Court Opinion

ID: 9445234
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-03 21:23:26.957982+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:30:10.680390
License: Public Domain

FINNEGAN, Circuit Judge
(concurring).
Count III of the indictment here on review is bottomed on section 41 of an Act of Congress, 39 Stat. 544, 49 U.S.C.A. § 121 (1952 ed.) relating to bills of lading, and providing in its phases relevant here:
“That any person who, knowingly or with intent to defraud * * * or with like intent * * * negotiates or transfers for value a bill which contains a false statement as to the receipt of the goods, or as to any other matter, or who, with intent to defraud, violates, or fails to comply with, or aids in any violation of, or failure to comply with any provision of this Act, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, shall be punished for each offense by imprisonment not exceeding five years, or by a fine not exceeding $5,000, or both.” (Italics added.)
Schultz, defendant, was convicted under that count which, in substance, charges that he “knowingly and with intent to defraud” negotiated and transferred to and upon the Harris Trust and Savings Bank, a bill of lading containing a false statement as to the receipt of goods. The short of it is, quoting directly from defendant’s brief: “That the defendant negotiated and transferred for value a bill of lading to Carrier Corporation which contained a false statement as to the receipt of the goods, defendant freely admitted at the trial; that he did so with any intent to defraud, he denied. His defense was that Carrier Corporation asked him to do exactly what he did * * *” (Def. brief, 50). In other words Schultz insists he did not have the state of mind required under the statute.
Here the actus reus proscribed by § 41 is the negotiating or transferring a bill of lading containing a false statement as to the receipt of the goods. This element was established by the prosecution. But for criminal guilt there must be a union of mens rea (here an intent to defraud) and the actus reus. The critical part of this case then, lies in the state of mind with which Schultz acted. Yet evidence, parol and documentary, proffered by the defense concerning dealings between Schultz and Carrier were rejected at the trial level; this was error. For this reason, among others, some of the jury instructions were confusing, especially when compounded with certain illustrations offered by the presiding judge.
Finding reversible errors committed below, I think we have no other course than to reverse the judgment appealed and remand the case for a new trial. Accordingly, I would refrain from commenting on, or delineating the facts.