Legal Document

365 U.S. 610 81 Supreme Court Reporter 776 5 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 828 Elmer Samuel CHAPMAN, Petitioner,v.UNITED STATES of America. Number 175. Argued Feb. 23, 1961. Decided April 3, Mr. Judge Sewell Elliott, Macon, Ga., for petitioner. Robert S. Erdahl, Washington, D.C., respondent. Justice WHITTAKER delivered the opinion Court. 1 Acting without a warrant but with consent petitioner's landlord, Georgia law enforcement officers entered through an unlocked window—and searched rented house, in his absence, and there found seized unregistered 'distillery' 1,300 gallons 'mash.' Soon afterward petitioner was indicted District Middle violations federal liquor laws.1 He promptly moved court order suppressing use items as evidence at impending criminal trial on ground that they were obtained by unlawful search seizure. After hearing evidence, held seizure lawful under standards denied motion. 2 At subsequent trial, sought to be suppressed offered received, over renewed objections. Upon jury guilty, sentenced him imprisonment year day. On appeal, Appeals Fifth Circuit affirmed. 272 Federal Reporter, 2nd 70. To examine claim courts below violated governing admissibility timely challenged courts, we granted certiorari. 363 836, 80 1621, 4 1724. 3 The relevant is not controverted. It shows following: One Bridgaman, another, owned dwelling house wooded area near Georgia, airport, which commonly rental agency. Understanding had been new tenant, Sunday, February 16, 1958, went purpose inviting tenants attend church. arrival he noted strong 'odor mash' about house. There no response knock, and, although tried do so, unable see into then returned home telephone, advised local police department observations. two officers, Harbin Chance, arrived Bridgaman's home, three They noticed odor 'whiskey coming from their knock door failed produce response, walked around look it so because shades down. all windows locked, save one bathroom. testified Bridgaman told them 'to go window what('s) what there.' version said was: 'If it's & N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions think is, smells like, yes, you can have my permission in.' Thereupon opened bathroom assistance opening. entering saw complete sizable distillery mash located living room. Apart some accessories, containers firewood, nothing else called Chance large still asked get help.' immediately left—dropping home—to call officers. While en route drove up, front door, arrested Harbin. soon took custody also saved samples mash, various pictures scene destroyed its contents. Neither state nor any kind. Although decisions rendered prior this Court's decision Elkins versus States, 364 206, 1437, 1669, doctrine case here involved, lower explicitly rested determinations seizure, though made valid standards. Hence, only question whether those correct. We believe not. Fourth Amendment Constitution provides: 6 'The right people secure persons, houses, papers, effects, against unreasonable searches seizures, shall violated, Warrants issue, upon probable cause, supported Oath or affirmation, particularly describing place searched, persons things seized.' 7 Until Agnello 269 20, 46 4, 70 L.Ed. 145, never directly decided, always assumed, 'that one's cannot lawfully warrant, except incident arrest therein' (id., page 32, 6), decided 'Belief, however well founded, article concealed furnishes justification warrant. And such are * notwithstanding facts unquestionably showing cause.' Id., 33, 6. 8 least closely relevant. Taylor 286 1, 52 466, 76 951, Johnson 333 10, 68 367, 92 436. In case, agents received 'complaints' respecting activities certain garage Baltimore 'investigate.' As 'approached got whiskey within.' Looking small opening, number cardboard cases. kind, 'broke fastening entered, 122 cases whiskey. No within reason otherwise. progressed, came put arrest. undertaken hope securing indict convict him.' 5, 467. 9 condemning 'had abundant opportunity (to obtain warrant) proceed orderly way even after emphasized suspicious; probability material change situation during time necessary Moreover, short period watching would prevented possibility. Prohibition may rely distinctive physical fact indicative possible crime; presence alone does strip owner building constitutional guarantees search.' concluded 'in view, action inexcusable unreasonable. unlawfully should suppressed.' 6, 10 narcotic agents, while hallway hotel, recognized burning opium particular Without knowing who occupying room, knocked delay, opened. room occupant consider (herself) going room.' produced incriminating smoking apparatus warm recent use. refused suppress admitted defendant's objection she convicted. reversing, said: 11 point Amendment, often grasped zealous denies support usual inferences reasonable men draw evidence. Its protection consists requiring drawn neutral detached magistrate instead being judged officer engaged competitive enterprise ferreting out crime. 12 Any assumption sufficient magistrate's disinterested determination issue will justify making reduce nullity leave people's homes discretion thrust themselves grave concern, individual society chooses dwell security freedom surveillance. When privacy must reasonably yield rule, judicial officer, policeman Government agent. 13 'There exceptional circumstances which, balancing need effective privacy, contended dispensed with. But case.' pages 13—15, 368, 369. 14 Here, 'No obtaining inconvenience slight delay prepare papers present magistrate. These very convincing reasons these circumstances, certainly enough bypass requirement. suspect fleeing likely take flight. permanent premises, movable vehicle. contraband threatened removal destruction, perhaps fumes suppose disappear.' 