Dobbins's Distillery v. United States

96 U.S. 395, 24 L. Ed. 637, 1877 U.S. LEXIS 1678

• Court: Supreme Court of the United States
• Decided: January 18, 1878
• Docket: 145
• Status: Published

Opinion

Mr.. Justice Clifford

delivered the opinion of the court. '

Judicial proceedings in rem, to enforce a forfeiture, cannot in general be properly instituted until the property inculpated is previously seized by the executive authority, as it is the preliminary seizure of the property that brings the samé within the reach of such legal process. The Schooner Anne, 9 Cranch, 289.

Due executive seizure was made in this case of the distillery, and of the real and-personal , property used in connection with the same; and the information in due form was subsequently filed praying for process, and that thé property seized should be condemned by the definitive- sentence .of -the court. Pursuant to the prayer of the information, the record shows that process of monition was issued in due form, and that it was duly served by the marshal. Sixteen causes of forfeiture were alleged in the information, all'of which, except the first three, were abandoned at the -trial.

"'Sufficient appears to show that the claimant was the owner of the distillery and all the other property- seized, and that he, prior to the alleged causes of seizure and forfeiture, leased the property to the party in possession of the same .at the time the alleged ácts of forfeiture were perpetrated by the lessee and occupant. Three of the alleged causes of forfeiture only need be noticed, and they are in substance and-effect as follows: —

1. That the less'eé, occupant,' and operator of the distillery neglected and refused to keep the books required by law, and make-- the required entries in the same; that he made false entries in the books kept in the distillery* and that he omitted to enter in the same the facts required hy law, with intent to defraud the revenue, and to conceal from the revenue officers facts and particulars- required to be stated and entered in such books, with like intent to defraud the revenue; and that he refused to produce the books kept in the distillery when thereto requested by the revenue officers, contrary to the statute in such case made and provided. 15 Stat. 132.

2. .That the distillery, the distilled spirits, and distilling apparatus séized were owned by the lessee, occupant, and operator, and some other person -unknown, and were intended to be used by the owners in the business of a distiller., in a' manner to defraud the United States, contrary to the act of Congress. Id. 142.

3. That the property seized was -used by its owners to defraud the United States-of the tax to which the spirits distilled were by law subject, and that the United States had been thereby defrauded of a- part of' such tax, in violation of -law. Id. 59.

Service was madeand -the owner and lessor of the distillery and other property, seized appeared, and was permitted by leave of court to make defence. His defence consists of an averment .that he has no. knowledge or information upon the subject-of tbe information, and of a denial .of each -and every One of the charges made against the property seized. Issue being joined, the parties went to trial, and the verdict and decree of condemnation' were in favor of the plaintiffs. Exceptions were duly filed by the claimant; and he sued, out a writ of error, and ■removed the cause into this court.

Matters set forth in the bill of exceptions which are not assigned- for- error will not be re-examined.

Four errors are assigned, in substance and effect as -follows: 1. That the court erred-in admitting in.evidence the state- . ments of the lessee of the property, as contained in the first paragraph of the bill of exception's. 2. That the court erred in admitting the evidence set forth .in that part of the..bill of exceptions denominated paragraphs ■ 2 and 3. : 3. That the court erred in chargiftg the jury that it was unnecessary for them to find that the claimant was implicated in the frauds .of the lessee and operator of the distillery, or that he had ahv knowledge of his fraudulent acts or omissions. That if the ' jury find that the claimant leased the property to the occupant and operator for the purposes of a distillery, and that the lessee committed the alleged frauds, the government is entitled to á verdict, even though the jury should be--of opinion that the claimant was ignorant of the lessee’s fraudulent acts and omissions. 4. That the court erred in including the real- estate- in the decree of condemnation or forfeiture.

Distractions- not included in the assignment óf errors were given -by the court to the jury., which deserve to be briefly noticed--before proceeding to examine the .rulings and- instruction of the court, which, it is insisted, present a sufficient, causó to reverse the judgment. .

