Document: 379 U.S. 476 85 S.Ct. 506 13 L.Ed.2d 431 John W. STANFORD, Jr., Petitioner,v.STATE OF TEXAS. No. 40. Argued Nov. 12, 1964. Decided Jan. 18, 1965. Rehearing Denied March 1, See 380 926, 879. Maury Maverick, San Antonio, Tex., and J. McAvoy, New York City, for petitioner. James E. Barlow, Hawthorne Phillips, Brownsville, respondent. Mr. Justice STEWART delivered the opinion of Court. 1 On December 27, 1963, several Texas law-enforcement officers presented themselves at petitioner's Antonio home purpose searching it under authority a warrant issued by local magistrate. By time they had finished, five hours later, seized some 2,000 books, pamphlets, papers. The question this case is whether search seizure were constitutionally valid. 2 was § 9 Art. 6889—3A Revised Civil Statutes Texas. Article, enacted in 1955 known as Suppression Act, sweeping many-faceted law which, among other things, outlaws Communist Party creates various individual criminal offenses, each punishable imprisonment up to 20 years. Section authorizes issuance 'for seizing any records, cards, receipts, lists, memoranda, pictures, recordings, or written instruments showing that person organization violating has violated provision Act.' section sets forth procedural requirements, them 'if premises be searched constitute private residence, such application shall accompanied affidavits two credible citizens.' 3 filed Bexar County court Criminal District Attorney County. It recited applicant 4 '* * good reason believe does certain place County, Texas, described white frame houses one garage, located address 1118 West Rosewood, City being control charge Hohn William Stanford, where recordings concerning operations are unlawfully possessed used violation Articles 6889—31 6889—3A, State belief officer founded upon following information: 5 'That received information from persons party named above books records his possession which including lists dues payments, addition items listed above. That recent origin been confirmed mailings Stanford on 12th December, 1963 pro-Communist material.' 6 Attached an affidavit signed Assistant Attorneys General repeated words application, except basis affiants' stated follows: 7 'Recent material address, identified course investigation Party.' 8 district judge specifically searched, allegations applicant's 'a Article 6889—3 6889 3A, Texas,' ordered executing 'to enter immediately Statutes, take same.' executed who affidavit, number county officers. They went warrant, petitioner resided carried mail order book business trade name 'All Points View.'2 not when arrived, but wife was, she let after read her. 10 After delay occasioned unsuccessful effort locate another part town, began. Under general supervision spent more than four gathering about half found house. Most took came stock business, personal library well. pamphlets taken comprised approximately 300 separate titles, numerous issues different periodicals. Among works diverse writers Karl Marx, Jean Paul Sartre, Theodore Draper, Fidel Castro, Earl Browder, Pope XXIII, MR. JUSTICE HUGO L. BLACK. also many documents papers, marriage certificate, insurance policies, household bills files correspondence. All packed into 14 cartons hauled off investigator's office courthouse. did find 'records Party' 'party payments.' 11 motion with magistrate asking him annul return all property it. asserted federal constitutional claims. hearing denied without opinion. This denial parties agree, final appealable otherwise reviewable law. Ex parte Wolfson, 127 Tex.Cr.R. 277, 75 S.W.2d 440. Accordingly, we granted certiorari, v. 377 989, 84 1911, 12 1043. Thompson Louisville, 362 199, 202—203, 80 624, 626—627, 654. attacked validity grounds. We rest our decision just one, pausing assess substantiality others. For think clear kind Fourth Amendment forbid—a warrant. Therefore, even accepting premise substantive provisions have pre-empted law,3 sufficiently specified offense believed committed probable cause,4 magistrate's denying must nonetheless set aside. now settled fundamental protections guaranteed Fourteenth against invasion States. Wolf People Colorado, 338 25, 69 1359, 1361, 93 L.Ed. 1782; Mapp Ohio, 367 643; Ker California, 374 23, 83 1623, 726. provides 'no Warrants issue, cause, supported Oath affirmation, particularly describing things seized.' (Emphasis supplied.) These precise clear. reflect determination those wrote Bill Rights people new Nation should forever 'be secure their persons, houses, effects' intrusion acting unbridled Vivid memory newly independent Americans warrants writs assistance Crown so bedeviled colonists. hated given customs officials blanket pleased goods imported British tax laws. denounced Otis 'the worst instrument arbitrary power, most destructive English liberty, principles law, ever book,' because placed liberty every man hands petty officer.' historic occasion denunciation, 1761 Boston, characterized 'perhaps prominent event inaugurated resistance colonies oppressions mother country. 