Document: 384 U.S. 257 86 S.Ct. 1412 16 L.Ed.2d 516 UNITED STATES, Appellant,v.John W. COOK. No. 256. Argued April 19, 1966. Decided May 23, Jerome Feit, Washington, D. C., for appellant. Thomas H. Peebles, III, Nashville, Tenn., appellee, pro hac vice, by special leave of Court. Mr. Justice WHITE delivered the opinion 1 The question presented is whether 18 U.S.C. § 660 (1964 ed.), which prohibits certain embezzlements employees 'any firm, association, or corporation engaged in commerce as a common carrier,'1 applies to conduct an employee individual doing business carrier. indictment this case charged that, while riding on his employer's truck, 'a truck driver Tolbert Hawkins, carrier,' embezzled approximately $200 from funds employer accruing interstate shipment bananas. Holding that failed charge offense within because it appellee acted 'an individual' forbids proscribed acts only when committed 'firm, corporation,' District Court dismissed indictment. Accord, Schmokey v. United States, 182 F.2d 937 (C.A. 10th Cir. 1950). States brought direct appeal pursuant 3731 and we noted probable jurisdiction, 382 953, 427, 15 358. 2 Section punishes carrier either (1) president, director, officer, manager any (2) such upon * vehicle moving commerce.'2 present form statute dates 1948 revision Criminal Code. Prior time, separate groups—named executives, vehicles commerce—were subject distinct criminal provisions. 412 (1946 like 660, applied named executives carrier.'3 409(a)(5) ed.) with no express limitation relating ownership.4 legislative history including 1946 expanding coverage section all modes transportation—and prevalent usage expression carrier' statutes regulating convincingly establish embraced proprietorships. As much conceded need not detail here. Appellee urges, however, phrase corporation' absorbed into earlier executive provision, 412, sufficiently broad include proprietors; therefore narrowed provision; result compelled general canon construction are be strictly construed. counters choice language used predecessor rather than was merely stylistic preference evidencing intent narrow offenders 'firm' may organization, individually owned otherwise. 3 We think position sound reverse There doubt covered individuals our view intended adopting Code make substantive change law excluding its class who had been previously covered. purpose new 'codify revise *. original Congress preserved,' S.Rep. 1620, 80th Cong., 2d Sess., p. 1, respect reviser's note, noting consolidation portion 409 stating '[c]hanges were made phraseology,' disclosed intention making content law. See note following ed.). To us congressional reach carrier, whatever seems reasonably clear. 4 relies principally abandonment words 'employee substitution does expressly person' But term certainly enough embrace acting carriers;5 those instances where has explicitly indicated understanding term, definition included 19 1806(3) ed.); 2022(l)(3) ed., Supp. I).6 5 Nor plausible reason advanced drawing distinction between partnership corporate carriers. possible burden federal jurisdiction supplement state jurisdiction—in frequent difficulty showing what State crime occurred—does vary organization. On other hand, since large carriers proprietorships,7 acceptance appellee's interpretation would exclude substantial segment industry Act—a should inferred 'changes phraseology' without some specific indication receded clearly expressed Act 1632, 79th Sess. 6 mindful maxim penal 'is inexorable command override sense evident statutory purpose,' Brown, 333 18, 25, 68 376, 380, 92 L.Ed. 442, 'require act given 'narrowest meaning.' It sufficient if their fair meaning accord Congress.' Raynor, 302 540, 552, 58 353, 359, 82 413; see also Bramblett, 348 503, 75 504, 99 594; A & P Trucking Co., 358 121, 79 203, 165; Shirey, 359 255, 746, 789. In dispute—as evidenced contexts—and manifest using here lead conclude encompasses 7 Reversed. 'Whoever, being whoever, railroad car, motortruck, steamboat, vessel, aircraft commerce, embezzles, steals, abstracts, willfully misapplies, permits misapplied, moneys, funds, credits, securities, property, assets arising from, in, whole part, knowingly converts same own use another, shall fined more $5,000 imprisoned ten years, both.' n. supra. 'Every deemed guilty felony conviction less $500, confined penitentiary one year nor both, discretion court.' Oct. 15, 1914, 9, 38 Stat. 733, '(a) Whoever shall—— '(5) aircraft, transporting passengers property foreign having custody out transportation, embezzle unlawfully convert funds; each Feb. 13, 1913, 37 670, amended, Some sources define '[t]he persons composing partnership, taken collectively.' II Bouvier's Law Dictionary 1232 (1914); Ballentine's 507 (2d ed. 1948); Black's 761-762 (4th 1951); Crowell's Business Finance 225 (rev. 1930); Encyclopedia Banking 238 (Garcia, 5th 1949). dictionaries, recognizing definition, word broader popular usage, connoting entity, For example, standard American reference defines both two recognized legal person members it' 'business unit enterprise.' Webster's Third New International Dictionary—Unabridged 856 (1961). Clark Gottfried, 152 (1957) ('Strictly, unincorporated carried person, jointly; partnership. business, company, concern, incorporated not.'); Industry 218 (Schwartz 1954) ('A partnership; house matter *'); English 807 (1959) ('the style title under several carry business'); Foreign Trade 308 (Henius, 1947) name do business'). While numerous decisions courts have enunciated restrictive 'firm'—and turn influenced citation Firestone Tire Rubber Co. Webb, 207 Ark. 820, S.W.2d 941 (1944), Dictionary, supra—such involved issue proprietorship 'firm.' Typically holding themselves firm held constitute various purposes liability supra, imputation knowledge partners McCosker Banks, 84 Md. 292, 35 A. 935 (1896), partner Bufton Hoseley, 236 Or. 12, 386 P.2d 471 (1963). provisions identical read follows: 'The includes proprietorship, joint venture, (including development corporation), trust, cooperative, trustees bankruptcy, receivers decree court. *' random sampling 1,500 11,700 ICC-certificated Class III motor (i. e., annual revenue $200,000) showed at end 1964 almost 40% operated. About 1% operated form, remainder corporations. Brief 8.

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