Document: 411 U.S. 223 93 S.Ct. 1565 36 L.Ed.2d 208 Joseph Everette BROWN and Thomas Dean Smith, Petitioners,v.UNITED STATES. No. 71—6193. Argued Dec. 7, 1973. Decided April 17, Syllabus Petitioners were convicted of transporting conspiring to transport stolen goods in interstate commerce their coconspirator, whose retail store was searched under a defective warrant while petitioners custody another State. The charges against limited acts committed before the day search. At pretrial hearing on petitioners' motion suppress evidence seized at store, alleged no proprietary or possessory interest goods, District Court denied for lack standing. trial, introduced into evidence. In addition, police testimony as statements by implicating each other manner contrary Bruton v. United States, 391 123, 88 1620, 20 476. Appeals concluded that error harmless view overwhelming independent proof guilt affirmed Court's ruling Held: 1. had standing contest admission since they legitimate expectation privacy any kind premises seized; 'automatic' Jones 362 257, case them did not depend possession time contested search seizure; could vicariously assert personal Fourth Amendment right owner contesting goods. Pp. 227 230. 2. erroneously admitted merely cumulative largely uncontroverted properly jury, harmless. 230—232. 452 F.2d 868, affirmed. Lowell W. Lundy, Barbourville, Ky., petitioners. Mark L. Evans, Dept. Justice, Washington, D.C., respondent. Mr Chief Justice BURGER delivered opinion Court. 1 jury conspiracy commerce, 18 U.S.C. § 2314 371. central issue now is whether have challenge lawfulness seizure merchandise but stored one Knuckles, coconspirator. from different Knuckles successfully challenged introduction his faulty warrant, separately tried. 2 uncontroverted. Petitioner Brown manager warehouse Cincinnati, Ohio, owned wholesale clothing household company. He entrusted with keys. Smith truck driver During 1968 1969, company experienced losses attributed pilferage amounting approximately $60,000 year. One West, buyer supervisor company, recovered slip paper he seen drop Brown's pocket. On slip, handwriting, list merchandise, together price item well below cost. West estimated lowest these items would been total about $6,400, priced $2,200. promptly notified set up surveillance warehouse. Ten days later, observed wheeling carts containing boxes truck. From concealed point, took photographs loading onto then locked warehouse, drove off. They followed stopped police, placed arrest, advised constitutional rights, and, loaded truck, taken headquarters. lawfully value $6,500. 3 Following after being fully informed both made separate confessions indicating conspired steal past, two occasions months Knuckles' Manchester, Kentucky. also indicated 'sold' previously delivery various amounts cash. pursuant worth over $100,000 value, discovered. during search, Ohio. 4 Prior Knuckles1 moved found store. prosecution conceded defective. held Petitioners, however, there, nor such an presented After hearing, granted seized, severed trial. 5 received events leading arrests upon leaving described officers who eyewitnesses. crime progress There additional incriminating service station whom rented trucks used thefts, five witnesses saw unloading late night carrying prosecutor evidence, objections, portions petitioner's confession which implicated be 476 (1968). Those considerable parts implicate without objection. returned verdicts guilty all counts. 6 appeal, Sixth Circuit recognized occurred, went conclude 'so harmless,' citing Harrington California, 395 250, 89 1726, 23 284 (1969). petitioners, stating: 7 'This (of Court) correct because appellants claimed rights it clear cannot another.' 870 (1971). 8 (1) 9 contend rely decision this 80 725, 697 (1960), establishing rule allegedly illegal where same needed establish 'an essential element offense . charged.' Simmons 390 377, 390, 967, 974, 19 1247 That involved (a) contraband narcotics, (b) defendant present seizure,2 (c) defendant's narcotics critical part Government's case. Jones, supra, U.S., 263, 732. Mr. Frankfurter, writing emphasized 'dilemma' inherent need allege 'possession' seizure, when later him. Id., 262—264, S.Ct., 731—732. Frankfurter quoted words Judge Learned Hand: 10 'Men may wince admitting owners, possession, property; wish once secure remedies possessor, avoid perils part; equivocation will serve. If come victims, must take role, enough detail cast question. bar shrank predicament; obliged choose horn dilemma.' Connolly Medalie, 58 629, 630 (CA2 1932). 11 self-incrimination dilemma, so decision, can longer occur prevailing interpretation Constitution. Subsequent we use trial given move 389—394, 973—976. For example, doctrine permitted requisite claiming basis nonetheless press its exclusion; but, succeeds fails score directly admissible him Thus, asserted, suppression danger themselves. do so. 12 But necessary us determine our Simmons, makes Jones' unnecessary. We reserve question 974. Here, unlike does seizure.3 transported transportation indictment carefully period 13 deciding case, therefore, sufficient hold there where, here, defendants: premises; charged includes, charged, seizure. vice allowing Government yet deny purposes, present. accused taking 'advantage contradictory positions.' See States Allsenberrie, 424 1209, 1212—1214 (CA7 1970); Cowan, 396 83, 86 1968); Niro 388 535, 537 (CA1 Bozza, 365 206, 1966). cf. Price, 447 23, 29 (CA2), cert. denied, 404 912, 92 232, 30 186 14 Again, decide prosecutorial self-contradiction warrants continued survival has removed coerced self-incrimination. simply see reason afford risk either self-contradiction. afforded full failed seized. Nor, incidentally, record reveal interest.4 As correctly concluded, store; another. 'Fourth are which, like some asserted. (1968); (1960).' Alderman 394 165, 174, 961, 966, 22 176 Wong Sun 371 471, 492, 83 407, 419, 441 (1963). 15 (2) 16 Solicitor General concedes that, Bruton, improperly Neither petitioner testified tendered crimes even though out presence.5 This Similar statements, relating admitted. counsel timely objections. 17 Upon examination record, agree errors jury. (1969), 'is unless say violation constitute error, leave conviction undisturbed,' id., 254, 1729. reject notion never '(A) entitled fair perfect one,' trials. 135, 1627, quoting Lutwak 344 604, 619, 73 481, 490, 97 L.Ed. 593 (1953). Schneble Florida, 405 427, 432, 1056, 1059, 31 340 (1972); Chapman 386 18, 23—24, 87 824, 827—828, 705 (1967). Affirmed. joined count having 2315. Presence held, source itself. 267, 734, (1960). course, 492 n. 'Petitioner's flows search.' (emphasis added). partnership 'property interest' 'constructive possession' 'partnership crime.' Even if already totally illegitimate. argument equally ingenious, unavailing. doubtful assumption between support only 'to including 28th August, 1970.' August 29, 1970. Finally, contentions courts petition certiorari. Lawn 355 339, 362—363, 16, 78 311, 324—325, 321 (1958). An FBI agent, Whitley, follows: '(Smith stated that) June 1970, individual employed Central Jobbing Company, Joe Brown, ap- proached asked help Company me trips Kentucky, consisting Company. recalled best knowledge dates 5th 29th, said one-half owners Discount Store knew stolen. further $2,500.00 share money merchandise.' Another witness, Detective Hulgin County Sheriff's Patrol, similar adding list, prepared shown $2,200 amount receive particular shipment Knuckles. told accompanied previous

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