Legal Document

332 U.S. 539 68 Supreme Court Reporter 248 92 L.Ed. 154 BLUMENTHALv.UNITED STATES. GOLDSMITH versus SAME. WEISS FEIGENBAUM Nos. 54 to 57. Argued Oct. 23, 1947. Decided Dec. 22, Rehearing Denied Jan. 19, 1948. [Syllabus from pages 539-541 intentionally omitted] Mr. Arthur baron Dunne, of San Francisco, Cal., for petitioners Blumenthal, Goldsmith, and Feigenbaum. Samuel S. Weiss, pro se. Beatrice Rosenberg, Washington, D.C., respondent. Justice RUTLEDGE delivered the opinion Court. 1 The four Abel, another defendant, were convicted conspiring sell whiskey at prices above ceiling set by regulations Office Price Administration, in violation Emergency Control Act. 50 U.S.C.A.Appendix, §§ 902(a), 904(a) 925(b), 904(a), 925(b). charge was made pursuant general conspiracy statute, § 37 Criminal Code, 18 United States Code Annotated KF65 U5 88. convictions affirmed Circuit Appeals, one judge dissenting. 158 Federal Reporter, 2nd Series 883, dissenting 762. Abel has not sought review this Certiorari granted, 331 799, 67 1306, as other defendants because we thought important questions presented concerning applicability our recent decision Kotteakos States, 328 750, 66 1239, 90 1557. 2 We did limit grant certiorari that question, however, on record it is inseparably connected with issues, which relate admissibility sufficiency evidence. Accordingly have considered all petitioners' contentions. competent proof clearly sufficient show each petitioner had aided whiskey's illegal sale conspired others do so. only phase case meriting further attention whether, a difference state affecting two groups defendants, proof, variance indictment, shows there more than conspiracy. I. 3 indictment charges single count. Ten overt acts are specified. Government alleged establish unidentified persons together dispose carloads, consisting about 2,000 cases, Old Boston Rocking Chair Whiskey over wholesale prices. 4 This shipped rail distiller or his agent Francisco Distributing Company, December, 1943. Goldsmith individual sole owner business held liquor dealer's basic permit required federal law. former partner, sales manager business. Feigenbaum operated Sunset Drugstore Francisco. Blumenthal owned Sportorium, sporting goods pawn shop same city. either worked jewelry store Vallejo, California. evidence does any these last three way except part arranging deliveries portions shipments purchasers. These tavern owners near-by towns such Santa Rosa, Livermore, Cottonwood El Cerrito. Proof activities Feigenbaum, largely testimony various tavernkeepers whom they respectively dealt. 5 showed arrival legal title taken Francisco's name, shipping documents out; honored sight drafts both shipments, upon Goldsmith's directions bank pay them out account; some ex car directly who previously arranged purchases lots varying 25 200 cases; remainder placed storage Warehouse arrangements thereafter warehouse purchasers holding invoices issued Francisco1 orders given Weiss. also similar orders. 6 If appeared cost $21.97 case,2 price $25.27, received, check purchasing tavernkeepers, $24.50 sold. There thus left margin $2.53 case, come charges, if any, legitimate net profit. 7 Thus far no act, transaction, intent agreement appears. But proved connection purchaser paid selling intermediary, addition per remitted an additional sum cash amounting roughly $30 $40 case. actual retailer $55 $65 8 In instances identity person transaction seller receiving payment established known witness testifying its details. others, identified salesman intermediary. It brought what salesmen dealt securing Francisco.3 sales, Figone, tavernkeeper Cerrito, testified he offices, but could identify 9 instances, whether involving out-of-town dealers through intermediaries, followed pattern described above. That is, once understanding been reached, order 'Francisco Co.,' direction delivered; time later intermediary between amount agreed overceiling purchase price; then received name number cases bought showing case; delivery company, freight buyers. Weiss gave company instructions local deliveries. collected checks endorsing sending collection. Slight variations detail appear insignificant purposes. 10 foregoing substantially used, conspiracy, connect it. already related affects court alone Harkins, special investigator Alcohol Tax Unit Treasury Department. He conversations during admissions both. Those give rise crucial problems 11 At initial conference 'early January,' 1944, attended latter 'did most talking.' Questioned purchased carloads how handled, said 'that firm $2.00 clearing their books.' concurred stated divided $2.00, taking dollar. 'They stated, agreed, whiskey. sold generally advance date take up draft bills lading. tell us actually whiskey.' 