendant concerning evidence bearing on his knowledge that he was in possession of a stolen motor vehicle or that he had transported such vehicle knowing it to have been stolen. Because our opinion in United States v. Gardner, 7 Cir., 1948, 171 F.2d 753, presented facts wholly different from thos encountered in the instant appeal, it is not persuasive here, despite defendant's assertions to the contrary. There is, in our opinion, circumstantial evidence, contained in this record, from which a jury could properly draw inferences for deciding if Stirsman had the knowledge required by § 2312, supra. United States v. Angel, 7 Cir., 1953, 201 F.2d 531. We also think that the court below ruled correctly by denying defendant's motion for a new trial. United States v. Thayer, 7 Cir., 1954, 209 F.2d 534, 536. A canvass of this record satisfies us that no palpable error was committed below warranting reversal; nor do any of the other points raised on the defendant's behalf, require further elaboration and specific rejection in this opinion. The judgment of the District Court is 22 Affirmed.