Court Opinion

ID: 8796142
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-26 14:11:57.932018+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:03:38.499171
License: Public Domain

EACOMBE, Circuit Judge.
A much simpler case is here presented' than that considered in action No. 1, opinion in which is filed herewith, 224 Ped. 64,-C. C. A.-. There is but one information in a single count. Concededly defendant shipped an article of food labeled “Grain Alcohol Varnish”; it was shellac dissolved in alcohol, and was used for a glazing on cheap candies. Shellac is a resinous material derived from a secretion caused by an insect biting the hark of certain trees in India and Southern Asia. This resinous material is separated from the twigs and other refuse material by being warmed in bags. Arsenic is added to it for the purpose of brightening its natural orange color, making it, in the opinion of the trade, more desirable. All shellac imported into this country during the year in question contains this added article; defendant so- concedes. The shellac is dissolved in alcohol to produce the varnish; no arsenic is added here.
*70[1, 2] The act provides (section 7) that an article of food is adulterated if it. “contain any added poisonous or other added deleterious ingredient which may render such article injurious to health.” The amount of this arsenic which could possibly be consumed by a person eating the candy glazed with the varnish would be minute. The only question is: Was there sufficient arsenic in the varnish to make it an article which “may be injurious to health”?
Upon this point there was conflicting testimony. In accordance with the holding of the Supreme Court in U. S. v. Lexington Mill Co., 232 U. S. 399, 34 Sup. Ct. 337, 58 L. Ed. 658, the question whether the added ingredient would “reasonably have a tendency to injure health” was left to the jury. We sée no reason to disturb their finding; it makes no difference whether the arsenic was added to the shellac, or to the varnish, nor whether it- was added by the defendant, or by some one else. He testified with commendable frankness that he understood at the time that one “could not buy shellac commercially — I mean outside of a laboratory — that was arsenic free'.” He supposed undoubtedly that the amount consumed with varnished candy would be too minute to injure any'one. Of course, he could sell this varnish, with its added arsenic, for use in the arts; but he admitted, with entire frankness, that he sold it to be used in glazing confectionery. We regret to have to sustain a conviction where the defendant has been so entirely frank and honest in giving his testimony, and had no reason to suppose he was likely to injure any one’s health by selling his varnish for the indicated purpose; but intent so to do is not an element of the offense charged, and the evidence as to what effect the added arsenic may have-was such that this question had to go to the jury for decision. Had they decided that question contrary to the contention of the government experts, we certainly could not set their decision aside; nor can we do so when they find such contention persuasive. We are not the triers of the facts.
It seems unnecessary to discuss various technical points which have been argued. We cannot see that it makes any difference whether the package shipped was labeled “Grain Alcohol Varnish,” or “White 'Shellac Varnish, Grain Alcohol.” It is proved that shellac varnish was sent by defendant to the candy manufacturer in Providence, R. I., and that what the government experts tested was a sample from the can. We do not understand that defendant disputes the fact that he sent' the can.
Judgment affirmed.