Opinion ID: 614361
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Chandler's Testimony

Text: Chandler testified in person at the suppression hearing. He testified that he was assigned to examine Stonehill's 1958 tax return in 1960. He testified that the only time he saw a wiretap transcript was in December 1961, and that Hawley showed it to him. Much of Chandler's testimony included in the record on appeal in 1968 focused on his activity coordinating communications between Spielman and Lukban, and his activity during the days surrounding the raid. Chandler testified that the initial meetings between Lukban and Spielman took place at Chandler's home. Chandler said that Spielman requested that the meetings be there because Spielman wouldn't go near a Philippine government office at that time. Hawley and Diokno attended the meetings once or twice. Chandler testified that he did not set the date for the raid, and that he had not been asked to participate in the raid or to assign any agent to the raid. He was told the date of the raid would be February 24 by someone in the NBI, probably Nocon. During cross-examination, Chandler was asked a series of questions about whether he saw any pictures of potential raid sites. At this point in the hearing neither Chandler nor the government knew that the defense had part of the Picture Folder. Chandler first testified that he had never himself taken or had others take any pictures of the buildings to be raided. Chandler and Taxpayers' attorney then had the following exchange: Q. Mr. Chandler, did you ever see any pictures of any of the locations at which the raids were to be made? A. I don't remember. I hadit seems to me that I had heard the NBI had photographed some of thehad made some photographs. I don't recall whether I ever saw them. Q. Isn't it a fact, Mr. Chandler, that the NBI made picture folders of each of the locations to be made, and showed them to you? A. I don't recall seeing pictures, no. Q. But you do have some recollection of the NBI taking pictures? A. Yes, I have a recollection that they did do Q. Did you recollect that you were told that by Mr. Danny Nocon? A. I think probably Danny, yes. They continued on the same subject shortly thereafter: Q. Do you recall seeing some files or documents which were called picture folders on March 2? A. I don't recall seeing pictures, and yet I may have. Q. But you are clear A. I may have seen these pictures at some time . . . [b]ut I wouldn't recall if it was March 2nd. Q. But you are clear that any pictures you saw would have been made by the NBI? A. Oh, yes. Taxpayers' attorney then asked Chandler if he had ever made a sketch of several of the buildings to be raided and had given that sketch to Nocon or another NBI agent. Chandler said he may have helped Spielman make a sketch, but he would not have made one on his own. If there were such a sketch, he would have given it to Spielman, not directly to the NBI. Taxpayers then introduced the parts of the Picture Folder in their possession. This consisted of two pages. The first page was divided into three parts. The bottom two parts each contained a sketched floor plan of a building. There were five circled numbers identifying various locations within the two buildings. The top part of the paper had five instructions, which corresponded to the five circled numbers. Next to number one was written, Check cigarette case for stamps. Next to number two was written, Check dummy wall for door. Next to number three was written, Rolls of paper t/b checkedis it actually cigarette paper for slitting[?] Next to number four was written, Check closely all items + area for stamps. Next to number five was written, Check all packing material for stamps. The second page consisted solely of writing and was titled, U.S. Tobacco Co. Picture Folder. It included a list of circled numbers, one through twenty, with comments after the numbers. These comments each seemed to correspond to something different, perhaps to a different picture. For example, next to number one was written, No comment. Next to number two was written, Motor Pool, no significance. Next to number four was written, Goodyear Bldg.John Brook's Confiscate records in separate small adjoining bldg.This is bldg. from which John Brooks carried stamps at night. Next to number nine was written, Goodrich Bldg.Chambon Slitting Machine + Evening News Newsprint supply. Chandler testified that although he had no recollection of preparing these documents, the handwriting on both pieces of paper was his. He testified that the language is Spielman's language. When asked why he would be preparing such a document for an informer, Chandler responded, Spielman was an unusual individual. He pestered the life out of you on things and I figured on something of that nature, I don't know what reason he would have given me, why I should write it down rather than he should write it down, because it was his information. The following three