Lucking v. United States

14 F.2d 881, 1926 U.S. App. LEXIS 2121
Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit·Decided September 27, 1926·No. Nos. 3719-3722, 3726, 3748·Published·Cited by 4 cases

Opinion

ALSCHULER, Circuit Judge

(after stating the facts as above). The indictment is sharply challenged by all plaintiffs in error on the ground that no conspiracy is charged in the district of Indiana, and no venue is laid in Indiana, but only in Missouri. That part of the indictment. which describes the conspiracy charges its formation and existence in Missouri, and while it is alleged that one of the objects of the conspiracy was to transport the whisky into or through Indiana, there is no direet allegation in that part of the indictment charging the existence of the conspiracy in that district. The government contends that the allegations of the overt acts which are charged to have been done in furtherance of and to effect the object of the conspiracy sufficiently charge the carrying of the conspiracy into Indiana and its existence there, and that such allegation of the venue in Indiana is sufficient under the authority of Hyde v. Shine, 199 U. S. 62, 25 S. Ct. 760, 50 L. Ed. 90; Hyde v. United States, 225 U. S. 347, 32 S. Ct. 793, 56 L. Ed. 1114, Ann. Cas. 1914A, 614; Brown v. Elliott, 225 U. S. 392, 32 S. Ct. 812, 56 L. Ed. 1136.

Counsel for plaintiffs in error contend, not that a conspiracy formed elsewhere is not indictable in a district wherein one or more of the conspirators does an. act in its execution, but that the indictment in question does not charge the conspiracy to have had existence in Indiana, in manner as they contend was charged in the eases cited. , It seems that the indictment in the Hyde Cases did directly charge the bringing of the conspiracy from California, where it was formed, to the District of Columbia, and its existence there, where certain papers to effect the conspiracy had been filed, and wherein the indictment was found. But in Brown v. Elliott, supra, the indictment is in its essential features too nearly like this one to admit of distinction. The conspiracy there was alleged to have been formed at a place unknown, which does not in principle distinguish it from the allegation of a place outside of the district where the indictment is found. It alleged that one of the objects of the conspiracy was to deposit letters in the Omaha post office in execution of an alleged scheme to defraud, just as here it is alleged that one of the purposes of the conspiracy was unlawfully to transport liquor into or through Indiana. There, as here, the scheme was, in differing language, alleged to be continuous, and the allegation of the overt act (the depositing mail in Omaha) was held to bring the conspiracy into that district, and indeed that the effective date from which the statute of limitations would run upon the indictment for the conspiracy there was, not that of its formation, but of the commission [883] of the overt act there, whereby the statutory crime of conspiracy became complete.

The usual form for indictments under section 5440, Rev. St., now Cr. Code, § 37 (Comp. St. § 10201), is in two divisions, the first charging and describing the so-called conspiracy, and the other'setting forth what are generally called “overt acts.” The statute does not prescribe any form, and indeed does not employ the term “overt acts.” The cases cited seeming authoritatively to have established there is jurisdiction in a district wherein a conspirator commits an overt act to effect a conspiracy elsewhere formed, it would seem to follow that allegation anywhere in the indictment of the commission of overt acts within the district where the indictment is found, would be sufficient. Indeed, in this situation the allegation of the overt acts serves two distinct functions: (a) Statement of sueh acts as required by the statute in order to charge the offense which the statute denounces; and (b) laying the venue in sueh district, and giving the court thereof jurisdiction, agreeably to the applicable decisions. But, when this is once stated in the indictment, it is there for all purposes, and need not be repeated. In Grayson v. United States, 272 F. 553 (6 C. C. A.) it would appear from the opinion that the indictment there considered was quite similar in form and principle, and upon review of the authorities was held good.

Concluding as we do that the indictment is sufficient, the contention of variance between the indictment and the proof, predicated largely on the assumption that the proof did not show the conspiracy in Indiana, or a conspiracy to transport whisky into Indiana, likewise fails.

Of the other errors assigned, we deem worthy of discussion only sueh as assert the absence of any evidence in the record to sustain the verdiet and judgments against the several plaintiffs in error.

Harry F. Stratton.

Remus testified that the Jack Daniel whisky which Stratton transported through Indiana Stratton purchased outright at' St. Louis — 350 gallons at $30 per gallon — giving his cheek for $10,500. It is insisted that his act of actually buying the liquor with intent to transport it, and transporting it accordingly, does not establish the crime charged, and that, though he may be guilty of the substantive offense of transporting the whisky, he is not shown to be guilty under section 5440, Rev. Stat. U. S. If this were all of Stratton’s participation, it might be questionable whether the evidence showed his participation in the conspiracy. It seems from the testimony of several witnesses that, apart from this alleged purchase by him, he was a sort of factotum for Remus; that on some occasions at St. Louis he assisted men who were to drive cars for transporting liquor in finding the loaded cars; and that at Cincinnati, where much of the whisky was taken, he was well informed of its location, and had participation in its removal for disposition by others. Remus’ wife, who from the evidence appears ■ to have had actual knowledge of and participation in the conspiracy, was with Mm on one of the automobile trips through Indiana. This in our judgment affords such evidence of guilt as to make the verdiet of the’- jury and judgment thereon binding upon us.

Improper remarks of the district attorney respecting Stratton are urged upon us, but we are not at liberty to consider them, inasmuch as sueh are not disclosed by the bill of exceptions herein, but only raised by assignments of error and briefs of counsel.

William Lucking and George R. Landon.

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Lucking v. United States, 14 F.2d 881, 1926 U.S. App. LEXIS 2121 (7th Cir. 1926).

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