Opinion ID: 310065
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: The Good Stuff

Text: 12 Stripped of the toxic hearsay and prejudicial bad man evidence, the Government's proof is reduced to establishing four meetings between Cocroft and Apollo. The first occurred in mid-August 1971, immediately after Philip Homburg had delivered a load of Company marijuana to Cocroft's Milwaukee apartment. Both Homburg and Johnson testified that they saw Apollo enter Cocroft's bedroom which served as a warehouse for Company marijuana; however, neither witness overheard any conversation which may have occurred therein. Johnson testified that upon leaving the bedroom Apollo was carrying a closed, plastic sack containing what Johnson believed to be compressed bricks of marijuana. At that moment and in Johnson's presence, the following exchange occurred: 13 COCROFT: Can you handle it? 14 APOLLO: Oh yes, I can handle it. I'm going to run it up to Madison. 15 COCROFT: I need the money as soon as possible because I want to recop [i. e. repurchase] so that we can get orders and things going.APOLLO: Well, I'll get the money as soon as possible. Is it good stuff? 16 COCROFT: It is Mexican. I only have the best. 17 Homburg testified that he was in Cocroft's apartment during two additional meetings between Cocroft and Apollo in late August or early September. However, on neither occasion did Homburg overhear private conversations between the two men nor did he observe a transfer of marijuana or any other incriminating activity. 18 Johnson testified that he was present at a fourth meeting between Cocroft and Apollo on September 11, the day of William Estes' visit to Milwaukee. At this time Johnson observed the transfer of suitcases by Cocroft and Apollo from Cocroft's automobile to Apollo's car. During the transfer, Johnson overheard the following conversation: 19 COCROFT: It looks like we're just moving. 20 APOLLO: I've got to leave right now to run up to Madison. 21 COCROFT: Good. I've got some stuff coming right away and they want cash for it. 22 Apollo makes no contention that Johnson's recitation of these conversations between Cocroft and Apollo were inadmissible hearsay. These conversations are clearly admissible as res gestae or as admissions and adopted admissions of the defendant. McCormick, Law of Evidence Sec. 239, Sec. 246, Sec. 274.