Legal Document

352 U.S. 1 77 Supreme Court Reporter United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 Stephen MESAROSH, also known as Steve Nelson, et al., Petitioners,v.UNITED STATES of America. Number 20. Argued Oct. 10, 1956. Decided Nov. 5, Mr. Solicitor General Rankin in support the motion to remand. Frank Judge Donner opposition thereto. On Motion Remand. November PER CURIAM. The Government remand case District is denied. 2 judgment vacated and remanded with instructions grant defendants a new trial. 3 Dissenting opinion. 4 Chief Justice WARREN delivered opinion Court. 5 decision herein passes only on integrity criminal trial federal courts. It does not determine guilt or innocence petitioners, we do reach other issues propounded lengthy briefs which may be present record 5,147 pages. moved court for further proceedings because untruthful testimony given before tribunals by Joseph D. Mazzei, witness this case. counter-motion petitioners asked based entirely upon representations its written statements during argument motions.1 6 were charged one-count indictment Western Pennsylvania conspiracy violate Smith Act, 18 Code Annotated KF65 U5 § 2385.2 They convicted, Appeals Third Circuit, sitting en banc, affirmed divided court. 223 Federal Reporter, 2nd 449. This granted petition writ certiorari, 350 922, 76 218, was scheduled October 7 September 27, 1956, filed calling attention who one seven witnesses In his motion, he stated that Government, information possession, now has serious reason doubt truthfulness Mazzei's those proceedings. While adhering position 'the Mazzei at (in case) truthful credible,' 'these incidents, taken cumulatively, lead us suggest issue these should determined after hearing.' 8 material cited indicating untruthfulness occasions than can best presented setting forth verbatim description incidents Remand: 9 'On June 18, 1953, testified Senate Permanent Subcommittee Investigations, Washington, D.C., that, meeting Civil Rights Congress December 4, 1952, Louis Bortz told him he, Bortz, had been 'selected Communist Party job liquidation Senator McCarthy.' said conducted classes Pittsburgh familiarize members handling firearms instruct them construction bombs. 10 14, pleaded guilty charges adultery bastardy state fact brought out cross-examination petitioners' 2, 1953—after completion trial—Mazzei have plea set aside. One grounds 'was charge induced plead * but did so official capacity (as informant) insistence superior FBI avoid testifying.' At hearing above 6, Special Agent denied allegations under oath. dismissed 1953. 11 'In secret proceeding, identified certain long-time active member. 12 11, 1955, Internal Security regarding possible influences motivating attempts discredit Michael Musmanno Pennsylvania. course testimony, John Mullen, National Director, Political Action Committee, Steel Workers America, member period informant. since 1942 met Mullen ten fifteen times year, fellow 13 July disbarment against Leo Sheiner Circuit Eleventh Judicial Florida, Miami. cross-examination, reiterated 1952 an FBI. Items alleged activity are follows:—that visited Dade County, behalf each years from 1946 1952; Miami attempted lease bus line served Opa-locka Air Base; 1948 made plans armed invasion orders Soviet Union selected go it seaport; took courses sabotage, espionage, arms ammunition; taught officers how blow bridges, poison water reservoirs, eliminate people; discussed 'knocking off' Holt (a Florida judge) whom they (presumably Party) having trouble with, importing strong-arm man Party, job; assassinate Senators, Congressmen, even went Washington beat up Senator; knowledge, extensively engaged activities 1945, 1947, 1950, 1951, 1952. 14 None proceeding supported corroborated possession Government. 15 'Mazzei likewise arranged get into Army could watch member; never wore uniform discharged day discharged. actual fact, career result operation Selective Training Service Act 1940 nothing service forces. He sometimes paid about $1,000 month expenses. From according Bureau records, total $172.05 expense money. 16 arrested life. connection paternity Irene Corva. several subsequent failure make payments woman.' 17 General, response questions Court, commendable candor believed Committee concerning McCarthy' untrue. And addition General's personal opinion, text itself shows Department some post-trial contrary facts. statement conviction controverted oath agent again asserted thousand dollars expenses, whereas records showed there put spy member, service; inducted accordance Act. All discrepancies pointed quoted As bizarre ammunition, plots judge, Government's suggests none worthy belief stating therein: 'None Government.' 19 oral argument, however, although all untrue, prepared say perjury giving testimony; untrue might caused psychiatric condition, such condition arisen time light position, main stricken calendar full consideration credibility Mazzei. Commendable action promptly bringing matter our when came office,3 believe disposition suggested made. 20 Either accept unreliability witness. question whether constituted no difference here. Whichever explanation found correct regard, wholly discredited disclosures General. No conclusion possible. dignity will permit any person tainted testimony. tainted, just accord 21 must remembered dealing here initiated defense, Rule 33 Rules Criminal Procedure, U.S.C.A., presenting newly discovered evidence affecting Such allegation defense ordinarily trial, 'merely cumulative impeaching' not, often-repeated courts, adequate basis trial.4 22 See versus Johnson, 327 106, 110—111, note 66 464, 465—466, 90 L.Ed. 562. 