12 Later conferences separately simply confirmed substance first effect owner, acting handling name.4 established. added admission wrote invoices. 13 Shortly after trial began announced would save be fairer initially against particular defendant expressly related, reserving Government, right move whenever Government's facts introduced charged. 14 course followed. close granted motion admit declined allow Harkins' admitted Abel. however allowed stand insofar conversation presence both, extent interviews took place presence. 15 overruled numerous objections rulings defendant. None offered own behalf. 16 Following admissibility, concluded go jury issues charged defendant's Accordingly, defendants' motions directed verdicts submitted jury. accordance previous defendants. II. 17 supra, conceded that, under single, all-inclusive distinct separate ones fact man, Brown, participant key figure all. urged ruling Berger 295 78, 55 629, 79 1314, harmless error, contention rejected. Here situation reverse. conceded, effect, prejudice resulted proved.5 insists establishes more, issue determined relation conspiracies shown well relative out, requires somewhat different treatment hand, other. reason court's exclusion consideration 19 maintain (or therefore Weiss), accepts view unidentified, real (and Weiss) merely channel distributing giving unlawful process facade. Indeed 'innocent appearing actions' use brief asserts, 'were crux * since color legitimacy essential plan over-ceiling prices.'6 20 including devised contemplated entire chain events original ultimate black market includes obvious inference clearance books. Since active parts personally carrying those arrangements, hardly can question knew making him and, virtue facilitating intention resell doing so every material respect intended 21 entirely circumstantial. nonetheless substantial. 77¢ whiskey.7 They sent room even slender represented owner's figure. using services facilities concealing paper records; being widely scattered tavernkeepers; remittance uniformly check, usually purchaser, exact 22 unknown away scarcely conceivable. likely inferences drawn two, namely, tenable, especially prevailing widespread shortage demand, accompanying activity, meticulous dealer ignorant. justified, almost inescapable, purpose lawful price, With knowledge aid toward executing design co-conspirators him, them, accomplishing III. 23 remains consider without admissions, scheme two. 24 disclosed existence; aci ng themselves; transactions, equally, $2 cover existence, scheme. Whether stripped sustain charge, preliminary arises disposition admissions. supplied strong confirmatory supplementing show, connections scheme, existence character. shown, doubtful, improperly reversal them.8 26 rulings, admissibility9 instructions,10 leave doubt adequately excluded, done joint trial, guilt. told plainly disregard entirely, determining question.11 total exclusion, partial argument seems imply.12 might emphatic. cannot say unambiguous inadequate. Nor assume misunderstood disobeyed 27 think nevertheless remaining five joined guise sales. forth evidence, part, justifies conclusion Weiss13 defendants.14 28 main comes climination view, consequent appearance owner. changes facade, remove facade itself essence still illegally sales,15 defendant.16 gist lay whiskey, fashion, regardless 29 posited, true know plan. And hypertechnical aspect whole regarded among X, X party. sense disclosing agreements, figures common 30 may chronologically, elaborate born full grown. Rather mature successive stages necessary bring parties. joining earlier make participation coming in. 31 law demand much. For often true, broad schemes calling many persons, discovery enough participating, remain undiscovered undiscoverable. Secrecy concealment features successful completely achieved, crime. Hence rightly gives allowing conviction discovered sufficiently nature it, requiring details others.17 Otherwise difficulties, discovery, certainty correlating pleading become insuperable, conspirators free very ingenuity. 32 Here, apart weight feature same. agreements alike disposition. comprehended ones. Who irrelevant illegality. matter indifferent salesmen, token splitting mattered nothing larger sums. 33 circumstances step formation perversion justice regard salesmen's ignorance furnishing adequate ground convictions. anything require this. scheme; must sharing large project; relieve know, when people exactly playing object By were, became parties plan, scope, though limits, goal. 34 exist Apart much involved, tied combination, achieving end result. On contrary distinct, end. Each loan itself, although having objects. Except figure, conspirator interested went through. none way, otherwise, procuring another's loan. disconnected, Brown absence specific drawing over-all, comprehensive 35 true. All overriding another, unlawfully, differed belief identity. plan's end, disposing True, part. lot aiding party integrating Goldsmith. 