State v. Bell

368 P.2d 177, 59 Wash. 2d 338, 1962 Wash. LEXIS 407
CourtWashington Supreme Court
DecidedJanuary 11, 1962
Docket35591
StatusPublished
Cited by52 cases

This text of 368 P.2d 177 (State v. Bell) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Washington Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Bell, 368 P.2d 177, 59 Wash. 2d 338, 1962 Wash. LEXIS 407 (Wash. 1962).

Opinion

Donworth, J.

Appellant was found guilty as charged in five counts of an indictment charging him with first-degree perjury in his testimony before a grand jury which had been called in Grant County. He waived a jury trial and was tried before a visiting judge, who imposed a sentence of not more than 15 years’ imprisonment in the state penitentiary for each count (to run concurrently) and payment of the costs of prosecution.

The trial of the case consumed two weeks. The record is voluminous. The statement of facts consists of more than 1200 pages; over 100 exhibits were offered in evidence; and the transcript contains 280 pages of motions, affidavits, findings of fact, and court orders.

In presenting this appeal from his judgment and sentence, appellant contends that the trial court erred to his prejudice in 123 instances, each of which is specifically described in his assignments of error. He asks that this case be dismissed by this court, or, in the alternative, that he be granted a new trial.

To give a detailed resume of all the oral testimony and documentary evidence admitted at the trial, as well as the purport of the many pretrial and post-trial motions and similar proceedings, would extend this opinion beyond all reasonable bounds. We have made a thorough examination of the entire record in the light of the extensive arguments contained in the briefs and presented orally to this court by counsel. We, therefore, will endeavor to state as succinctly as possible the factual background of appellant’s indictment and conviction.

The grand jury was impaneled August 25, 1958, and proceeded to investigate certain alleged criminal activities arising in connection with the construction of the Priest Rapids Dam on the Columbia River by Public Utility District No. 2 of Grant County (herein referred to as the PUD). The prime contractor was Merritt, Chapman and Scott *342 Corporation (herein referred to as MCS). There had been rumors of substantial gratuities and payments of money made by MCS to officers of the PUD (including its manager, Glenn A. Smothers).

In July, 1956, MCS was awarded the contract for the construction of the Priest Rapids Dam. The prime contractor’s compensation was approximately $91,000,000.

About two weeks later, MCS paid the McLean corporation $87,500. This corporation was controlled by the partners of a certain Washington, D. C. law firm. Several of the partners were close friends of appellant of many years’ standing. During 1957 and early 1958, McLean gave appellant six checks totalling $16,193.49. On the receipt of each check, appellant gave his check for one half thereof to Glenn A. Smothers, the manager of the PUD. Each check bore a notation “Consultation.”

In addition, appellant gave Smothers a check for one half of the amount of $6,500 which he received from the Shoup Voting Machine Company (according to appellant’s testimony) as a finder’s fee for locating prospective business in Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon.

Also, appellant sold to Smothers, for $250, one-half interest in his stock in the Dominican corporation, hereinafter referred to. Upon the sale of it, he paid Smothers $2,350.

The total amount of the checks given by appellant to Smothers was approximately $13,700.

Appellant voluntarily appeared before the grand jury on November 5, 1958, was duly sworn, and testified. His testimony on that day related chiefly to the receipt of the checks referred to above and to his payments of one half to Smothers. (The indictment charged him with perjury with respect to some of his testimony relating to these transactions.) Prior to his appearance, approximately 30 other witnesses had testified before the grand jury.

Appellant again testified before the grand jury on March 13, 1959. In July, 1959, at his request, his deposition was taken by the prosecuting attorney in the presence of his counsel. This was submitted to the grand jury at appellant’s request.

*343 August 27, 1959, the grand jury returned an indictment charging appellant with first-degree perjury in five counts. They read as follows:

“Count I.
“That the said defendant, Frank T. Bell, in the County of Grant, State of Washington, was called as a witness before this Grand Jury to testify in a hearing, inquiry and investigation then pending before this Grand Jury, before which Grand Jury, in which hearing, inquiry and investigation, an oath might lawfully be administered, and that an oath was lawfully administered to the said defendant, Frank T. Bell, by the foreman of the Grand Jury, who was duly and lawfully authorized so to do, and after the said defendant, Frank T. Bell, was so duly sworn before this Grand Jury and in said hearing, investigation and inquiry, as aforesaid, he, the said defendant, Frank T. Bell, did testify before said Grand Jury on November 5, 1958, and the said defendant, Frank T. Bell, did then and there in said hearing, inquiry and investigation, as aforesaid, unlawfully, feloniously, willfully, corruptly, knowingly and contrary to said oath, testify and swear as true the following material matters pertaining to the disbursement and considerations of sums of money to and from the defendant, Frank T. Bell, and the disbursement of sums of money by said defendant, Frank T. Bell, to one Glenn Smothers during 1956 through 1958, said Glenn Smothers being, during said dates, a public officer of Grant County, State of Washington, and pertaining to the employment of said defendant Frank T. Bell, the terms of said employment, the manner and circumstances in which said Frank T. Bell acquired said employment, and the manner in which said defendant, Frank T. Bell, would be compensated by said employer, the McLean Finance and Investment Company, also known as McLean Development Company and McLean Finance Corporation (Company) and McLean Engineering Company and the receipts and attendant circumstances in which sums of money were received from said McLean Finance and Investment Company, also known as McLean Development Company and McLean Finance Corporation (Company) and McLean Engineering Company by the said defendant, Frank T. Bell for employment compensation of the said Frank T. Bell, during the years 1956 to 1958, in substance and effect as follows, to-wit:
“That Lewis M. Schott contacted the defendant, Frank T. Bell, and procured employment for said Frank T. Bell, *344 with the McLean Finance and Investment Company of New York;
“Whereas, In Truth and In Fact Lewis M. Schott never contacted the defendant Frank T. Bell for employment with the McLean Finance and Investment Company of New York and never procured employment for said defendant, Frank T. Bell, with the McLean Finance and Investment Company of New York,
“Contrary to the Revised Code of the State of Washington 9.72.010, the statute in such case made and provided, and against the peace and dignity of the State of Washington.

“Count II. [Preamble the same as Count I, omitted]

“That Lewis M. Schott, acting for the McLean Finance and Investment Company of New York, directed Frank T.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
368 P.2d 177, 59 Wash. 2d 338, 1962 Wash. LEXIS 407, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-bell-wash-1962.