Legal Document

347 U.S. 556 74 Supreme Court Reporter 716 98 L.Ed. 948 LEYRAv.DENNO. Number 635. Argued April 28, 1954. Decided June 1, Mr. Osmond K. Fraenkel, New York City, for petitioner. William I. Siegel, Brooklyn, N.Y., respondent. Justice BLACK delivered the opinion of Court. 1 Camilo Leyra, age 75, and his wife, 80, were found dead in their Brooklyn apartment. Several days later petitioner, son, 50, was indicted a state court charged with having murdered them hammer. He convicted sentenced to death, chiefly on several alleged confessions guilt. The Appeals reversed ground that one confessions, made state-employed psychiatrist, had been extorted from petitioner by coercion promises leniency violation Due Process Clause Fourteenth Amendment.1 People versus 302 N.Y. 353, North Eastern Reporter, 2nd Series 553. Petitioner then tried again. This time invalidated confession not used convict him but other followed it same day used. objected admission these they also coerced, trial submitted jury question 'voluntariness.' death sentence now before us imposed.2 Appeals, holding there evidence support finding free coercive influences previously given affirmed, Judge Fuld late Chief Loughran dissenting. 304 468, 108 673. We denied certiorari. 345 918, 73 730, 97 1351. filed this habeas corpus proceeding United States District Court, charging against depriving due process law. properly gave consideration petition, Brown Allen, 344 443, 397, 437, 469, it. 113 F.Supp. 556. Second Circuit Frank 208 Federal 605. sought review again urging he police captain two assistant prosecutors forced. granted certiorari because constitutional appeared substantial. 926, 533. 2 use criminal defendant's obtained coercion—whether physical or mental—is forbidden Amendment.3 our decision is therefore whether present so coerced. can only be answered reviewing circumstances surrounding confessions. examine as shown undisputed facts case. 3 When father failed appear at place business Tuesday, January 10, 1950, partner, others went father's apartment about p.m. bodies aged parents. Police called. Although first suspected prowling intruder, presence couple's disarranged breakfast table third teacup led think killer welcome guest. drew suspicion toward questioned until 11 evening discovered. On Wednesday, 10 morning midnight. Once more, beginning 9 Thursday subjected almost constant questioning throughout much night 8:30 Friday morning. At taken partents' funeral. While funeral returned afternoon, Captain Meenahan, chief questioner, home get some 'rest.' After himself permitted go hotel sleep an hour half. station 5 afternoon. During absence concealed microphone installed wire connections another room which prosecutor, police, possibly stationed overhear what might say. Up confessed crime. 4 suffering acutely painful attack sinus Meenahan promised physician help him. after funeral, introduced 'Dr. Helfand,' supposedly give medical relief. Dr. Helfand, however, general practitioner psychiatrist considerable knowledge hypnosis. left Helfand while joined Attorney nearby listening room. Instead giving advice treatment expected, subtle suggestive questions simply continued effort past nights induce admit For half more techniques highly trained break petitioner's will order say Time told how wanted could him, bad would if did confess, better feel, lighter easier just unbosom doctor. Yet doctor very paid representative whose prosecuting officials every threat promise given. A tape recording psychiatric examination transcription read into record To show exactly transpired we attach rather lengthy excerpts appendix. answers indicate mind dazed bewildered. complains tired sleepy cannot think. occasion either open eyes shut eyes. Apparently many barely audible. occasions informed lips moving no sound heard. Many times asked speak louder. As on, indicates began accept suggestions psychiatrist. instance, suggested hit parents hammer minutes agreed must have weapon. 6 Finally, longer, encouraged doctor's assurances done moral wrong let off easily, called Meenahan. immediately appeared. It admitted trial. Immediately following partner adjoining apparently brought talk opportune moment. repeated brief way things captain. Following this, prosecutors. What purports formal down stenographer, notation p.m., hours took charge. 