Document: 365 U.S. 265 81 S.Ct. 534 5 L.Ed.2d 551 Frank COSTELLO, Petitioner,v.UNITED STATES of America. No. 59. Argued Dec. 12, 1960. Decided Feb. 20, 1961. Mr. Edward Bennett Williams, Washington, D.C., for petitioner. Messrs. Ralph S. Spritzer and Wayne G. Barnett, respondent. Justice BRENNAN, delivered the opinion Court. 1 The petitioner became a naturalized citizen on September 10, 1925. District Court Southern New York revoked his citizenship March 9, 1959, in this proceeding brought by Government under § 340(a) Immigration Nationality Act 1952. That authorizes revocation 'on ground that such order certificate naturalization were procured concealment material fact or willful misrepresentation * *.'1 petitioner, 1925, swore Preliminary Form Naturalization, Petition when he appeared before Naturalization Examiner, occupation was 'real estate.' found 'willful fraud' 'his true bootlegging,' 171 F.Supp. 16. Appeals Second Circuit affirmed, 275 F.2d 355. We granted certiorari. 362 973, 80 1058, 4 1009. 2 An earlier denaturalization complaint 8 U.S.C. (1946 ed.) 738(a), predecessor 340(a), dismissed wiretapping may have infected both Government's affidavit good cause its evidence. United States v. Costello, 145 892. reversed should been afforded an opportunity to show evidence either untainted admissible any event. 247 384. certiorari reversed, 356 256, 78 714, 741, not considered below, namely, cause, which is prerequisite initiation proceedings Zucca, 351 91, 76 671, 100 L.Ed. 964, filed with complaint. On remand declined enter dismissal 'without prejudice' entered did specify whether without prejudice. appeal from but new May 1, 1958. 3 argues several grounds reversal revoking citizenship. He contends: (1) finding willfully misrepresented supported clear, unequivocal, convincing evidence, standard proof required these cases; (2) some admissions as at time tainted wiretapping, thus might rely upon reaching conclusion; (3) circumstances case lapse 27 years petitioner's filing 1952 first be deemed bar instituting proceeding; (4) second barred Rule 41(b) Federal Rules Civil Procedure, 28 U.S.C.A., failure find no merit contentions.2 judgment will affirmed. I. carries heavy burden divest American precious right. Severe consequences attend loss, aggravated person has enjoyed many years. See Schneiderman States, 320 118, 122—123, 63 1333, 1335, 87 1796; Nowak 660, 663, 955, 957, 1048. In Chaunt 364 350, 352—353, 147, 149, 120, we said: 6 'Acquisition solemn affair. Full truthful response all relevant questions procedure is, course, exacted, temporizing truth must vigorously discouraged. Failure give frank, honest, unequivocal answers court one seeks serious matter. Complete replies are essential so qualifications applicant lack them ascertained. Suppressed concealed facts, if known, themselves justify denial Or disclosure facts led discovery other would 7 'On hand, view grave citizen, decrees lightly set aside—the indeed 'clear, convincing' leave 'the issue doubt.' 125, 158, 1336, 1352, Baumgartner 322 665, 670, 64 1240, 1243, 88 1525. cases important liberty weight normally given concurrent findings two lower courts does preclude reconsideration here *.' 1925 known bootlegger probably admitted Decisions after repeal Eighteenth Amendment held who trafficked sale, manufacture, transportation intoxicating liquors during Prohibition, within five preceding application, meet statutory criterion behaved 'of moral character, attached principles Constitution well disposed happiness same.' 1906, 4, 34 Stat. 596, 598. 9 De Francis, 60 App.D.C. 207, 208, 50 497, 498, Columbia stated, 'Any violates provisions Prohibition cannot States. Nor can it said possesses character.' 10 Turlej Cir., 31 696, 699, said, 'Few where applicants admitted, guilty violating liquor laws hearing, severely criticized courts. This even adoption part our national Constitution.' also re Trum, 199 F. 361. 11 Villaneuva, 17 485, 487, 'Courts quite universally violations prohibition laws, state, taken into consideration determining respecting character their attachment States.' 12 Mirsky, 275, case, Judge Thacher York, had Costello less than year earlier, 'One deliberately principle declared amendment.' At page 275. 