Document: 343 U.S. 148 72 S.Ct. 568 96 L.Ed. 846 UNITED STATESv.HOOD et al. No. 426. Argued March 4, 1952. Decided 31, Mr. Philip Elman, Washington, D.C., for appellant. W. S. Henley, Jackson, Miss., Robert Thompson, Jr., Gulfport, Albert Sidney Johnston, Biloxi, Ben F. Cameron, Meridian, appellees. Opinion of the Court by Justice FRANKFURTER, announced THE CHIEF JUSTICE. 1 The defendants were charged in District Southern Mississippi with a conspiracy to violate 18 U.S.C. § 215, U.S.C.A. and numerous substantive violations same section. law provides: 'Whoever solicits or receives, either as political contribution, personal emolument, any money thing value, consideration promise support use influence obtaining person appointive office place under United States, shall be fined not more than $1,000 imprisoned one year, both.1' 2 indictment solicit contributions Democratic Committee personally return promises obtain contributors appointments Post Office Department Price Stabilization. Other counts violations. Material here are 32, 33 charging solicitation two three $300 from named individuals on behalf secure them Chairmen County Ration Boards Pike, Amite Lawrence counties, respectively. It is stipulated that no such offices existence at time thereafter up indictment. Authority create offices, however, had been granted President, well before charged, Defense Production Act 1950, 64 Stat. 798, 807, 50 U.S.C.App., Supp. IV, 2103, U.S.C.A.Appendix, 2103. 3 Defendants successfully moved dismiss these portions ground statute did make criminal sale non-existent connection them. also ordered stricken references count Boards. order dismissal was appealed Government Criminal Appeals Act, 3731, 3731. Our jurisdiction cases limited construction involved. 4 We think wrong. plainly broad enough its face cover an which authorized which, sale, might reasonably expected established. That situation we do have go further say whether words will purely creature seller's fancy. 5 evil directed operation purchased, thus improper, determining occupants federal office. But attacking evil, Congress outlawed influence, but purchase, peddling forbidden wares. As uncommon legislation, Congress, strike root, made scope wider immediate evil. Even judges need blind fact life it helps influencing forehanded recommendation formally created. Certainly unreal believe anticipation jobs equally damaging proper service take steps prevent it. so this Act. Nothing has suggested, sparse legislative history prior judicial construction,2 restrain us giving effect obvious, ordinary reading statute. pressed upon statutes strictly construed. does mean legislation 'must construed some artificial conventional rule'. States v. Union Supply Co., 215 50, 55, 30 15, 16, 54 87. should read laws put what readily found there. out matter English speech in. 6 This penalized corruption. less corrupt sell may never able deliver he can. Dealing futures discredits processes government. There indication punishes delivery fruit transaction—it forbids sale. alleged. Whether transaction would could ever performed immaterial. find basis allowing breach warranty defense 7 offend requirement definiteness. picture unsuspecting merchant, steering careful course between violation hand false pretenses other confining himself plausible entrapped dubieties statute, commend itself reason. 8 judgment below reversed case remanded proceedings. 9 Reversed. 10 BLACK, whom REED, DOUGLAS MINTON concur, dissenting. 11 makes crime receive help 'any person' * *.' argues someone get 'office place' even though there existence. Apparently sensing extraordinary expansion accepted, lesser sufficient include if 'substantial possibility' 'set near future.' Court's apparently although slight verbal variations. reads punishing 'influence established.' used convey meaning me. I immediately applying actual, existing place'. surely fair language used, compelled requires considerable straining 'plainly unmistakably', Gradwell, 243 476, 485, 37 407, 411, 61 857, exist. See Halseth, 342 277, 275. fact, 'reasonably expected' talked about only nonexistent alleged made—it up' yet. stretch conduct prohibited theory done thought Weitzel, 246 533, 543, 38 381, 382, 62 872; McBoyle 283 25, 27, 51 340, 341, 75 816; Pierce 314 306, 237, 86 226. revised amended 1951 respects material here. 65 320. Only reported Hoeppel 66 App.D.C. 71, 85 F.2d 237. dealt question unrelated case.

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