Legal Document

365 U.S. 551 81 Supreme Court Reporter 728 5 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 773 Mike MILANOVICH et al., Petitioners,v.UNITED STATES of America. Number 79. Argued Feb. 20, 1961. Decided March Messrs. Judge Hubbard Davis, Norfolk, Va., and Raymond W. Bergan, Washington, D.C., for petitioners. Mr. Federal KF105 F3 Bishop, respondent. Justice STEWART delivered the opinion Court. 1 The petitioners ars husband wife. They were both convicted in a District stealing several thousand dollars currency from commissary store at Naval Base. wife was also on separate count receiving concealing stolen currency.1 Both sentenced to prison larceny conviction, term five years, ten-year term. In addition, received five-year concurrent sentence count. 2 Throughout trial counsel consistently maintained position that thief could not be himself.2 Although directing an acquittal husband's case, judge overruled similar motion behalf Counsel then clearly indicated his intention request jury instructed it find guilty receiving.3 responded by pointing out Fourth Circuit had decided, Aaronson versus States, 175 Reporter, 2nd 41, is possible as long person did actually participate actual taking goods, same may found accessory before fact or aider abetter charge theft. Faced with this controlling authority, engage futile exercise submitting more formal such instructions. 3 When case reached Appeals, court put aside its decision light Court's Heflin 358 415, 79 451, 407, which been announced meantime. we held defendant cumulatively under 18 Code KF62 § 2113, Annotated KF65 U5 robbing bank proceeds robbery. Relying decision, set imposed upon receiving. 275 716. It court's view 'in absence contrary indication Congress, charged offenses statutes character punished goods.' page 719. involved different section criminal code, 'no differences between two their legislative histories justifying divergent interpretations respect issue us.' 4 think Appeals correct. As recognized, question one statutory construction, common law distinctions. Compare Metcalf State, 98 Fla. 457, 124 Southern KF135 S69 427; Smith 59 Ohio St. 350, 52 Northeastern N59 826; Jenkins 62 Wis. 49, 21 Northwestern N69 232; Regina Hilton, Bell C.C. 169 Eng.Rep. 1150, Allen 76 Tex.Cr.R. 416, Southwestern S79 700; Perkins, Den.C.C. 458, 582; Coggins, 12 Cox 517. With statute us Heflin, decided 'Congress trying reach new group wrongdoers, multiply offense * robbers themselves,' 420, 454. We nothing language history present leads conclusion here. provision makes came into later than relating robbery.4 now contended setting enough—that conviction must reversed, remanded trial. argument although evidence sufficient support either reciving,5 should have verdict returned but both. urged since impossible say what would so instructed, thus know imposed, order. This Chief Sobeloff, dissenting Appeals. 721. 6 point well taken. nt concerned correctness instructions, arose collateral proceeding correct illegal where petitioner asking only cumulative punishment aside. contrast, direct review brings here entire record hold, based has said scope applicable statute, erred charging convict receiving, 7 Though shorter left standing larceny, double identical offense. Yet there no way knowing whether properly (or, conceivably, neither). Thus cannot mere sufficed cure any prejudice resulting judge's failure instruct properly. be, assumed, jury, if given choice, rendered count, maximum alone. But reviewing make those assumptions usurp functions sentencing judge. 8 merit petitioenrs' conduct cautionary instructions witnesses Government. Accordingly, judgment Milanovich affirmed. For Mreasons stated, Virginia aside, her proceedings consistent opinion. 9 ordered. 10 Judgment affirmed; remanded. 11 FRANKFURTER, whom CLARK, HARLAN WHITTAKER join, dissenting. prosecution brought 641, 641,1 indictment containing counts. One Milanovich, herein, theft government property; another property intent convert own use. counts allowed go explicitly each 13 against defendant. She husband, owners automobile, transported three others arrangement whereby break naval building funds. Defendant remain outside return accomplices after accomplishment fact, reason another, drove off without awaiting friends. Not finding automobile they it, thieves buried booty. No share money ever touched hand sense until seventeen days when, she removed some booty base, soon discovered FBI agents during legal search premises. Since herself active participant breaking thieving, amenable 641 because she, accessory, legally deemed principal 2, 2.2 On basis submitted enabled substantive property, charge. Because extensive he ten years thieving sentences run concurrently. 14 drawing our necessary read holding crime solely directed who stealing; latter therefore invalidated. Court, likewise relying today holds power start all over again, predict done proper 15 these conclusions rest, & N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions believe, wholly unwarranted reliance Heflin. disregard thereby misconceive holding. Today's reflects common-law doctrine merger consequences requirements procedure—specifically, laid duty kind multiple 16 hornbook committing offenses—that is, goods stolen. E.g., Cartwright Cir., 146 133; State Tindall, 213 S.C. 484, 50 South Eastern 188; see Wharton, Criminal Law Procedure, 576; Montana Webber, 112 Mont. 284, 116 Pacific 679, 136 American 1087. And commonsensical, obvious, man takes does time give himself short, contemporaneous indeed coincidental—phenomenon, constitute transaction life and, therefore, transactions law. take abettor single committed 517; Rex Owen, Moody 96, 168 1200. told being transaction, constitute, course, crime. See Commonwealth Haskins, 128 Mass. 60. (This, bar Congress outlawing punishing severable ingredients compound transaction. Gore 357 386, 78 1280, 1405.) 