7 appeal held admissions clearly product 'mental coercion' inconsistent second appeal, subsequent here challenged admitted. thing. With agree. Unlike Lyons State Oklahoma, 322 596, 602, 603, 64 1208, 1212, 88 1481, case are irreconcilable mental freedom 'to confess deny participation crime', relation prosecutors, 'so close sya control character * *.' All parts continuous process. extracted within period five climax intermittent, intensive questioning. First, already physically emotionally exhausted suspect's ability resist interrogation broken trance-like submission arts skilled Then making filled perfected additional statements rapid succession officer, trusted friend, hold such manner lone defendant unprotected counsel consistent law required Constitution. 8 error below affirm Court's denial application corpus. Reversed. JACKSON part Appendix Opinion Excerpts transcript Max 88th precinct 13, 1950. 12 'Q. do call you short? Atlantic Buddy.' 13 How old about? Fifty.' 14 Are married? Yes, sir.' 15 Buddy, tell me something yourself. I'll purpose my is. & N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions want see you. Doctor.' 16 know little trouble. sometimes right, fit temper anger aren't really responsible for. you've anger. Do understand me? Yes.' 17 Will kind boy you? lot friends? have.' 18 can't hear have; am tired. sleep. Just work up. That's since Tuesday. Well, questions, thousands.' 19 Aren't rested You feel pretty good look good. Well barber clean everything else. thing didn't bed now. know—(interruption) 20 mind. It's tension.' 21 tension. If up, you're going relieved. Speak up me. friends.' 22 arguments them? No, rule. surprised. always considered myself even tempered fellow—sociable. sinus. bothering terrible. got last year so. worse worse.' 23 That nervous, it? particularly notice years, average has over hundred each week years. No vacation anything like that. anybody noticed about—let's see—its weeks ago father.' 24 see. My stop during day.' 25 matter your father? Dad heart couple years ago, myself.' 26 Your nervous man too, wasn't he? myself. ever high strung. thought opposite. calm.' 27 strung? 28 Fly handle quickly? Yes. So examined blood pressure. said me, 'When doctor?' was—today Friday—one back. Tuesday week. ten days.' 29 30 Did any treatments? Yeah, sinus.' 31 come back? sent X-rays taken. put lights here.' 32 appointment visit? Oh, yes. set made. new. back, scar tissue there, right out. Saturday. Saturday night, worked. busiest wouldn't Saturday, doesn't patients Sunday, Monday. Monday, unfortunately, all alone, I'd make night. said, 'You able those pains.' six o'clock.' 33 those—' 34 Not also.' 35 Why? bring him.' 36 Why couldn't pains. 'Lie beating there.' 37 pain bad, nervous?' 'A. guess did. anyone ill. pressure, 'You're irritable.' And 'I so.' to—you too much.' slow down.' 38 recollect everything. am—' 39 'Q.—(continued)—going remember back thoughts—thoughts forgotten. them. entirely benefit because, see, boy. irritable temper. Tell wish could, 40 hand forehead, thoughts coming keep forehead ask happened Monday night? Where sleep? Updated: night?' 41 right. worked night.' 42 worked, where 10th Street.' 43 to, morning? She 6:30.' 44 she house, dressed? Answer Come answer bed. left, dressed, dressed.' 45 on. Brooklyn.' 46 Brooklyn. Brooklyn? mother's house.' 47 house. came mother—now, clear Now, mother. Who opened door? mother.' 48 say? 'Hello, Teddy.? 49 away. Doctor, drink water, mouth dry.' 50 water? water. (Pause).' 51 O.K. now? dry. I'm thirsty. thirsty.' 52 Concentrate Now home. mother met door. Teddy,' right? right.' 53 take coat, it's wet.' 54 do? coat off.' 55 apartment, raincoat? 'Come tea.' 56 what? cup tea. warm up." 57 breakfast.' sitting? end table.' 58 sit down? Between them.' 59 whom? Mom Pop.' 60 Pop? 61 Next kitchen sink.' 62 sitting between Pop, 63 then? sat when down. Don't afraid We're You're lots Gee, hope 65 argument started again.' 66 67 argue you, too? No.' 68 business—his business.' 69 Whose business? Our 70 you—speak both care bad. getting prosperous.' 