'Neither communities there citizens thought deed embodied Amendment, nor opposition removing generally citizenship, relieve duty apply law now written.' 276. 13 Nagy, 77; Raio, 78; Phillips, 79; Bonner, 279 789; Ex parte Elson, 299 352. 14 Some turned illegal procurement because demonstrated rather 'fraud' 738(a).3 However, demonstrate materiality bootlegging occupation. Such support conclusion '(s) uppressed (which) citizenship.' supra, pages 149. 15 examined record determine leaves doubt,' 1796, misrepresenting real estate. It not. However defined, terms primary source income, expenditure effort, how himself viewed occupation, reach estate largescale bootlegger. 16 built solid foundation made federal State inquiries beginning 1938. Special Agent Bureau Internal Revenue engaged illicit business 1923 1924 until 1933. 1939 testified grand jury 'I little bootlegging. last around 1926.' 1943 County twenties office 405 Lexington Avenue, City, early reported aggregate income $305,000 tax purposes 1919 1932 '(m)aybe most it' earned business. Indeed, except $25,000 realized venture discussed shortly, legitimate 1943, Official Referee Appellate Division Supreme acknowledged money lent Arnold Rothstein, prior latter's murder 1928, derived 'from bootlegging'; era smuggling alcoholic 'profitable.' 1947 Liquor Authority 1926 operated Avenue. Several associates enterprises presented picture operations past application Emanuel Kessler, big operator apprehended convicted activities, financed, about 1921, purchase trucks haul Kessler's Kessler landed Long Island boats high seas. 'very often' shipments telephone calls Avenue office. volume 3,000 per week paid organization approximately $6,000 haulage storage. began serving sentence 'Frank personally asked me could continue on. I think left him 200 cases.' 18 Kelly, 1922, smuggled country using chartered ship moored off shore. associated introduced Canadian representative, Harry Sausser, Montauk, Island. occasion, Sausser negotiated Kelly storage Kelly's boat. combine including indicted conspiracy violate laws. 19 Philip Coffey, former employee. purchased 1922 1923. insisted 'all my Eddie Costello,' brother, placing orders presence discussing purchases Coffey told occurred came automobile Montauk Point gave instructions removal schooner. services Ellis, bookkeeper. 20 Albert Feldman, another bootlegger, started 1920 dealt Kessler. arranged store him. talked regarding sale. Feldman 'a customer 1000 cases,' 'could sell able pay few days, soon they delivered, agreed; 'I'll responsible money." regard role transactions, 'everything Costello. man. business.' 21 Helen L. daughter she acquainted persons executed recalled overhearing conversations between her father liquor, mother never engage 22 Despite strong proofs falsity answers, insists own investigation activities us troubling doubt stated falsely what 'other occupation' besides followed doing leal time.' put state corporate records Registries Deeds City. These identified three corporations empowered sale dismiss corporations, organized 1926, further mention beyond investment $30,000 'bootlegging gambling'; transactions involving company. contention therefore tested light Koslo Realty Corporation. corporation December least August listed address office, A document lists president only profitable transaction concerned property West End 92d Street, Manhattan, acquired 1924. earnings 'gambling liquor' claimed profit June bought lots Bronx October improved sold 1926. 23 raise minds. They do inference invested hope profit. But neither deriving principal Corporation, spending appreciable conducting affairs, making central concern. address. All witnesses recounted And postman mail saw times week, secretary typewriter expected active 24 merely statements factually incorrect, clearly, unequivocally, convincingly false. susceptible believed called legal assume 'occupation' word elusive content circumstances, like question involved Maisenberg 960, 1056, decisions relies. argument ambiguity farfetched here. No situation reasonably answered truthfully were. palpable absurdity estate; actually record, regular continuing concern depended