23 Here different situation. informer Government—he employ 1953 purpose infiltrating reporting facts found. capacity, own same field gave testimony—some parts positively established conceded without two cannot stand, argued three substantial effect. But judge for, ever objection, admitted defendants. There witnesses. least, flesh-and-blood reality mass literature read jury show advocacy violence Party.5 being so, conclusively insignificant general Thus petitioners. last Term Subversive Activities Control Board: 24 'When uncontested challenge finding subversive design petitioner part product perjurious witnesses, remove taint reviewing find ample innocent Board's findings. If committed testifying cases subject substantially like their proceedings, inevitably determination duly take account.' 351 115, 124, 663, 668. 25 Board reconsideration original shorn Board, administrative agency, finder fact. Here, hand, case, jury. district proper agency sufficient sustain Only what would body evidence, longer act case.6 For reason, well preceding paragraph, if rule verdict obliged, appeal, reverse and, late date, direct granted.7 instituted four one-half ago; forma pauperis. interests justice prove futile. 26 see factual remand, unassailable falsehoods differentiated herein. within realm expect determine, indicated ask do, truthfully undercover conspiracy, yet concurrently appeared role another tribunal falsely—possibly plan Senator.8 That unreasonable though 1956 assassination officials, destruction training sabotage arms, poisoning destroy States, mental emotional developed 27 poisoned reservoir, reservoir cleansed first draining impurity. supervisory jurisdiction over courts.9 duty perform waters polluted. Pollution place here, remedied earliest opportunity. 28 'The untainted administration certainly most cherished aspects institutions. Its observance proudest boasts. functions relation McNabb 318 332, 63 608, 87 819. Therefore, fastidious regard honor requires doing manifest irrational perverse claims disregard asserted.' 29 government strong free nation need convictions afford abide them. call reversal judgments below direction 30 ordered. 31 Judgments reversed directions. 32 BRENNAN HARLAN, FRANKFURTER BURTON join, dissenting. 34 When Court's order denying granting announced THE CHIEF JUSTICE FRANKFURTER, & N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions dissented.1 We reserved right file reasons thinking granted. 35 670, 671, KF62 §§ 2385, 371, conspiring advocate overthrow force violence. vote.2 certiorari.3 36 BURTON, HARLAN dissent believing granted, reserve 37 weeks asking informant occasion office, days before, come led seriously correctness various independent occurred relations Communists Investigation.4 papers while still 'entirely 'lead Petitioners' answer considered themselves entitled acquittal disclosures, nevertheless await certiorari. 38 8, directed heard orally threshold My brother felt forthwith, dissenting memorandum.5 positions follows: either collateral proceedings.6 Conceivably, thought, turn previously relied much later reargument Appeals. Even broader pursue soon knowledge cloud cast credibility.7 satisfied perjurer, stated, recommended (Careathers Dolsen). Since satisfied, thought procedure exploration witness.8 regarded little importance court, review entire ordering unwilling hear merits, should, more, deny directions least recessed consider matter, following bench. 39 agreement properly refused pass merits until dissolved. 663. What object undertaken deal subtle complicated instead sending back investigation. fitting view. 40 1. represents unprecedented dangerous departure sound principles judicial administration. overturned results complex, protracted, expensive investigation suspicions rise notice. justification summary unconvincing. 41 basic 'either witness.' effect, treated untrustworthiness To reflects misunderstanding position. General—whose forthrightness doubt, whose conduct situation commended Court—represented untruthful. untruthful, represented responsibly involved rather psychopathic imbalance, latter, arose character affect competency short, think abundantly clear more called thorough 42 observe finds 'no possible' 'Mazzei's discredited,' 'positively untrue.' conclusions reached face representation believes production examination contradicted him, episodes question. Nor agree manner dealt contentions Mesarosh, Albertson Weissman. simply says Careathers Dolsen defendants, whole understand short painstaking appraisal acknowledges read. quite record, view business Court; token, think, justified also, instance, 43 supra, where undenied perjury, undertake resolve sent exploration. similar followed differs trier facts, jury, weigh This, overlooks preliminary drawn question, warrant submission always recognized function 562; Troche, Cir., 213 401; Rutkin, 208 647; Gordon 178 896, certiorari denied, 339 935, 70 664, 94 1353.9 44 Finally, required However, fail why prompted desire ascertain true ramifications, aimed possibility calls suspicions. 