. -Requests for instructions having been presented by the.claimant, and the same having been refused, the court, of its own motiori, instructed the jury to the effect, that if the evidenee satisfied the jury that the lessee and occupant'of the distillery made sales of spirits produced by him which he omitted or neglected • to enter in hjs bo.oks, .with intent to defraud the government, or with intent to conceal from the officers .the fact of such sales, then he would be guilty, and it would -be- their duty to find for the plaintiffs under the first article • of. the information ; that the mere absence.' of that party from the State, or ‘ the country was not,of itself evidence upon which they Could base a ver- • diet,-but if they found that he absconded arid' fled’from justice when detected and charged with the frauds alleged against .him in the case, that that fact might be considered by the jury, with'other evidence, as tending to prove his fraudulent intents and guilt; that the information is a proceeding to. condemn-' . and forfeit to the United States certain property, both real and personal, for alleged offences against the revenue law; that the property in question consists of a distillery, with its fixtures and apparatus,-and the ground within the enclosure on which the distillery stands, together with the -various articles of peisonal property enumerated in the information, and that the present defendant is the claimant of the property contesting the' grounds--of forfeiture assigned'by the ' government; that the gist of the proceeding consists in the alleged, fraudulent.acts . and omissions of the lessee and 'occupant of. the' distillery, or' his agent and employes; and whether the 'charges against -him be positive acts done by him, or omissions, to do what the law requires of him, as a. distiller, fraud is a necessary element in the case,-without which there cari be no forfeiture.

Evidence of the statements and declarations’of the lessee and occupant of the distillery, voluntarily made -while under arrest and afterwards, were offered by the district attorney, as tending to show his fraudulent intent in the doing and omitting to do certain acta, assigned-in the information, as causes'of forfeiture;- and the ruling of the court in admitting the same, subject to objection-by the. claimant,’constitutes-the first assignment of. error.' .' ’ ,

Throughout the. trial the claimant appears to have assumed, ' as the theory of.rthe defence to the- information, that he was the accused party, and that’. h.e was’- on trial for a criminal offence . created and defined by'an act of Congress. Instead of that, the forfeiture claimed in the.information is aimed against the distillery, and the real • and personal property used in connection with the-same,-including ^he real estate used to facilitate the operation, of distilling, and which .is conducive to that end. as the means of ingress or egrbss,-and'aU-personal property of the. kind found-there, together with the 'distilled spirits'and stills wherever found. ' .

•Nor is it necessary that the owner of the property should have knowledge that <the .lessee and distiller was committing • fraud on. the public revenue,. in\ orden -that 'the ■ information of forfeiture should be maintained^ If- he knowingly suffers and permits his land to be used as a\site for a distillery, the\law places him on the same footing as • if he were' the distilleiNánd the owner of the lot where the distillery-is located; and;,'if fraud is . shown in such a ease, the land h. forfeited, just as the distiller’were the owner'. Burroughs, Taxation, 67.

Cases, arise, undoubtedly,-where the .judgment of forfeiture necessarily carries with it, and'as part of'the.'seritence, a: conviction and-judgment against the person for the prime committed; and in that state o*f the .pleadings ibis clear that the proceeding is one-of a criminal'character: .but where the information, as in this case, does not-involve the. personal - conviction of the wrong-doer for the offence charged, the remedy of ■ forfeiture-.claimed‘is plainly one .of a civil nature; as. the conviction of the. wrong-doer must be obtained, if at all, -in another and.wholly independent proceeding.- 1 Bish. Crim. Law (6th ed.), sect. 835, note 1; United States v. Three Tons of Coal, 6 Biss. 371.

Forfeitures, in many cases of felony, did not attach át. com-mon law where -the proceeding was in rem 'until -the- offender was convicted, as the crown, Judge Story says, had,-, no right to the goods and chattels of the felon, without producing the record of his conviction; but that, rule, as the same learned magistrate says, was never applied'-to seizures and forfeitures created by statute in rem, cognizable on the revenue side of the exchequer court, for. the reason that the thing in such .a case .is primarily considered as the' offender, or rather that the offence is attached primarily to the thing, whether the offence be malum prohibitum or malum *in se ; and he adds, .that the same principles apply to• proceedings in rem in the-admiralty. The Palmyra, 12 Wheat. 1.