'Then there,' said Adams, 'then there first scene act opposition claims Great Britain. Then child Independence born." Boyd United States, 116 616, 625, 524, 529, 29 746. 15 But while product contemporary revulsion regime assistance, its roots go far deeper. Its adoption Constitution reflected culmination England few years earlier struggle oppression endured centuries. story fully chronicled pages Court's reports,5 would needless exercise pedantry review again detailed history use Tudors, through Star Chamber, Long Parliament, Restoration, beyond. 16 What significant note largely conflict between press. enforcing laws licensing publication literature and, prosecutions seditious libel systematically sixteenth, seventeenth, eighteenth In Tudor roving commissions suppress destroy dissent, both Catholic Puritan.6 later sometimes specific content, typically authorized connected particular libel, arrest papers thought libel.7 17 context latter kinds battle privacy finally won landmark cases Wilkes Wood8 Entick Carrington.9 arose out Crown's attempt stifle called North Briton, anonymously published Wilkes, then member Parliament—particularly issue 45 journal. Lord Halifax, Secretary State, ordering King's messengers make strict diligent authors, printers, publishers treasonable paper, entitled, 45, them, having found, apprehend seize, together papers.'10 'Armed commission, quest unknown offenders; unable evidence, listened rumors, idle tales, curious guesses. held whom suspect.'11 Holding ridiculous whole nation,'12 Court Common Pleas awarded damages State. author Monitor Freeholder. A naming publication, authorizing 'books papers.' ransacked Entick's carted away quantities wellspring rights protected Amendment,13 Camden declared unlawful. 'This power,' he said, 'so assumed secretary state execution party's instance. His house rifled; valuable secrets possession, before paper charged competent jurisdiction, convicted either writing, publishing, concerned paper.' Carrington.14 Thereafter, House Commons passed resolutions condemning warrants, limiting condemnation second generally.15 18 prompted less ago remark '(t)he government power adjunct system suppression objectionable publications new.' Marcus Search Warrant, 717, 724, 81 1708, 1712. course, intellectual matrix within own fabric shaped. bill fashioned background knowledge unrestricted could stifling expression.' Id., 729, 1715. As DOUGLAS put it, 'The commands First (as well prohibitions Fifth) teachings Carrington, supra. three amendments indeed closely related, safeguarding only protection self-incrimination 'conscience human dignity freedom expression well." Frank Maryland, 359 360, 376, 79 804, 814 (dissenting opinion). 19 short, what indispensably teaches requirement describe 'things seized' accorded scrupulous exactitude 'things' ideas contain.16 1127; Quantity Copies Books Kansas, 378 205, 1723, 809. No standard faithful freedoms. impossibility leaving freedoms whim dramatically underscored saw fit seize case.17 "The makes searches impossible prevents thing another. taken, nothing left discretion warrant." Marron 275 192, 196, 48 74, 76. need decide present description too generalized pass muster, weapons, narcotics 'cases whiskey.' Steele States 267 498, 504, 414, 416, 757.18 point contraband seized, literary material—'books, Texas.' indiscriminate sweep language intolerable. To hold false terms Amendment, meaning, history. 21 Two centuries since almost very day. world greatly changed, voice nonconformity speaks tongue might hard understand. Amendments guarantee no official ransack warrant—no 200 shielded King. 22 vacated cause remanded further proceedings inconsistent 23 ordered. 24 Order remanded. 1951 Control Law, provides, organizations defined fail register Department Public Safety guilty offenses obtained certificate transact accordance 'Assumed Name Law.' Commonwealth Pennsylvania Nelson, 350 497, 76 477, 100 640. Aguilar 108, 1509, 723. Warrants, 724—729, 1712—1714, 363—366 376—377, 807—808, 813—814, 877 opinion); see 65 524. Siebert, Freedom Press England, 1476—1776, pp. 83, 85—86, 97. supra, 374—376. How.St.Tr. 1153 (1763). 1029 (1765). Lasson, Development p. 43. II May's Constitutional History 246 (Am.Ed.1864). 247. 'As American statesman, during revolutionary formative period nation, undoubtedly familiar monument freedom, considered true ultimate may confidently propositions minds framed fourth amendment *.' 530. How.St.Tr., 1064. XVI Hansard's Parliamentary 207 et seq. word 'books' phrase like records' has, quite meaning. 'book' ledger unlawful enterprise thus stand footing involved case. 198—199, 76—77, 72 231. And situations here might, purposes indistinguishable goods—e.g., if stolen property. 479—480, police poses problems raised 'gambling implements' 'all intoxicating liquors' *. these implicates questions procedures leading surrounding adequate avoid publications.' 731, 1716.

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