Legal Document

372 U.S. 528 83 Supreme Court Reporter 917 9 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 922 Beatrice LYNUMN, Petitioner,v.STATE OF ILLINOIS. Number 9. Argued Feb. 19, 1963. Decided March 25, Mrs. Jewel Rogers Lafontant, Chicago, Ill., for petitioner. William C. Wines, respondent. Mr. Justice STEWART delivered the opinion of Court. 1 The petitioner was tried in Criminal Cook County, Illinois, on an indictment charging her with unlawful possession and sale marijuana. She convicted sentenced to penitentiary 'not less than ten nor more eleven years.' judgment conviction affirmed appeal by Illinois 21 Ill.2d 63, 171 North Eastern Reporter, 2nd 17. We granted certiorari 370 933, 82 1576, 8 805. For reasons stated this opinion, we hold that petitioner's trial did not meet demands due process law, accordingly set aside before us. 2 On January 17, 1959, three Chicago police officers arrested James Zeno narcotics. They took him a district station. There they told if he 'would somebody up them, would go light' him. He agreed 'cooperate' telephoned petitioner, telling coming over apartment. then went apartment house, upstairs third floor while waited below. Some time later, variously estimated as from five 20 minutes, emerged package containing substance later determined be return pretext had left his glasses there. When walked out into hallway response Zeno's call, one seized placed under arrest.1 entered apartment.2 at first denied she sold marijuana Zeno, insisting merely repaid loan. After further conversations officers, however, them Zeno. 3 testified oral confession trial, it is testimony which, now hold, fatally infected conviction. fact any long-standing loan.3 also testified, day arrest marijuana, describing circumstances which statement made follows: 4 'I (Officer Sims) & N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions hadn't Zeno; didn't know anything about narcotics no source supply. kept supply been dealing knew nothing it. Then started me could get 10 years children taken away, after got away strangers have cooperate see weren't; recommend leniency better do what wanted my kids again. two are four old. Their father dead; live me. love very much. never whole life before. how much power policeman recommendation State's Attorney or bound officer's recommendations. All talked cooperating. did. conversation believed cooperated answered questions way answer, prosecuted. said say to, lose kids. say. asked 'You must admit you gave package' so said, 'Yes, him.' 5 '* * only reason admitting hope saving myself going jail being children. promised intercede me, statements crime, were false. 6 My lied time. because send take children, again; whatever say.' 7 deny these To contrary, their largely corroborated testimony. Officer Sims testified: trapped cooperate; phone call subsequently purchased evidence her. wished cooperate, willing State case. At time, sell While talking bedroom, mother-in-law, keep 'Q. Did anybody your presence indicate suggest do? 11 'Witness: believe there some mention arrested. 12 'The Court: By whom? Who it? 13 Witness: Bryson think during course our discussion wouldn't taken. don't whether Kobar not. recall 14 who clothing belonged to. children's. many 2. where care them. mother's mother-in-law. herself ADC. station charged offense, ADC probably cut off custody That cooperated, light It same conversation. 15 once; but times, her.' 16 'Miss Lynumn thinking want jail. present heard something pertaining cooperate. exactly have, myself, Sims.' 17 thus abundantly clear state financial aid infant off, her, 'cooperate.' These threats encircled twice felon purportedly 'set up.' friend adviser whom might turn. previous experience criminal ample carry threats. 18 such deemed voluntary, coerced. teaching cases. question each case defendant's will overborne confessed. Chambers versus Florida, 309 227, 60 472, 84 L.Ed. 716; Watts Indiana, 338 49, 52, 53, 69 1347, 1348, 1349, 93 1801; Leyra Denno, 347 556, 558, 74 716, 717, 98 948. If so, cannot 'the product rational intellect free will.' Blackburn Alabama, 361 199, 208, 80 274, 280, 242. See Spano People New York, 360 315, 79 1202, 1265; Ashcraft Tennessee, 322 143, 64 921, 88 1192; particularly, harris South Carolina, 68, 70, 1354, 1355, 1815. 19 In counsel has conceded, least purposes argument, totality disclosed record combined produce impellingly coercive effect upon But argues should nonetheless affirm us either alternative grounds. contended properly assert preserve federal constitutional claim accord established rules procedure, therefore rests adequate independent foundation law. Secondly, urged 'does rest part confession.' find both contentions without validity. true does show explicitly asserted court. And procedural rule settled based alleged unconstitutionality statute, facts particular case, clearly appropriately raised court, considered Illinois. other words, right, court appellate review waived. Touhy, 397 Ill. 72 827. all courts, indeed color State, squarely faced necessity determining actually is, constituted ground support affirming necessary here short complete answer respondent's argument. Before acting petition certiorari, order directed problem. accorded 'opportunity secure certificate herein intended ground, decision rendered.' 368 908, 190, 128. unambiguous. June 8, 1962, issued following 'Response Request Certificate': 22 'In request plaintiff error hereby certify referred dated November 13, 1961, case.' 23 decline search behind 24 contention quite merit. jury. shows moved strike occasion judge reserved ruling motion 'until close renewed, states '(t)he denied.' Thus affirmatively admitted 25 appeal, independently assess guilt Ware, 59, 177 362, included its summary prosecution's certain admissions defendant 1959.' Ill.2d, 67, N.E.2d, 19. Later stated: 26 'A indicate, strong suggestions subsequent prior admissions. Even absence statements, proof Upon entire record, convinced fully supports *' 20. 27 ambiguity, express view even erroneously admitted, harmless guilt.4 impermissible doctrine. As Payne Arkansas, 'this uniformly held though may sufficient evidence, apart coerced confession, conviction, admission objection, vitiates violates Due Process Clause Fourteenth Amendment.' 356 560, 568, 78 844, 850, 975. 324, 1207, 50, n. 2, Haley Ohio, 332 596, 599, 68 302, 303, 92 224. 28 aside, remanded proceedings inconsistent opinion. 29 ordered. 30 Judgment directions. 'He called apartment; opened door came hall, standing common vestibule partly closed. down toward stepped hallway. grabbed hands, hands. point, up, just showed package.' physical turned hands loose when ahead still open. ajar followed in. together beside between officers. proceeded fashion enter apartment.' Her subject 'On 17th owed money, $23.00. loaned money months previously. evicted en route sister lend pay rent; haven't seen since. sorry around pretty bad shape. come give ask telephone having can ready like that. owe you. $28.00. $5.00 long. let's kitchen. Nothing transaction kitchen that.' difficult, perceive harmless. against given eager own self-interest 'setting up' someone. undisputed apartment, far obtained officers' sight period apartments building package.

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