Corresponding views, were' expressed by the same learned judge in a case decided at a much • later period, in which he remarked- that the act of Congress in question, made no exception whatsoever, whether the alleged aggression was with or without the co-operation of the owners. Nor, said the judge in that case, is there any thing new -in a provision of that sort. It is not ah uncommon course in the admiralty,, acting under the law of nations, to.treat the vessel in which.or by which, or by the master or crew thereof, a wrong or offence has been committed, as the offender, without any regard whatsoever to the personal misconduct or responsibility of' the owner thereof, the necessity of the cáse requiring it as the only adequate means 'of'suppressing the offence or wrong, or of insuring an-indemnity to the injured party.. United States v. Brig Malek Adhel, 2 How. 210.

Beyond- all doubt, the act' of Congress in question attaches the offence to the distillery, and the real and .personal property connected with the same,1 the wordg of the act defining the offence being, that if any such false entry shall be made in said-books, of any entry shall be omitted'therefrom, with intent to defraud or to conceal from the revenue officers any fact or particular required to be stated and entered in either of said, books, • or to mislead the revenue officers with reference thereto ; or if any distiller shall omit or refuse, to produce either of said books, or shall- cancel, obliterate, or destroy any part of either of said"books, or any entry therein, with intent to defraud,-or shall permit the same to be done, or such books of either of them be not-'produced when required by any revenue officer, — the distillery, distilling apparatus, and' the lot or tract, of land on which it stands, and all personal property used in the business, shall be forfeited to the United States. 15 Stat. 133.

Nothing can be plainer in legal decision than the proposition that the offence therein .defined is attached primarily to the distillery, -and the real and personal property used in connection with-the same, without any regard whatsoever to: the personal misconduct .or responsibility of the owner,'beyond what necessarily, arises from the'fact that he leased.the property'to the distiller, and suffered it to be occupied and used by the lessee as a distillery.

• Cases often arise where the property of the owner is forfeited on account of .the ,|raud,-neglect, or misconduct of those intrusted with fits possession, care, and custody, even when the owner- is otherwise without fault; and '¿Judge Story remarked, in the case last cited, that the doctriné is familiarly applied to cas.es ■ of smuggling and other misconduct under the revenue laws, as well as to other cases arising under the embargo and non-intercourse acts of Congress.

Controversies of the.kind.have arisen in our judicial history;- and it .has- always been held in such cases that the acts of the master and’ crew bind the interest of the owner of the ship, whether he be innocent or guilty, and that in. sending the ship, to sea under their charge he impliedly submits to whatever the law denounces as a forfeiture attached to the ship by- means of their unlawful or wanton -misconduct;

Analogous' views were expressed by Marshall, C. ¿T., at a much earlier' period.-. United States v. The Little Charles, 1 Brock. 347. Objection was there taken to .the admissibility of-the report and manifest made by the master of the schooner ■when she arrived at her port of destination, tlie schooner having been subsequently seized for an alleged violation of the embárgo laws. Two grounds were assigned in support of the objection: 1. That the paper- offered was not accompanied by the entry. .2. That the declaration of the master, if admitted in evidence, would affect the owner in a, criminal case. ‘Both were overruled. Reference will only be made to the reasons given for- the second ruling.

Neither confessions nor admissions, of the master, ft .was contended, were admissible to prove the guilt of the owner.; and the Chiéf Justice.added, that, if the case was such as was supposed in argument, the objection would be entitled to great weight. But he remarked, that the proceeding was one against 'the vessel, for an offence committed by the vessel, which is not less an offence, and does not -the less subject her to forfeiture because it was committed without the authority and against the will of the owner. It is held, ■ said the Chief Justice, that inanimate matter can commit no offence. But the ship, as a body, is animated and put. in action by the cfew, who are guided by the master. -The vessel' acts and speaks by the master;' she reports herself -by the master. It is, therefore, not unreasonable that the vessel should be affected by this report.

