Somberg v. United States

71 F.2d 637, 1934 U.S. App. LEXIS 3162
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
DecidedJune 19, 1934
Docket5075
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 71 F.2d 637 (Somberg v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Somberg v. United States, 71 F.2d 637, 1934 U.S. App. LEXIS 3162 (7th Cir. 1934).

Opinion

SPARKS, Circuit Judge

(áfter stating the facts as above).

The first count of the indictment charges conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States under section 37 of the Criminal Code, 18 USCA § 88. The second count charges concealment of property of Motor Parts Corporation, bankrupt, from its trustees, under 11 USCA'§ 52 (b) (1); the third count charges the falsifying of records of the corporation, under 11 USCA § 52 (b) (7); and the fourth count charges appellant and Goldberg, officers of the corporation, with having transferred and concealed its property in contemplation of bankruptcy and with intent to defeat the operation of the Bankruptcy Act and further charges that Erankel and the corporation abetted them in violation of 11 USCA § 52 (b) (6).

It is contended by appellant that the court erred in overruling the demurrer to each count of the indictment. The first count was challenged for the reason that no offense was therein charged. It charged that appellant as president and treasurer, and Goldberg as secretary, dominated and controlled the corporation, and that they together with the *639 corporation and Frankel, in contemplation of the bankruptcy of, and the election of a trustee in bankruptcy for the corporation, conspired that the said corporation should conceal from its trustee property which would then belong to the estate in bankruptcy. The specific objection raised is that the language does not charge that appellant and his co-defendants conspired to conceal the assets, but that they conspired to have the corporation conceal them. With respect to this contention there is no merit. See Bartkus v. United States (C. C. A.) 21 F.(2d) 425. Appellant, however, contends that this count may not be construed to charge Mm with conspiracy to commit the crime by causing the company to commit it, because the second and fourth counts charge the concealment to him and Frankel. He bases this conclusion on the premise that the several eounts of an indictment should be considered together. The premise is incorrect as applied to a separate demurrer to each count, and it necessarily follows that the coneluáon is erroneous.

Appellant’s objection to the second count is that the charge of concealment is limited to August 6,1930, and it is not alleged that the concealment was continuous thereafter. In other words he contends that unless concealment lasts, it ceases to be concealment, and if continuity is not alleged, the count is not sufficient to withstand demurrer. In alleged support of this contention he quote from a dissenting opinion in Gretseh v. United States (C. C. A.) 231 F. 57, without designating it as such. However, in that case the validity of the indictment was not challenged by demurrer, nor was the question now before us presented. Under the indictment before us, time was not of the essence of the offense, and under its second count the act of concealment might have been proven at any time after the corporation became a bankrupt until the time the indictment was returned, although the exact time alleged was August 6, 1930. It is not denied that concealment of assets is a continuing offense, and that the entire continuous concealment constitutes but one offense. In other words, the eoncealor can be held but for one offense of concealing during the period of a continuous concealment. It may well be said that unless concealment lasts, it ceases to be concealment, but that is not tantamount to saying that the subsequent revealing of an illegal concealment renders the act legal ab initio. If illegal concealment presupposes continuity, then the general charge of illegal concealment is sufficient to withstand a demurrer, all other elements of the crime being present. The evi-. denee submitted unquestionably proved continuous concealment, for indeed so far as this record shows, the items concealed never were found. If it he admitted that continuity of concealment should have been alleged, yet the defect, if it be such, is one of form which, as shown by the evidence, did not tend to appellant’s prejudice, and we are without authority to hold the count insufficient. 18 USCA § 556.

Appellant’s objection to the third count is that it is duplicitous and inconsistent in that it charges that the books were falsified after the filing of the bankruptcy petition and prior thereto, in contemplation of bankruptcy. It is at least questionable whether this alleged error was presented to the trial court, but conceding that it was, there was no error. Crain v. United States, 162 U. S. 625, 16 S. Ct. 952, 40 L. Ed. 1097.

With respect to this count appellant asserts error in the court’s refusal to grant a bill of particulars as to the manner, the times, and the items of falsification of records. This was a matter within the discretion of the trial court and will not be disturbed unless abused. Wong Tai v. United States, 273 U. S. 77, 47 S. Ct. 300, 71 L. Ed. 545. Appellant neither charges nor proved prejudice or surprise as a result of tMs ruling, and we are bound to hold there was no error. 18 USCA § 556; Kanner v. Umted States (C. C. A.) 21 F.(2d) 285.

Appellant’s objection to the fourth count is that the charging of concealment both in contemplation of bankruptcy and with intent to defeat the operation of the act constituted duplicitous pleading. Under the ruling in Wong Tai v. United States, supra, there was no error in overruling this contention. Appellant further contends that this count did not charge that the property alleged to be concealed was property of the bankrupt estate, or that it was concealed from the trustee or receiver. The count charges that the property concealed belonged to the Motor Parts Corporation, and that the concealment occurred in contemplation of bankruptcy, which of course would include the time prior to the adjudication and to the election of a trustee. It is clear that section 52 (b) (6) covers such a factual situation, and we are convinced th£.t the count is sufficient to withstand the demurrer.

It is further contended by appellant that the eouxt erred in admitting in evidence the inventory of the receiver, on the grounds that it was not a book of original entry, and .that it constituted secondary evidence, being *640 made from invoices and tags not produced. The inventory was made by four representatives of the receiver, three of whom testified and were cross-examined. The articles of merchandise in each bin or shelf were counted and memoranda thereof made on tags or stickers whose contents were thereupon transferred to the inventory; Price values were added thereto which were secured either from the original invoice or from the attested knowledge of one of the receiver’s representatives. The tags and stickers were not produced, and their whereabouts were testified to be unknown. It is significant that the receiver’s total value of the stock in trade exceeded the total in appellant’s schedule by $3,-321. In laying a proper foundation for the admission of a record of original entry, it is not necessary to prove that such record contains the first memorandum or entry of a transaction. It is sufficient if it contains the first permanent entry of the transaction. Osborne v. United States (C. C. A.) 17 F.(2d) 246.

It is further contended by appellant .

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Bluebook (online)
71 F.2d 637, 1934 U.S. App. LEXIS 3162, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/somberg-v-united-states-ca7-1934.