United States ex rel. McCann v. Adams

3 F.R.D. 396, 1944 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1409
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedJanuary 26, 1944
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 3 F.R.D. 396 (United States ex rel. McCann v. Adams) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States ex rel. McCann v. Adams, 3 F.R.D. 396, 1944 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1409 (S.D.N.Y. 1944).

Opinion

HULBERT, District Judge.

This is a judicial inquiry in a habeas •corpus proceeding remanded by the United States Supreme Court (United States of America ex rel. Gene McCann v. Wm. A. Adams, Warden, etc., 320 U.S. 220, 64 S.Ct. 14.

In a per curiam opinion the court said, in part:

“This proceeding is a sequel to Adams v. United States ex rel. McCann, 317 U.S. 269, 63 S.Ct. 236, 87 L.Ed. [268], 143 A.L.R. 435. We there reversed an order of the Circuit Court of Appeals of the Second Circuit discharging the present relator from custody. * * * We did so because we held that, if his waiver was the exercise of an intelligent choice made with the considered approval of the trial court, he could as a matter of law waive his right to a jury trial without being represented by counsel. After the case went back to the Circuit Court of Appeals on mandate and further steps not necessary here to recount were taken, the relator filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in the District Court which, with supporting affidavits, adequately raised the issue whether in fact he intelligently — with full knowledge of his rights and capacity to understand them — waived his right to the assistance of counsel and to trial by jury. That issue, as appears from our former opinion, was explicitly withdrawn from consideration on the habeas corpus proceedings previously before the Circuit Court of Appeals [2 Cir.] 126 F.2d 774. That issue, now fairly tendered by the petition for habeas corpus below, has never been adjudicated on its merits by the lower courts. But it is no longer within the bosom of the trial court. Nor can it be disposed of on the appeal of his conviction, for the claim rests on materials dehors the trial proceedings. It is a claim which the relator should be allowed to establish, if he can,”

The primary issue thus presented to this court for determination is whether the relator “intelligently — with full knowledge of his rights and capacity to understand them —waived his right to assistance of counsel and to trial by jury.”

A secondary issue is asserted by the relator and his counsel, viz: a right to present any “claim which rests on materials dehors the record.”

It seems appropriate to set forth at the outset the background of these proceedings.

The relator, a man about 50 years of age, a stockbroker, has for a number of years specialized in' the organization of [398]*398corporations and advising his clients with respect to the procedural requirements and compliance therewith, regulating the issuance of and dealing in securities. For a time he made use of the facilities of the office of one John T. Tobin, Esq., a member of the bar of this Court, whom he sometimes employed as counsel in such matters.

On February 18, 1941, the grand jury of this District returned an indictment charging Gene McCann in six counts, with the use of the United States mails in furtherance of a scheme to defraud, in violation of Sec. 338 of Title 18 U.S.C.A.

Although the defendant claimed the privilege of a confidential relationship when Tobin was called before a grand jury of this District, after the filing of the indictment herein, he testified it was with the assistance of one or more law students attending the Columbia University Law School, that motion papers were prepared and a motion was brought on to challenge the legality as well as the sufficiency of the indictment. That motion was denied.

Meanwhile, he was called upon to plead to the indictment and, because of the ■pendency of that motion, stood mute. The judge presiding entered a plea of “not guilty” on April 2, 1941, and the defendant was continued On his own recognizance.

The Court granted a request of the defendant to proceed in forma pauperis, but an order thereon was not formally entered until June 16th, 1941.

The case came on for trial July 7, 1941, before a visiting judge who had been for that term assigned to preside in the Call Part (Room 318) of the Criminal Division of this Court.

About July 1, 1941, the defendant had caused to be issued a large number of subpoenae and subpoenae duces tecum and had placed them in the hands of the U. S. Marshall for service. He had also endeavored to retain counsel but stated he was unable to do so because of his impecunious circumstances.

When the case was called for trial he applied for an adjournment, which was denied. He did not assign as one of his reasons therefor, his inability to secure counsel. After the call of the calendar on July 7, the United States Attorney moved for trial of the indictment against McCann. There was some d' '"ussion which the court stenographer did'm .ake down in his notes. At all events, the very first statement in the transcript of the Court Reporter’s minutes reads:

“Mr. McCann: I move the court to try the case of the United States of America v. Gene McCann without a jury and have the case tried by the presiding judge.” “The Court: Defendant, in his own

proper person, having moved for a trial of the case without a jury and having said in open court he will sign the consent as soon as drawn, and the Government consenting, the motion is granted. If counsel wishes to make any motion in addition I want the record to show what the application is, who the witnesses are who have not been served, what they will testify to, so that I can determine whether their testimony is material or not material.”

Assistant United States Attorney Donohue, testified that he visited the library later on that day and dictated to a stenographer, a waiver of a jury trial in conformity with the opinion of the court in Patton v. United States, 281 U.S. 276, 50 S.Ct. 253, 74 L.Ed. 854, 70 A.L.R. 263. This was presented to and signed by McCann, by the Assistant United States Attorney conducting the trial for the Government, approved by the Judge, and filed with the Clerk of the Court, and reads as follows:

“I, Gene McCann, the defendant herein, appearing personally, do hereby waive a trial by jury in the above entitled case, having been advised by the Court of my constitutional rights.”

Before the opening addresses to the Court a number of motions by or on behalf of prospective witnesses, who had been served with subpoenae issued by Mc-Cann to the U. S. Marshal, and motions by the defendant to dismiss the indictment, were taken up by the Court. Upon the disposition of these motions after the mid-day recess, the United States Attorney opened for the Government; Mr. McCann followed, and the taking of testimony began. The trial was concluded on July 22, 1941; the Court found McCann guilty upon all counts, made findings of fact and conclusions of law and imposed a sentence of 6 years and total fines of $600.

The defendant undertook to appeal but claims he was unable to perfect it since he was without funds to procure a copy of the transcript of the stenographer’s minutes consisting of 1139 pages. He endeavored to prepare and file a bill of exceptions [399]*399from his own notes taken at the trial, fortified by his recollection.

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Bluebook (online)
3 F.R.D. 396, 1944 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1409, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-ex-rel-mccann-v-adams-nysd-1944.