People v. Tribote

54 Misc. 2d 58, 281 N.Y.S.2d 267, 1967 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1467
New York County Courts·Decided June 8, 1967·Published

Opinion

P. Raymond Sirignano, J.

This is a hearing, pursuant to the authority of People v. Huntley (15 N Y 2d 72), which was directed by the court upon the defendant’s coram nobis application. The defendant was tried in this court on an indictment charging him and others with the crimes of robbery first degree, while armed. Upon his conviction, after a jury trial, he was sentenced - and is presently serving that sentence. Upon the hearing, the following testimony was adduced:

New York State Trooper, Thomas Buon, now Senior Investigator, testified that he, along with Sergeant Arthur Wright, took the defendant into custody at about 1:30 p.m. on June 16, 1954, in the Borough of Brooklyn. He stated that he worked out of the 270 Broadway, New York City office of the New York [59] State Police and that he brought the defendant to such office to await the arrival of officers of Troop K of Hawthorne, New York. He stated that at the time of the defendant’s arrest he did not have an arrest warrant with him. He knew, however, that one was in existence. He stated that he advised the defendant of the charges against him but did not question him concerning the same. He stated that the defendant was arrested at gunpoint and that his car was also brought to said 270 Broadway office. He stated that he did not physically abuse the defendant; did not threaten him, nor did he make any promises to him. He also stated that to his knowledge the defendant did not ask for an attorney, nor did he specifically ask to contact a certain Patrick Dempsey, Esq., a New York City attorney. He did not recall whether the defendant asked to call his mother. He stated that they arrived at the 270 Broadway office with the defendant at about 2:35 p.m. and that he did not give the defendant any food.

•Sergeant Wright, now a Major, testified substantially the same, and further testified that the defendant did not ask to use the telephone; that the defendant was not questioned, nor does he recall the defendant saying that he had a lawyer who had an office around the corner from 270 Broadway. He did not recall feeding the defendant; nor did he recall taking him to the bathroom.

Lieutenant Samuel J. Crodelle testified that in 1954 he was a Sergeant attached to Troop K and that he, along with Sergeant Lake, went to 270 Broadway, New York City, and took the defendant into custody. He testified that they arrived in New York City that day, June 16, 1954, at about 4:00 p.m. and that they left New York City with the defendant and went to Troop K at Hawthorne, arriving about 7:00 p.m. He stated that the defendant was not questioned on the way and upon their arrival there the defendant was booked for Harrison Police Department. He testified that he did not physically abuse the defendant; did not threaten him, nor did he make any promises to him. He stated that the defendant was not denied the right to use the bathroom. He further stated that he did not advise the defendant of his right to remain silent, to his right to an attorney, or of his right to call his family. He stated that he turned the defendant over to Sergeant Johnston and Detective De Macy of the Harrison Police Department, who then took him to Harrison Police Headquarters. He stated that he followed them there and then returned to Hawthorne.

Sergeant De Macy testified that on June 16, 1954, he was a detective and that on that day he wént to Troop K with Ser[60] geant Johnston to pick up the defendant and take him to Harrison Police Headquarters. He testified that a trooper’s car followed them to Harrison and then left. The defendant was booked and interrogated. Sergeant Johnston took a written statement from the defendant, after which he was placed in a cell. He testified that he did not threaten or physically abuse the defendant, nor did he make any promises to him. He stated that he photographed the defendant and that the photo he identified showed the defendant’s physical condition at the time of its taking. He stated that he did not advise the defendant of his right to counsel, nor was he requested by the defendant to phone anyone. He testified that the defendant was not denied the use of the bathroom; that the defendant never asked for food, nor did he ask to use the phone to call anyone.

Lieutenant Johnston testified that on June 16, 1954, he was a Sergeant on the Harrison Police Department and that he, along with Detective De Macy went to Hawthorne Barracks to pick up the defendant. They brought him to Harrison Police Headquarters where he was taken to an interrogation room. He stated that he obtained a statement from the defendant which he wrote in his own handwriting and which, after reading such statement and having it read to him, the defendant then .signed. He stated that he did not physically abuse the defendant, nor did he deny him the right to use the bathroom or refuse him food. He stated that when he and De Macy arrived at Hawthorne Barracks the defendant was being questioned by Assistant District Attorney Frederick Weeks, Jr. He stated that he questioned the defendant in the car on the way to Harrison and that he did not warn him of his right to an attorney, his right to remain silent, or his right to make use of a telephone. He further stated that the defendant never requested food, nor did he request to use the' phone to call anyone. He stated that he used no force or duress to obtain the statement and that the defendant was co-operative at all times and that neither he nor Detective De Macy ever struck the defendant.

The People also called other witnesses to authenticate the original transcript and its filing in the office of the County Clerk of Westchester County.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

People v. Tribote, 54 Misc. 2d 58, 281 N.Y.S.2d 267, 1967 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1467 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1967).

54 Misc. 2d 58 (People v. Tribote) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related

Miranda v. Arizona
384 U.S. 436 (Supreme Court, 1966)