Apply that rule to the cáse before-.the court, and it follows that the distillery, and the real and personal property used in connection with the same, must be considered as affected by the unlawful doings and omissions of -the lessee and occupant of the property as a distillery, subject to the rules and regulations prescribed by Congress. United States v. Distillery, 2 Abb. (U. S.) 192.

Suppose ’that is so, still it is insisted by the claimant that the declaration of the lessee and occupant of the distillery made subsequent to his arrest were not competent evidence in the case; but the court is- entirely of a different opinion, as the., arrest of the lessee did not to any extent affect or change his relations to the property or to his lessor. If his lease'was a subsisting one at the time-of his arrest, his relations to. the property and the owner of. the same continued unaffected by that occurrence, nor is there any thing in the authority cited by the claimant which, when properly understood, asserts any different doctrine.

Statements made by the master'of a ship as to what .occurred during the voyage, tending to inculpate the owner in the guilty enterprise of the ship, are not admissible in evidence against the owner, where he is charged with a crime, if the statements were made subsequent to the time when he ceased to be master and the common enterprise had come to an end; but the rule has no application here, as the arrest of the lessee did not abrogate the lease, and, if the prosecution had failed, he might have continued to operate the distillery in spite of the accusation-contained in the information.

2. Certain private books, letters, and memoranda, found in an open box in a room occupied by the lessee and operator of the distillery as a private office, were also offered in evidence, to. the admissibility of which the claimant objected; but,-inasmuch as it appears that they were the books, letters, and papers of the person in whose office, they were found, and that they related in part to the business of the distillery, it requires no argument to show that the objection of the claimant was without merit.

Other letters and biffs of lading, found by the marshal in an open box in the room' occupied by the same party as a private office, were also introduced in evidence, subject to the claimant’s objection, which, it appears, were addressed to the opera-tor of the distillery, and that they tended to prove the shipment ■by. the distiller to the firm from which they came of large quantities of high-wines, and that the firm rendered accounts to the shipper of the sales as commission merchants..

- Found' as the papers were in the office of the distiller, it is ' too clear for argument that they were properly admitted, unless it be -assumed that it was the' claimant, and not the distillery and the property connected with the same, who was on trial.

3. Much discussion of the remaining error assigned will not be required, as it presents the same question in principle as that involved in the first assignment of error, which has already been sufficiently considered.

None of the material facts are] in dispute, nor were they to any-considerable extent at the trial. Beyond controversy, the title.of the premises and property wás in the claimant; and it is equally certain that he leased the same to the lessee for the purposes of a distillery, and with the knowledge that the lessee intended to use the premises to carry on that business, and that he did use the same for that purpose.

Fraud is not imputed to the owner of the premises; but the evidence and the vérdict of the jury warrant the conclusion that the frauds charged in the information were satisfactorily proved, from which it follows that the decree of condemnation is correct, if it be true, as "heretofore explained, that it was. the property and not the claimant that w'as put to trial under the pleadings; and we' are also of the opinion that the theory adopted by the court below, that, if the lessee of the premises and the operator of the distillery committed the alleged frauds, the government was entitled to a verdict, even though the jury were of the opinion. that the claimant was' ignorant of the fraudulent acts or omissions of the distiller.

Viewed in that light, the legal conclusion must be that" the unlawful acts' of the distiller bind the owner of the property, in respect to the management of thq same, as much as if they were committed.by the owner himself. Power to that effect the law vests in him by virtue of his lease; and, if he abuses his trust, it is a matter to be settled between him and his' lessor; but the acts, of violation as to the penal consequences to the property are to be considered just the same as if they were the .acts of the owner. • The Vrouw Judith, 1 C. Rob. 150; United States v. The Distillery at Spring Valley, 11 Blatchf. 255; Same v. The Reindeer, 2 Cliff. 57; Same v. Nineteen Hundred and Sixty Bags of Coffee, 8 Cranch, 398; Mitchell v. Torup, Parker, 227.

Examined in the light of these suggestions, as the case should-be, it is clear that there is no error in the record.

' Judgment affirmed.