Martin v. United States

17 F.2d 82, 1927 U.S. App. LEXIS 2913

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
• Decided: January 10, 1927
• Docket: No. 137
• Status: Published

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

Plaintiff in error, with six other named or described persons, was indicted in three counts for, first, conspiracy to violate! section 3 of title 2 of the National Prohibition Aet (Comp. St. § 10138%aa); second, bringing into the United States intoxicating liquors without a permit, in violation of section 593b of the Tariff Aet of 1922 (Comp. St. § 5841hl3); and, third, concealing said liquors after unlawful importation, in violation of the same statute.

For reasons now immaterial, only this plaintiff in error and one Coombs were tried together.

The counts above described all grew out of one series of connected transactions, and all were fully proven; the accused not taking the witness stand. Both men were convicted on all three counts, and Martin (who alone brought this writ) was separately sentenced on each eounl.

In instructing the jury the learned trial judge, evidently overlooking the fact that-seven men were indicted, although only two were on trial before him, charged over objection that none, both, or one of the defendants might be convicted on the second and third counts, but as to the first or conspiracy count both must, or neither could be, found guilty. That, under the circumstances, this was prejudicial error, needs no more than mention.

We have examined all’ the assignments, and find none other that requires comment.

Judgment on first count reversed; on second and third counts affirmed.