Document: 349 U.S. 81 75 S.Ct. 620 99 L.Ed. 905 Robert Cecil BELL, Petitioner,v.UNITED STATES of America. No. 468. Argued April 21, 1955. Decided May 9, Mr. James R. Browning, Washington, D.C., for petitioner. Charles F. Barber, respondent. Justice FRANKFURTER delivered the opinion Court. 1 Once more it becomes necessary to determine 'What Congress has made allowable unit prosecution,' United States v. Universal C.I.T. Credit Corp., 344 218, 221, 73 227, 229, 97 260, under a statute which does not explicitly give answer. This recurring problem now arises what is familiarly known as Mann Act. The relevant provisions Act in its present form are: 2 'Whoever knowingly transports interstate or foreign commerce * any woman girl purpose prostitution debauchery, other immoral purpose. 3 'Shall be fined than $5,000 imprisoned five years, both.' § June 25, 1910, 36 Stat. 825, 18 U.S.C. 2421, U.S.C.A. 2421. 4 facts need detain us long. Petitioner pleaded guilty violations laid two counts, each referring different woman. Concededly, petitioner transported women on same trip and vehicle. was basis his claim that he committed only single offense could subjected cumulative punishment counts. District Court rejected this conception sentenced consecutive terms years six months On appeal from denial motion correct sentence, Appeals affirmed 'While act transportation one,' ruled, 'the unlawful must necessity have been selective personal involved. We therefore believe separate offenses were case.' 213 F.2d 629, 630. decision accord with decisions lower federal courts, but contrary holding by Tenth Circuit, Robinson States, 143 276, raised square conflict settlement led bring case here. 348 895, 223. 5 appropriate diverse matter discretion Congress, subject constitutional limitations, particularly Eighth Amendment. no doubt make simultaneous one violation liable so transported. question is: did do so? It done words defining crime fixing punishment. Nor guiding light afforded entirety controlling gloss. withdrawal facility transportation', Hoke 227 308, 322, 33 281, 284, 57 523, though, sure, power exercised aid social morality. Again, will promote analysis indulge might called color-matching prior concerned prosecution' order how near to, far from, answers are given statutes. 6 denied argumentative skill, shown at Bar, persuasively unreasonably reach either conflicting constructions. About aspect can dogmatic. When difficulty expressing it—when will, is, desires prosecution and, particularly, stick faggot criminal unit. leaves Judiciary task imputing an undeclared ambiguity should resolved favor lenity. And out sentimental consideration, want sympathy proscribing evil anti-social conduct. may fairly said presupposition our law resolve doubts enforcement penal code against imposition harsher wise implies language used statutes read saving grace common sense enactments, cast technical language, read. assume offenders carefully before they embark crime. merely means if fix clearly without ambiguity, turning transaction into multiple offenses, when we go furnishes. 7 Reversed. 8 MINTON, whom THE CHIEF JUSTICE REED join, dissenting. 9 seem ambiguous me. clear enough me understand trying help stamp degradation debauchery punishing those who engaged using them prostitution. way use channels transport them. provides that, 10 11 12 To girls constitutes one. had protection individual exploitation, female punished. transportation. Surely intend easier females bus load. A construction reaches result violence plain wording. That thought, I agree, would affirm.

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