exchanges provide a sense of Chandler's testimony during cross-examination concerning the Picture Folders: Q. Does this language [instructions to check several places from the first piece of paper] recall to you that you did give instructions to the NBI prior to the raids or advice? A. Well, I did relay somedid help Spielman get some of his information to them, because they didn't understand each other. Q. And you did this to help with the raiders, is that correct? A. I presume that would probably be used in the raids, yes. A second exchange was: Q. Now, I call your attention that each of these items I read on the first sheet, Check, check, check, check, and one that says To be checked, I think that is what it means, are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and these numbers are placed in certain areas on these diagrammatic sketches of the buildings. Are these numbers in your handwriting also? A. Yes, those numbers are in mine. Q. So, in other words, those numbers were placed on these three sheets by you. Does that refresh your recollection to the effect that you were trying to specify for the NBI exactly where the places were that the agents and team leaders were to go? A. Well, undoubtedly I was trying to set down Spielman's information. In the third exchange, the questions are coming from the court: Q. Now, can you tell me, how did you know that location 1 was a place to be checked for stamps, location 2 was a dummy wall, location 5 was packing material, how did you know all of that? A. I had listened to Mr. Spielman talk about that for weeks, this type of thing. Q. And you mean to say you got all your information about this building and these locations from Mr. Spielman? A. Yes, your Honor. Q. You never made any personal investigation of these buildings? A. No, your honor. He had told me this many times, he had told the NBI people many times. . . . But it might be exactly an example of what I am speaking of, they did not understand [him], even though he talked with them, just the same as he did with me. On redirect, Chandler further explained that, although he did not specifically remember making these drawings, he often served as a liaison between Spielman and the NBI. There was not altogether rapport between [Spielman] and the NBI. I might have helped him to do something. He might have sketched this out and I might have done some of the writing. Chandler testified that he could not have drawn the diagrams without Spielman because he had never been to the buildings they depicted. Returning to the days surrounding the raid, Chandler testified that late on the night of March 2, the night before the raid, Nocon came to Chandler's house and told him Lukban would like Chandler to come to his house. Chandler testified that he followed Nocon to Lukban's house, where Lukban's associates were preparing search warrants. While there, Chandler asked if they had included the Army and Navy Club as a raid point. Nocon said they had not included the Army and Navy Club, and Chandler persuaded them to do so. Chandler testified that he gave no other advice to Lukban and made no requests of him. Chandler testified that he did not visit the Army and Navy Club that night with an NBI officer, but went straight home from Lukban's house. Chandler testified that on the day of the raid he, along with William Ragland and Bill Reynolds, IRS agents who had recently arrived in Manila, went to an area across the street from the NBI headquarters that Lukban had designated as the place they should wait during the raid. That evening, at around 10 p.m., Lukban called them and said that they had hit the jack pot. He invited them to come to his office in the NBI headquarters. Chandler testified that he saw boxes throughout the headquarters building. While Chandler, Ragland, and Reynolds were with Lukban, an NBI agent reported that they had just seized a tremendous quantity of records and requested help sorting them. Lukban asked if Chandler, Ragland, and Reynolds would help the agent. They followed the agent to a location in the port area. When the three men arrived, they identified the documents they thought were important and placed them in a carton for the NBI to take back to headquarters. Chandler testified that he had felt that this business was rather disorganized. Thus, on the way back from the port out of curiosity I went up to the main office, drove up to the main office of the U.S. Tobacco Corporation, to see whether that was equally disorganized. Ragland and Reynolds remained in the jeep, and Chandler went into the office. Chandler testified that once in the office, he pointed out to NBI agents a back room area that the agents should search. Stonehill II, 405 F.2d at 742. Chandler testified that on the Monday after the raid, March 5, Lukban brought Chandler, Reynolds, and Ragland to the NBI building. Lukban gave them a place to work and made some records available. Once Reynolds and Ragland started work, Chandler left.