Legal Document

356 U.S. 571 78 Supreme Court Reporter 839 2 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 983 Vincent CIUCCI, Sr., Petitioner,v.STATE OF ILLINOIS. Number 157. Argued March 13, 1958. Decided May 19, Mr. George N. Leighton, Chicago, Ill., for the petitioner. William C. Wines, respondent. PER CURIAM. 1 Petitioner was charged in four separate indictments with murdering his wife and three children, all of whom, bullet wounds their heads, were found dead a burning building during early hours December 5, 1953. In successive trials, petitioner guilty first degree murder two children. At each trials prosecution introduced into evidence details deaths. Under Illinois law jury is responsibility fixing penalty from 14 years' imprisonment to death. Ill.Rev.Stat. 1957, chapter 38, § 360. involving death one fixed at 20 45 respectively. third trial, second child, On appeal affirmed conviction, 8 Ill.2d 619, 137 North Eastern Reporter, 2nd 40, we granted certiorari consider petitioner's claim that this trial violated Due Process Clause Fourteenth Amendment Constitution States. 353 982, 77 1286, 1141. It conceded under murders, although apparently taking place same time, constituted crime it undisputed entire occurrence relevant prosecutions. brief has appended number articles which had appeared Chicago newspapers after attributing certain statements expressing extreme dissatisfaction prison sentences by announcing determined purpose prosecute until sentence obtained. Neither these nor subject matter included record certified Illinois. 3 The five members who join opinion are agreement upon as stands no violation due process been shown. State constitutionally entitled individual offenses singly utilize therein evidence, absence proof establishing such course action entailed fundamental unfairness. Hoag versus New Jersey, 464, 829; see Palko Connecticut, 302 319, 328, 58 149, 153, 82 L.Ed. 288. Justice FRANKFURTER HARLAN, believing matters set forth aforementioned newspaper might, if established, require ruling unfairness existed here, concur affirmance judgment because material, not being part record, having considered state courts, may be here. 4 Accordingly, affirmed, leave institute further proceedings available him substantiating he deprived process. 5 so ordered. 6 Affirmed. 7 DOUGLAS, whom THE CHIEF JUSTICE BRENNAN concur, dissenting. This case presents an instance allowed harass accused repeated convictions on achieves its desired result capital verdict. 9 Petitioner's children building. later established both fire received head. tried indictment charging murdered wife. limited wife's deaths also introduced, testimony cause victims received. effect gruesome evidence. guilty. determines between minimum maximum Ill.Rev.Stat., imprisonment. 10 prosecutor demanded another trial. Accordingly next charge daughters. 11 Evidence concerning once more used. Once crimes presented jury. form murder, substance four. time different again sentenced 12 still satisfied result. And had, involved 13 son. objected before subjected double jeopardy. He moved exclude other verdict protested denied fair guaranteed Amendment. court overruled those objections. complete causes introduced. murders jury—the gathering family home, a.m., .22 caliber bullets bodies victims, borrowing rifle, arrival firemen, autopsies morgue. my view prevents effort obtain penalty. No constitutional problem would have arisen prosecuted many there victims. But using multiple continued relentless prosecutions got wanted. consecutive times, massing horrible unseemly oppressive use criminal violates concept contained Amendment, whatever ultimate scope taken be. 15 BLACK concurs dissent ground bars placing defendant twice jeopardy offense.

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