36 practical unique reveal several integral steps, accordingly judgments should affirmed. grave danger arose As said, reasonably trial. rested rather risk jury, direction, transfer, consciously unconsciously, excluded againt across barrier 38 real. arise occur increases. Perhaps best safeguards provided clear limitations bearing individuals, instructions, insufficient ward off entirely. extremely impregnable possible. involved risks mass trials. And, caution, transference gul t border reduced minimum. So great concern above, '* guilt innocence separately. kind your tried alone.' 39 contentions find merit.18 40 judgment 41 Affirmed. 42 DOUGLAS concurs Of 4,000 less half, 1,500-plus cases. Consisting $19.24 distiller, 81¢ freight, $1.92 taxes. witnesses identifying there. Similar Sportorium. search buy means inquiry frequentig bars where stopped, agent. prospective interview September,' asked 'who it.' reply 'he in, knowledge, 'No." again half. A questioning September 13. Harkins handwriting, stating few written bookkeeper. regarding May 14, 1944. 'it half commission Company books, finally refused answer 'I don't want involve myself." knowing 'refused state, my (the witness') recollection, positively, not.' states: 'The contend conspiracies, thought, prejudicial.' declares 'the apparently fashion medium Francisco.' 'was prices; fashion' core arrangement wholesaler.' 53¢ see note 2, plus fee portion margin. billed liquor, fully justified 53 dissipated overhead costs attributable sum, retained Even importance them. Before benefit except: 'That witness, Goldsmith; Weiss; present, exceptions noted behalf separately.' added, inquiry, counsel mean 'does affect three.' places references abstractly applicable first, accomplice co-conspirator oral said: 'In independent termination conspiracy.' point told: you stricken Court, objection sustained *. Testimony apply specified other.' (Emphasis added.) near referring 'Where criminal act declaration member concerted furtherance object, conspirators, accomplishment design, abandoning same, del arations statements. connection, will recall & N Immigration Nationality Decisions advised statements named defendants.' words connection,' italicized paragraph 10, refer preceding sentences, context paragraphs quoted. conjunction jury's presence, considering differing Government's, 12, reinforced instruction, immediately following quoted execution here fell category, forward object. conspiracy's Cf. Fiswick united 329 211, 224. Although sure goes far, urge, text, admissible three, character read ruling. longer picture, irresistible paid, stored Weiss' directions. distributors hard put supply long-established customers, regularly engaged dealings Moreover, below OPA ceiling, despite retail themselves fortunate secure price. Also interest Figone's purchases, office, Figone identify. See text supra 3. prepared inferring guiding hands willig receive little better person, turn resold salesmen. 77 remain, now intervening books records conceal transactions allowable facts. Acting simultaneously early December before carload arrived obtain tavernkeepers. compelling indications kept informed status Thus, 8th 9th arrive 'about week ten days,' railroad, 'a 17. Similarly, 3d 4th Fingerhut month. delivery. Then, late telephone call, asking needed result, January 4, second 3d. progress journey westward, singularly respective customer invoice below-ceiling enabled comply record-keeping requirements imposed California 15. identical check. checks, significance, Reinburg occasions, Abel's drove dropped Blumenthal's business, picked hour later. aware enterprise, dependent carefully evolved legitimacy, liquor. Where knew, least reasonable paralleling efforts, his. basis warranted deciding dovetailed too neatly result mere chance. unwilling document lawfully authorized source reqi red ceiling; supplying whiskey; 14; cash, completed. imputing becomes included, adequate. However viewed, profit left, deducting 77¢. why face compensation paid? false amount? someone else Marino Cir., 91 691; Lefco 74 66; Jezewski 599; Allen 688. include prosecuted wrong statute. Section 4(a) Act makes unlawful, misdemeanor, 205(b), deliver commodity regulations, 'or offer, solicit, attempt, agree foregoing.' Petitioners prohibitory agree,' etc., repeal implication otherwise forbidden 4(a). 'implied repeal.' Conviction statute agreement, act. Taub Bowles, Em.App., 149 817; H.Rep. Number 827, 79th Cong., 1st Sess., 7, 8.

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