Court Opinion

ID: 9457153
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 20:14:03.061635+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:35:14.328202
License: Public Domain

OAKES, Circuit Judge
(concurring in part and dissenting in part):
I concur as to the defendant Trum-pler, since proof of his guilt was so conclusive. I dissent as to the defendant Cunningham, and would reverse and remand as to him.
The interrogation of Agent Swayze was clearly improper both in substance, Taylor v. Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co., 344 F.2d 281, 283-284 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 382 U.S. 831, 86 S.Ct. 72, 15 L.Ed.2d 75 (1965), and in form.* See generally Bridges v. Wixon, 326 U.S. 135, 150-154, 65 S.Ct. 1443, 89 L.Ed. 2103 (1945). Here we have an inconsistent unsworn oral statement, as in United States v. Fiore, 443 F.2d 112 (2d Cir. 1971), not prior sworn testimony as in United States v. Mingoia, 424 F.2d 710, 713 (2d Cir. 1970) or United States v. Insana, 423 F.2d 1165, 1170 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 400 U.S. 841, 91 S.Ct. 83, 27 L.Ed.2d 16 (1970).
Proposed Rule 801(d) (1), 51 F.R.D. at 413, permitting this kind of interrogation, will hopefully be reconsidered, since here is a case where the rule’s abuse is evident. The curative instructions, however well-intentioned, cannot have erased from the jury’s minds this terribly damaging evidence of plans to divide the proceeds which tied defendant Cunningham to the obviously guilty defendant Trumpler. It was hearsay of the worst variety, incapable of being countered by direct evidence. In such a case curative instructions are futile. See United States v. DeSisto, 329 F.2d 929, 933 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 377 U.S. 979, 84 S.Ct. 1885, 12 L.Ed.2d 747 (1964).
Accordingly, in my view there was prejudicial error as to appellant Cunningham.

 By its leading nature, indicating perhaps an overzealous prosecutor’s attempt to do the damage whether the question was answered or not.