71 that? 72 Was violent argument? lose temper? heated.' heated, afraid, we'll argued more.' more. 'Pop, why don't stay home? Be satisfied. way." 75 says, 'I'm work. own 'I'd stinking dollar than somebody else.' argument.' 76 'Why son says." 77 Go ahead, trying think, 78 I've 79 next? argument. head. weren't anymore.' 80 Then? letting Twenty-five per cent own.' 81 ahead. better. cent. happened? it.' 82 traitors louse; dollars 83 robbing week.' 84 interfered 'Bill nice fellow hard working fellow.' boss.' mother, up.' 'Go pushed her chair.' 85 chair? 86 lost 87 over. silly argue. good.' 'Finish damn out paper." 'We'll bank,' 'I'll Broadway pick box tops you'll place;' 'If agrees you." 89 out.' 90 on? 91 out? 92 'Don't excited." 93 excited? 94 then. now, Doc.' 95 can. out, talked think.' 96 Sure Look Open happened. afraid. conscience clear. God everybody truth. Everybody nobody likes liar, God. paper; hit—with hammer? with? loved 99 people see? world.' 100 mad.' 101 mad. he's treat way. killed brother.' 102 killed—A. brother lived work—' 103 kill He's stopped. 104 stopped, said. So? 105 Doc, 106 yes, started—' 107 (continued) fellow. coward. excited. never coward.' 109 father. remember.' can't.' 110 111 Buddy. We'll possible. can.' 112 honest thinks man. please.' 114 115 truth, fine. hurts 116 Only cowards know—you don't.' 117 They're said—you know, 118 first. 119 do. See, truly. injection 120 relax concentrate listen confused.' 121 confused fighting. conscience. soon tension pale; conflict. 122 side. Put here. away, take? hand? 123 afraid.' 124 Doc. me.' 125 finish tea? finished 126 yoru mother? Concentrate—just concentrate. 127 head Try clear.' 128 Everybody—I mean, play ball. hide something. anything.' 129 far—you it—you there. start fight 130 continue agreement 131 But father, said? 132 'Mom, stop, 133 her, 134 'Calm Here, water.' 'Just wait comes once all.' 135 Southern KF135 S69 'Here, 136 So, You've story speak. hard.' 137 trying. 138 waited 139 140 know.' relax. along better.' 141 won't don't. may well ball 'Wait 'Here 142 can't. 143 144 it, help. help, wash hands hard. excited; try 145 146 run 147 148 facing sink? 149 positively anything. sink her? standing waiting picked hammer.' 150 Yeah.' 151 152 Yes Say 'He killd brother, he'll me." 153 dish closet.' 154 closet? 155 In room? kitchen.' 156 big 157 carpenter's 158 can't, 159 hard, pale nervous. in. near sink—letting water run; son. all. that, move lips. you.' cent, sink. standing.' 160 doing? sitting.' 161 table; Joe loudly, 162 hand. did.' 163 results?' 164 who else 165 thoughts; details. talk? days; asking questions. me; 166 167 168 Nobody hurt they? 169 forced anything? 170 forehead; how. 171 172 head? remember. From 173 Alright Mother? Father paper, Mother, babied (Noise) 174 Mother die 175 176 mind, 177 Think baby 178 forehead. Everything details whole chair, stove. 179 stove, excuse mistake. hammer, swung 180 have. 181 fell swing Doctor. 182 twice three times? know. 183 angry 184 Were Father? 185 felt should 186 then, heard floor live Street floor; 187 door paper? 188 Think, why, 189 helping There wanting. 190 are, remember, 191 192 can; 193 remember? Because here, children safe. happened; 194 happen children? know; worries 195 196 Take eyes—look stove very, accused 197 Accuses business. new equal share us. knew brother. men; measly He'd sooner save money 198 Father; life? Doc 199 memory moving. Alright, up; things. 200 clear? Hold temples 201 temples. that's tension; nervousness. everything, to? 202 to; much. 203 wonderful. 204 205 next. standing? 206 cemetery today. force 207 awful. They rest. shower slept. tired; tired, 209 Mother. life time. paper. sufficient 210 far concerned clear, settle 211 all? stood Hammer 212 again? 213 Close clearer clearer; they're 214 concentrate, long few minutes. 215 minutes, in? 216 meantime? 217 think? Come, smart frank does alter 218 yourself, twelve hours. 219 220 fact across man—A. 221 man, morally Morally, condemned. Right? Right. 222 details, above board level. Otherwise, nothing worst 223 224 mean? 225 Here proof 226 doing woman love most world. Look. happen? crazy? 