Tyler v. United States

193 F.2d 24
CourtCourt of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
DecidedMarch 24, 1952
Docket10828
StatusPublished
Cited by79 cases

This text of 193 F.2d 24 (Tyler v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Tyler v. United States, 193 F.2d 24 (D.C. Cir. 1952).

Opinion

PROCTOR, Circuit Judge.

This appeal is from a judgment of conviction and mandatory death sentence 1 for murder in the first degree 2 as charged in two counts of an indictment, each alleging the murder of a man, in perpetrating the offense of housebreaking while armed with a dangerous weapon. (See third and fourth counts of indictment, J. A. 1.)

During the night of April 6, 1950, Oliver R. Hess and John C. Carpenter, watchmen in Lansburgh’s Department Store, were murdered. Each had been stabbed several times in the chest and back. Indications pointed to their slayer’s having entered the store with intent to pillage the cash room.

On May 5th, William A. Tyler, Jr., (appellant) was arrested by the police for robbery and assault to kill. The charges were unconnected with the Lansburgh murders. He was taken before the United States Commissioner, formally charged with those offenses and committed to jail for a later hearing. Before going to the Commissioner, the police questioned Tyler concerning the murders. He denied any *26 participation. Many Lansburgh employees were given the lie detector tests. At the officers’ suggestion Tyler consented to take a lie detector test, asserting it would prove his innocence. The next morning, May 6th, he was delivered by the jail authorities to Detectives Furr and Hartnett of the Metropolitan Police, and taken to police headquarters, where arrangements had been made for the test to be given by 'Capta-in Curley of the United States Army, a polygraph expert, engaged in such work for the Army. Curley arrived late, about 1:30 p. m. Tyler was turned over to him. They were left alone in a separate room.

According to the Government’s proof Curley.advised Tyler he did not have to take the test and should not do so unless he thought he could be cleared. Tyler expressed his willingness. Curley testified that he then explained “all of the techniques of the examination so that he [Tyler] would be fully aware of what was going to happen.” Further, Curley testified:

“ * * * I ran one examination -at which time I stopped the machine, the examination was four minutes long, and I advised William Tyler that we could not continue with the test unless he really desired to cooperate. He attempted to, what we ca 1 l, beat the machine by abnormal breathing, and so distorting the chart.

“ I told him that unless he really wanted to continue with the test, we couldn’t do it.” Hj sfc H 1 H* H 1

“ * * * He admitted that he had been taking deep breaths and he decided that he would like to continue with the test.

“ * * * We ran another test about 11 minutes. At the end of that test I stopped the machine and advised William Tyler of the reactions that I received. He stated at that time that he didn’t want to take any more of the test.

“I advised him that the reactions were indications that he was lying to me, and for him not to continue unless he was going to be able to tell me the truth.

“ * * * He stated that he didn’t want to take the test any longer and for me to take the blood pressure cuff and electrodermal unit off of him.

“ * * * after a while I spoke to him about the test, it was approximately an hour. — he stated that he did do this thing and that he would like to make a statement about it.” H« Hí H* sfc H* *

* * * He stated that he wished to make a complete statement of the Lansburgh killings, and that he would like to have Detective Furr brought in in order to make the statements to him.” [Curley— J. A. 92, 93,]

Fiurr being out of the building, Curley asked Tyler if he would give the statement to some other officer. Tyler replied, “no, he would much prefer to wait for Detective Furr because he had talked to him for several hours earlier and he was a 'very nice police officer, * * * ” 3

When Furr came into the room where Curley and Tyler were waiting, Tyler told Furr that he wished to make a statement and have Furr, put the same in writing. Then, Tyler proceeded with his statement to Furr in Gurley’s presence. He recounted incidents leading to his entrance into the Lansburgh store and killing of the guards. Then his statements, as written by Furr, were supplemented by answers to questions put by Furr. When completed, the writing was signed by Tyler and Furr. [Curley— J. A. 98, et seq.; Furr — J. A. 111.] 4

After the confession Furr asked Tyler if he would go and show him where Tyler had secured rope which he had used at the Lansburgh store. Tyler agreed, and they went to Stanton Terrace in the southeast section of Washington following the directions of Tyler to premises he pointed out as the place he had gotten the rope. [J. A. 115.] Tyler also consented, at Furr’s request, to go to the Lansburgh store to “reenact the crime.” There, Tyler led a group of six, including officers Furr and Hartnett, *27 and Mr. McIntosh, manager of the store, from place to place about the building, describing in detail his entrance therein; his movements in and about the same; his procurement of the knife with which the watchmen were slain when separately encountered by him on different floors, and his efforts to get at the money supposedly in the cash room. [McIntosh — J. A. 139-150.] 5 Many incidents related by Tyler and many proven circumstances tend strongly to show the truth, accuracy and voluntary nature of Tyler’s statements at the store and at police headquarters.

Upon leaving Lansburgh’s, Tyler was delivered by the detectives to a United States Marshal and returned to the jail. Later that day, about 9:30 p. m., he was taken before United States Commissioner Lawrence, and charged with the murders. He was advised by the Commissioner of the nature of the charges, of his right to a hearing, to counsel, to a continuance; warned that any statements might be used against him, and that he did not have to testify or make any incriminating statement. He was asked if he wanted to get a lawyer, and told that he was entitled to a continuance to obtain one, but Tyler said, “ * * * no, 'he wanted to go ahead right then, or words to that effect.” Whereupon Detective Furr testified. 6 *Then the Commissioner reviewed the testimony of Furr. [J. A. 105.] Addressing Tyler he said, “ * * * Officer Furr has testified that you have made statements to him that you had entered Lansburgh’s Store for the purpose of robbery ; that while in the store there you ran into these two men up there and that you took a knife and stabbed them. In other words, he said that you admitted that you killed them.” The Commissioner then asked Tyler if he wished to cross-examine Detective Furr. Tyler replied, “No, what he says is right. I asked for him.” Tyler added that he went into the store only to rob; that he “just bumped into” the watchmen. [J. A.

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Bluebook (online)
193 F.2d 24, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/tyler-v-united-states-cadc-1952.