livelihood. dabbled admission financed sideline 'liquor gambling.' need supports Corporation provide facade front misled law-enforcement authorities although appearance obviously convenient group. convinced, however, counted plausibility representation applied 25 Our representations false reached reliance take stand testify behalf. comments significance testify, 358, read basing affirmance Court's inference. district judge, whose none. strongly aid unnecessary buttress it. decide drawn defendant present witness. II. 26 precluded rests primarily interrogations Attorney Hogan Division. officers tap months 1943. frequent references tapped questioning claims impelled belief learned information sought questions. argued wiretaps decision Benanti 355 96, 155, 126, excluded 'fruit poisonous tree,' reasoning Silverthorne Lumber Co. 251 385, 40 182, 319, Nardone 308 338, 266, 84 307. short answer conclude Hogan's revealed era, time. None implies gained wiretaps. transcript minutes body. presses wiretapping. Early examination, being questioned 1939. elicited Furthermore, arrest trial indictment matters public record. 1938 agent Revenue. plain common sense information, long matter official knowledge, something disclosed wiretaps, truthfully. Moreover, proceeding. expressly disavowed based files Attorney's newspaper reports records. Although intercepted O'Connell, codefendant prosecution, none activities. investigations nomination candidate 29 prompted calling county Referee. tree' doctrine excludes obtained consequence lawless acts, 'independent source.' 392, 182. 341, 268, 'Sophisticated prove causal connection through wire-tapping proof. As sense, become attenuated dissipate taint.' satisfied knowledge possession independent sources too require exclusion evidence.4 III. 30 contending proceeding, laches proceedings, event, delay bringing denied due process case. consistently defense ordinary equitable private litigants Government. Ali, 728; Marino, 155; Cufari, 120 941, grounds, 217 404; Parisi, 414; Brass, 37 698; Spohrer, C.C., 175 440; Reinsch, 971, 156 678; Schneiderman, 33 510, 1796. against sovereign. reason underlying principle, Story, 'to great policy preserving rights, revenues, injury negligence officers.' Hoar, Fed.Cas., 329, 330, 15,373. adhered principle. See, example, Kirkpatrick, Wheat. 720, 735—737, 199; Knight, Pet. 301, 315, 465; see Summerlin, 310 1283; Board Commissioners Jackson County, Kan. 343, 351, 285, 288, 313; Thompson, 98 486, 489, 194. 32 applicability laches, failed elements necessary recognition defense. Laches requires diligence party whom asserted, prejudice asserting Galliher Cadwell, 368, 372, 873, 874, 36 738; Pacific Bogert, 250 483, 488—490, 39 533, 535, 1099; Gardner Panama R. Co., 342 29, 31, 72 13, 96 31. alleges proceed revoke reasonable There necessity merits argument, clear prejudiced way satisfies requisite laches. Brown Buena Vista, 95 157, 161, 422, 'The limitation actions, dictated experience, founded salutary policy. memory life witnesses, muniments means proof.' Insofar factors inherent operative seem plainly worked benefit, detriment. activity consisted almost exclusively suggestion destroyed unavailable. perceive Examiners processed him, judge dead. examiners supply bearing claim Their subject stretches credulity suppose inquired those officials meant lawful Finally, suggest petition aided addition, associate, died available immediately criminal trial. harm documentary admissions, supplemented testimony enterprise, others events. more difficult number memories details dimmed passage 35 say, moreover, fundamental fairness. suffered inability defenses. Rather, suffer lies harsh loss resident over 65 years, since age four. Congress enacted applicable fraud. right Depriving fraudulently privilege, unreasonable constitute process. Cf. Johannessen 225 227, 242 243, 613, 617, 56 1066. IV. moved amend writ add dismissing remand, specifying deferred motion pending oral argument. question. construed prejudice, exceptions Procedure. provides: 38 'For plaintiff prosecute comply rules court, move action After completed presentation defendant, waiving offer event granted, shown relief. Unless otherwise specifies, subdivision