227 crazy, friend. crazy. anything, forget owe dollars, mean incidents thing, 228 'Can crazy?' 229 amnesia words, pleasant. misunderstood 230 231 not. 232 233 Of course willing today recall mother—I piece together owned suit. pair shoes. 234 point 235 minute, exhausted, please patient. 236 appreciate 237 238 hours? 239 wait? day. 240 241 chance ball, (Then noice) 242 anger, angry, white hot metal. mad life. noise) 243 better? coffee? drank coffee long. 244 These throw book unless temper, Otherwise toss premeditation premeditation. See? 245 Drink coffee. Want coffee, doc. Captain. 246 247 him? would. 248 awful hunk 249 nicely. straighten troubles. seemed mixed-up. His clearer. seat, 250 Can Captain? 251 MINTON, whom REED BURTON join, 252 murdering claims defense contended, conviction accordance 253 trials. appealed reversed. petition raised. proceedings instituted relief denied. judgment affirmed 254 result hence involuntary. threats, cajoling, leniency, utilized Attorney, soundly condemned court. thus inadmissible proving district attorneys, associate, Herrschaft, remanded directions submit under proper instructions resulted influenced produced confession. 255 time, voluntariness ample raises objection verdict guilty degree murder imposed. 256 involuntary Amendment allowed consider seems essence tainted prior familiar invalid ipso facto invalidates seem allow say, court, voluntary. precisely 1213, said: 257 'The protect guilt inducements possible circumstances. admissibility depends upon test—is voluntary.' 258 effects practiced influence unreasonable conclusion contrary inferences continuing effect practices, disturbed. function aside convictions weight evidence. Stein York, 346 156, 180, 1077, 1090. 259 shows Helfand.1 Some saying, 'Well, about; Herrschaft asked, 'Do father?' replied, voluntarily made, complaint its Sandwiched attorneys one-half later, presents enough itself valid, breast 260 Nor boldly State's witness, purpose, among others, laying foundation introduction expert testimony carried Petitioner's testified expected. placed stand opposite opinion, based crime known freely without urging. disagreement experts constitute conflict alone jury, evidence, confession, considered, quite normal relaxed, relieved before, weigh Whether question. presented 261 concluded words: 262 'We inference Lyons' (later) McAlester illogical fair trial.' supra, page 605, 1214. 263 completely pass affected amounts unfair violate fundamental principles justice. 264 contended different footing; presumed withdrawn. See Willis, Conn. 293, 313, 820. forms inducement, presumption arises continues operate accused. showing variety overcome presumption. length elapsing apparent authority person promise, offered explicitness persuasiveness inducement factors weighed. 265 parties case, rests heavy burden Cardozo Snyder Com. Massachusetts, 291 97, 122, 330, 338, 674: 266 'But justice, though accused, accuser also. concept fairness strained till narrowed filment. balance true.' 267 mystified efforts enforce homicide disputed jury. holds denies question, substantial emerges crystal federal dealing collateral proceeding. yet majority judges federal, failure observe standards. Cardozo's words 238, especially pertinent here: 268 'There danger contempt—that discredit touch great immunities assured Amendment—if gossamer possibilities prejudice nullify pronounced competent jurisdiction obedience local law, free.' 269 careful, considerate, accorded keeping essentials justice process, affirm. state's clause. imposed carry sentence. e.g., Mississippi, 297 278, 461, 682; Chambers Florida, 309 227, 472, 716; Lisenba California, 314 219, 280, 166; Ashcraft Tennessee, 143, 921, 1192; Malinski 324 401, 781, 1029; Haley Ohio, 332 302, 224; Watts Indiana, 338 49, 1347, 1801; Stroble 343 181, 599, 872; 1077. cases illustrate settled view coerced members reach belief makes applicable states Fifth Amendment's ban compulsory self-incrimination. discloses murder, 10:30 10:45 parents' Wednesday morning, detectives 1:20 11:30 custody. check alibi. Questioning kept o'clock evening. station, afternoon interview began. forcefully caused declare validity involved.

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