15, 15 here, Johnson, excused duty presenting magistrate, difficult required.' See Lustig 338 74, 69 1372, 93 1819; Rabinowitz, 339 56, 430, 94 653; Jeffers, 342 48, 72 93, 96 59; Jones 357 493, 78 1253, 1514. 16 Actually, contend such, met Amendment. Instead, says: 'Our position when paying social call, good leased premises wasted used purposes, authority enter matter bring purpose.' says that, common law, landlord has absolute demised view waste,' able exercise whom delegated authority. cites other holding absence express covenant permitting, forcibly tenant waste.' And, far our research discloses, holds. 17 cited statement Tiffany, Landlord Tenant (1910 ed.), § 3.b.(2), Page 9, 'It (the landlord) 'view determine waste committed, provided involve breaking doors *.'2 (Emphasis added.) several answers contention. First, forced open gain entry premises. Second, 'their (not but) distilling equipment *.' supra, 500, 1257. Third, uphold entry, 'without (Fourth) (tenants') (landlords).' 14, 'it unnecessary ill-advised import surrounding free seizures subtle distinctions, developed refined evolving body private property more than almost branch shaped distinctions whose validity largely historical. (W)e ought bow fair administration law. comport justly proud procedural protections accorded charged crime.' 362 257, 266—267, 725, 733, 697. 18 pointing statute (Title 58 Ga.Code 106) provides manufacture distilled work forfeiture rights option another 109) structure constitutes nuisance, argues inasmuch illicit liquor, forfeited thus acquired abate could did delegate clear before forcible know exercised statutory forfeit tenancy cause. proceeding nuisance 109 'must public information filed solicitor-general circuit.' Kilgore Paschall, 202 Ga. 416, 417, 43 South Eastern 520, 521. 19 follows unlawful, since judgment reversed. 20 Reversed. 21 BLACK concurs result. 22 FRANKFURTER, concurring judgment. 23 Since play frequent role trials, most important prosecutors judges guided unconfusing nature subject permits. course true pertaining enunciated not—to mildly—run smooth. hardly calculated, regret say, contribute clarification. reasoning reaches result warranted Trupiano 1948, 334 699, 1229, 1663, it, underlying approach Trupiano. That shortlived deviation preceding specifically overruled 1950, 66, 435, 653. Rabinowitz expresses prevailing runs counter it. 436, seriously impaired dissenting opinion, 85, 444. 24 Surely say assumption, basis controlling decisions, 'unreasonable' turns presented situation, substantive determination. test, find conclude deem adequate authorization where solid believing lessee utilizing illegal distillery. seems me charge knowledge regarding power charging relating acquire reading refers, deals procedure solicitor general circuit abating injunction tells remedy self-help landlord. 25 joining judgment, views set forth dissents Davis 328 582, 594, 66 1256, 1262, 90 1453; Zap 624, 630, 1277, 1280, 1477; Harris 331 155, 67 1098, 1103, 91 1399; 68, 445. opinions elucidate, incorporates guiding history gives meaning phrase 'unreasonable seizures' contained beyond isolation taken context gloss entirety setting decidedly large. 26 CLARK, dissenting. 27 condemns search. Brother FRANKFURTER says, 'turns situation.'1 28 read record, Chapman. Sunday morning invite Chapman church services. However, gone, locked up 'awful scent' place, including empty cellar. reported suggestion, accompanied too smelled, 'a house.' 29 Under keeping disposition works lease contract rent *.'2; out, 'instructed' 'see unlocked. 'told' window' assisted 'boosting' Inside, operation vats. neither household furniture residential occupancy. 30 sets aside Chapman's conviction 'unreasonable.' For life why true. agree unanimous 'under State illegality shown.' (272 73.) 31 'reasonableness' hinges situation. 32 This refuses honor language 106, apparently 'cites case' may, bases reversal 369, involving unaccompanied ample one. doctrine, established repudiated years later Furthermore, none landlord-tenant circumstance here. 33 itself finds 'no holds landlords first, forced, second, purposes third, affirmance "leave (landlords)" (quoting supra). obvious answer is: 'Chapman more!' lessor's began elected directed trespasser, Bridgaman. latter merely repossessing property, nuisance. Therefore, Code, Court, bearing Attorney General 'may' reference qua landlords. Indeed, abated help destroying paraphernalia Ann. (Cum. Supp.1958) 207.3 Likewise, entirely inapposite. special authorization, different provision 110, close 'blind tigers,' i.e., places disrepute gambling, drinking, etc., carried on, brought Solicitor county wherein located. if hold actions Solicitor, ruling effect precisely factual come 106 207, supra. 34 getting afternoon testified, 'never Sunday.' 'I don't can.' buttressed further statements: 'Well, didn't feel one.' man us there, reliance direction This, therefore 35 Every moment every day, somewhere faced problem anxious obey rules circumscribe conduct field. lay down clarity understanding follow them. now field muddy, today makes quagmire. fashions novel supporting old theory long overruled. If longer so. disastrous inconsistent laid wellsprings democracy—law order—into slough frustration. crime detection game 'cops robbers.' hear much days increasing rate breakdown enforcement. Some blame others shoulder responsibility. Code KF62 §§ 5601, 5606, Annotated KF65 U5 5606. Only ancient English text. join last paragraph court. Ann., 106. Aside eviction, requirements forfeiture, operating virtue Section 207 pertinent part: '(W)henever (for is) discovered sheriff, same summarily useless formal court.'

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