provided rule, jurisdiction improper venue, operates adjudication merits.' hold file 'for jurisdiction,' meaning exception 41(b). arguing contra, relies resulting open collateral attack ground. Title 263 28; Failla, 164 misconceives scope dismissals operate adjudications unless specifies otherwise. narrow reading relate concept jurisdictional defects render void attack, encompassing plaintiff's precondition going forward substantive claim. falls category. supra; 741. ordinarily subsequent same Haldeman 91 584, 585—586, 433, voluntary nonsuit, 'there parties termination controversy, avail suit. adjudicated released suit make bar, appear affirmatively.' similar defendant. Hughes Wall. 232, 237, 303, 'In suit, rendered privies, point controversy cases, determined merits. If defect pleadings, parties, misconception form want jurisdiction, go action, suit.' House Mullen, 42, 46, 838; Swift McPherson, 232 51, 56, 239, 241, 58 499; St. Romes Levee Steam Cotton Press 127 614, 619, 1338, 289; Burgett 151, 104 A.L.R. 167; 71 63. discern purpose change common-law respect satisfy precondition. enumerated merits—failure prosecute, Court, showing relief involve situations incur inconvenience preparing initial them. logical should, action. defining 'not rule' merits, jurisdictional, seems confine behind equally applicable. Thus sua sponte governed ground, trouble Procter & Gamble 677, 680, footnote 983, 985, 1077; Amercan Nat. Bank Trust Chicago 79 U.S.App.D.C. 62, 142 571.5 41 contrast, Nothing term 'jurisdiction' giving limited ascribe Among art law, hardly fixed content. characterize prerequisites re-examined original litigate all. e.g., Des Moines Navigation Iowa Homestead 123 552, 217, 202 (diversity citizenship); Sawyer, 124 200, 200—221, 482, 492, 402 (jurisdictional amount). Noble Union River Logging 147 165, 173—174, 271, 273, 123. applying construe encompass Madden Perry, 264 169; Myers Westland Oil 667, 181 371. 42 Affirmed. 43 HARLAN took 44 DOUGLAS, BLACK concurs, dissenting. 45 'bootlegging' se denying alien 1920's. were, act hypocrisy unparalleled life. For 'bootlegger' days demand bulk people communities—including lawyers, prosecutors, judges—for products. be, forms use ask income. disclosed, then problem—whether nondisclosed bootlegging, playing races, bridge poker games, else. filed.* more; say estate' let stand. existed president. transactions. secondary regime 'occupation.' Petitioner embrace But, complete disclosure; resolve favor strict exacted statute, 66 260, amended, 68 1232; 1451, U.S.C.A. reads pertinent follows: '(a) Concealment evidence; refusal testify. 'It shall attorneys respective districts, therefor, institute specified subsection (a) section 1421 title judicial reside setting aside admitting canceling misrepresentation, effective date certificate, respectively: knowingly allegiance Like Appeals, F.2d, 360, pass finding, clearly correct. Section single 'concealment misrepresentation.' Its predecessors, 338(a) 1940, 1906 basis denaturalization, authorized procurement. misrepresentation' apparently remove so-called 'intrinsic' fraud, fraud swearing traditional equity cancellation judgment, 'extrinsic' inhering court. Certain indicated extrinsic encompassed term, compare Kusche, 201, Hauck, 155 141, accordance rule Gleeson, 90 778; cf. Norsch, 417. acted course S.Rep. 1515, 81st Cong., 2d Sess. 756—769. appears congressional lay down looser definitional laxer requirements previously misstatements statutes. practice Service treated older Acts facts. 756. makes reference rested partly 'indications extensive wire taps covering period 1920's.' 894. heard Assistant Attorneys conducted leading 'accepted true' 'that certain individuals defendant's activities.' 25. disturbing taint 1920's later inapplicability recognized. Advisory Committee Amendments recommended 1955 addition specific exception, 'lack indispensable party.' proposal adopted, commentator written: 'Undoubtedly proceeds theory involved. Committee's would, care specifically prejudice; result courts, necessity, prejudice.' Moore, Practice, Cum.Supp., p. 38. printed item 'Second' line headed 'My is.' words 'Real Estate.'

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