17 presents totally situation—not coincidental even loosest conception contemporaneity. Here severed transactions. defendant—and case—presented behaviors decisively separated will. intervening defendant's accessorial recipient amplest opportunities events control frustrate hope sharing booty, ample change purpose avail locus poenitentiae. Two larcenies, time, merged; difference situations here? surely fair understanding men disjointed discontinuous Mrs. (1) bringing scene projected departing further ado perpetrated, (2) possession part booty—cannot regarded single, merged intelligible use English. required fictive notions most sentimental attitude toward criminals. venture believe situation comparable can reports England, country, federal courts, suggested disjointed, manifestations matter fused An canvass certainly revealed existence reads vain suggestion precedent available. 19 confidence warrant pronounced There remotest petition here, briefs argument, oral formulated submit right fact. (358 454) robbery money. pyramid penalties lesser following robbery,' ruled cumulation punishments, impropriety jury. word, hint, subtle innuendo suggesting dealt procedure—that submission appropriateness bring verdicts verdicts. 20 recent series cases having do Prince 352 322, 325, 77 403, 405, 370, called 'fragmentation crimes purposes punishment.' Beginning 349 81, 75 620, 99 L.Ed. 905, propriety within frameworks.3 'It fairly presupposition resolve doubts enforcement penal code imposition harsher (when) fix ambiguity *.' supra, pages 83—84, 622. will word how charged, return. like rest cases, through job. Indeed, leaving returned. To draw appreciably receives transactions, leave guilt both, when adverted whole philosophy precedents. base affords sustenance it. 22 agree concurrently.4 23 joins, 24 My help fashion rules assure every impartial obligation require my ferreting technical grounds reversing particular possibly affected jury's factual determination. If Government perseveres, order contemplates safecrackers beyond evidentiary doubt aiding abetting looting safe about $14,000, thereafter proceeds. tried $10 scrupulous adherence procedure. Hoffman gave clear think, made objection ground bases reversal. Nor offer proposed instruction covering issue. Furthermore, trial, forth record, error. Nonetheless, reverses, saying 'counsel position' throughout 'that himself.' try nor theory. shows, Brother FRANKFURTER points out, took physical safe, first weeks later, herself, theory, objection, 25 deference quoted merely excerpt statement petitioner's counsel, 552, 729, note chambers Attorney elect abetting, Admittedly, However, presentation stated: 'we ask jury' (Emphasis supplied.) But, denied, offered omitting instruction. Now chosen abandon claim error denial elect, rely instead charge, ground. 26 Moreover, prejudiced sentence. loot. stands, action Each carried penalty, required, seems rather unreal consider anything remotely highly improbable, judge, nonetheless heard counts, likely impose already given. 27 mention dilemma ruling produces. says Here, offenses, yet false verdict, i.e., true law, them. Except imperfect analogy factually inconsistent lesser-included main (as degree murder), gives applied successively, rule unheard jurisprudence. invited inconsistent, sequences chooses, except election characterize supporting imprisonment. result disposition, better prosecutor originally wished. 28 however, guilty, one. knowledge taken safe. means requisite demonstrated convincing proof partners whose testimony peradventure proved offenses. How, ask, harmed choosing two? 29 me free, always been, guilt. found, determinations are enforceable, adequately resolved requiring forego unenforceable 30 reasons, dissent. 641. provides: 'Whoever embezzles, steals, purloins, knowingly converts sells, conveys disposes voucher, money, thing value department agency thereof, contract thereof; receives, conceals, retains gain, embezzled, stolen, purloined converted— 'Shall fined $10,000 imprisoned both; exceed sum $100, shall $1,000 year, both.' '(W)e feel, sir—for considering stealing—that charges believed people participants, participating.' 'Your Honor, inasmuch come back, back other, paragraph making steal genesis Act 1863, chapter 67, Statutes-at-Large 696, 698. receivers originated 3, 1875, 144, 479. acknowledged aided abetted principals 2. conceded wife's (a substantial amount silver suitcase home robbery). '(a) Whoever commits aids, abets, counsels, commands, induces procures commission, punishable principal. '(b) willfully causes act directly performed him principal.' Bell, pleaded Mann Act, 2421, transporting women, respectively, immoral trip. intend 'simultaneous transportation woman violation liable transported.' U.S., 82—83, Prince, charging, entering rob cumulated resentencing, reference Callanan 364 587, 321, 312, conspiracy extortion. historic distinctiveness object, allowable consecutive statute. merit.

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