45 2. forum kind Courts Appeals, ill-equipped task. appellate courts facilities witnesses; nor nature things intimate 'feel' scene, essential matters complexity subtlety possessed alone. 46 3. Certainly room doubting good faith supposing fall highest standards justice. assurance bearing available appropriate safeguards.10 end result, acquit perjured himself then incompetent testify, trial.11 exhausts factors require Suffice approach difficult unexceptionable; hardly assumed error. add accompanied guide coping problem. surely long-drawn-out justify short-circuiting normal orderly procedures. adopted Flynn, 130 F.Supp. 412; 131 742, commends means problems raised motion. course, remotely imply give tolerance notion infected allowed stand. ascertainment truth lies probing beyond practices 47 foregoing dissent. motions merits. 808, 14. Frankfurter, After motions, 1, 862, 8. Argument therefore, heard. Burton, Harlan dissented denial amplify noted Minton participated voting favor 15, prior writing retired Therefore participate between 1945 date conspired organize society group, devoted purpose. ruled organization barred statute limitations, earlier events, admissible determining office history testimony' less filed. With exception, indicate units acquired conduct. See, e.g., 142 588, 592, dismissed, 323 806, 65 264, 89 643; 647, 654; Frankfeld, 111 919, 923, sub nom. Meyers 207 413. Lee, 201 722, 725—726 (dissenting opinion). Although examined made, deem referred pages transcript. both parties summarizing evidence. specifically Dolsen, school attended 1943 private conversations time. class, testified, Negro people play revolution. (Tr. 1940—1941.) present, way revolution violent government, helping. 1923.) related details Dolsen's teaching, passages class History Union. 1922—1923, 1936—1938.) Massei instruction unsatisfied understanding lesson class. separate sessions country violence, help 1940, 1943.) auto trip, about, hesitate kill, done China, worked Party. 1945.) Cf. 344 414, 422—423, 73 369, 374—375, 97 447. 412, 742. affidavit recanted recantation, contradicted, lie. Hence outset, unlike conflict forward credibility. application tests passing added distinction witness's 591—592, Hiss, 107 128, 136, affirmed, 372. express Dimock Flynn Remmer 347 227, 74 450, 98 348 904, 75 288, 99 710; 377, 425. Because distinct ordinary 9, ourselves bound ruling limitations expressed reference supra. started February 24, March 26, 30. Committee. mistrial prejudice publicity McCarthy. Mistrial August sentenced 25, 340—341, 612—613, 819; Thiel Southern Pacific Co., 328 217, 225, 984, 988, 1181. 218. (while progress). (an functionary) fabrication, questioned privilege, answers 'would' incriminate him. appears unsuccessful mistrial. recent discovery proceedings—particularly 1956—that department began doubts stated: 'Before (Mazzei) (trial) carefully appraised had, contradicted. stand all, bothered events conclude man's reexamined lower validity since, which, ordinarily, depending circumstances were.' 'We (1953 Senate) (the McCarthy incident) credible happened proceedings). know point something disturbed that.' 'personal truthful' episode, 'I don't want left commit you intent, disturbs me can't (referring testimony), valid. knowingly intent (to perjury) else follow through.' psychopath: ended, aside former plea, alleging These allegations, informs us, F.B.I. Further, drafted Army, it. states money $172.05; arrested, times. argument: 'It seems very peculiar action, anticipated, wanted lie it, unusual normally, wanting falsity, thing. But, many times, every day, able competent time.' 'disturbed condition) (of petitioners), examine carefully.' (The above, quotations, tape recording writer's interpolations brackets.) 'If word move trial), feel obligation reaches far rights particular country, kind, try done. criticized too late, Having (that open doubt), whichever proper, correction wrong, one.' 'Well, (reversal) trial—which proceedings—(was untruthful), (petitioners Dolsen) (other) conviction. (Mazzei), uncontradicted valid seemed long tried on, thing send is, assume court) duty, will, handled point.' Whatever differences rules governing recantation types 'newly discovered' ante, 12, 7, resolution furnished relating incident, depend done, possibly problem hurt public airing matter. bad, unfortunate, wasn't injure isn't necessary whatever thinks mind lay sort protect persons, described files, defendants) benefit complete protection portions handle camera people. others, situation, opportunity defense.' 'Yes, (Mazzei's) Dolsen), convicted. favor, least. practically slight. (It) (Mazzei's testimony) effect seem extent large volume bore directly participation overt acts; limited reference—he solicited slight decide mind, am sure (direct trial).' absence exhaustive voluminous unable evaluation considerations Albertson, 'assume' 'satisfied' 'if conclusions.'

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