United States v. Bertelmann

2 D. Haw. 366
CourtDistrict Court, D. Hawaii
DecidedJanuary 25, 1906
StatusPublished

This text of 2 D. Haw. 366 (United States v. Bertelmann) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Hawaii primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Bertelmann, 2 D. Haw. 366 (D. Haw. 1906).

Opinion

Dole, J.

At the close of the charge to the jury, counsel for the defendant made the following exceptions orally, which were taken down by the reporter:

“We save an exception first to the last part of your Honor’s “charge, where your Iionor discusses the evidence in this mat“ter of rebuttal, and take a general exception to all the instructions which your Honor handed to me, and to the refusal of your Honor to give certain instructions handed him “by the defendant. I desire to make them at this time without “taking an individual objection to each instruction.”

Thereafter, on another day, a motion for a new trial was made by counsel for the defendant orally and taken down by the'reporter, as follows:

“Now, if your Honor please, we move for a new trial in this “cause, and in this case and in this matter, because the Court, “erred in not granting defendant’s motion to quash the indict“ment.
“1. Because the Court erred in not granting defendant’s “motion to quash the indictment in this cause.
“2. Because the Court erred in not sustaining the defendant’s demurrer to the indictment found, or supposed to have “been found, by a jury of the United States of America.
“3. Because the defendant was not present in Court when “his motion to quash the indictment and demurrer was over[368]*368“ruled, aud was thereby denied his constitutional right to be “present during every stage of the cause.
' “4. Because the Court erred in not granting defendant’s “motion to require the prosecution to elect upon which ground “of the indictment the prosecution would proceed, and thereupon ask a verdict on.
“5. Because the jury that tried this case and rendered this “verdict upon which your Honor is to pass judgment, was not a “legally drawn and constituted jury in this:
“First. That the Court, after the exhaustion of the regular panel, and before the completion of a jury to try this cause, “notwithstanding the objection of the defendant and his coun“scl, ordered the issuance of a special venire for more than one “talesman at a time, to-wit, for twenty-five talesmen, and which “special venire was issued and served and made thereupon ae“tive, and which order was contrary to law.
“Second. That the Court, after exhausting the panel returned by said special venire, and before the completion of the “jury to try said cause, and against the objection of defendant “and his counsel, ordered the issuance of a second special venire “for more than one talesman at a time, to-wit, for twelve tales-“men, which said special venire was issued, served, returned “and acted upon within this Court as against the rights of this “defendant. That the Court in ordering the United States “Deputy Marshal to serve said special venires left and placed “in the said United States Deputy Marshal’s hands the absolute “discretionary power to serve whomsoever he pleased.
“That the Clerk of said Court, after depositing the names “of the talesmen in the jury box, and doing so as against the “objection of the defendant and his counsel, proceeded to draw “and did draw from said jury box the name of each talesman so “served, to serve on said jury, and that without the order of “Court; and thereby exercised a.judicial function that he was “not authorized by law to exercise.
“That the defendant had used all his peremptory challenges.
“6. Because the prosecuting attorney during the progress [369]*369“of said cause used improper aud prejudicial remarks against “the defendant, and on several occasions referred to the defendant’s directory and business as a ‘pretence and sham, and “a scheme.’
“7. Because during the progress of said cause the Court, “over the objection of defendant’s counsel, permitted the prosecuting attorney to ask the defendant in cross-examination the “names and dealings that the defendant had had relative to his “directory business, with persons other than Matsuoka and “Uyehiro, and that said cross-examination was not based on “anything brought out on the direct examination of the defendant, and was therefore prejudicial error.
“8. That the defendant’s counsel objected to Mr. Shiozawa, “the official Japanese interpreter of said Court, acting as such “interpreter in said cause, on these grounds following, to-wit:
“Eirst. Because the said Shiozawa was not a' qualified “official interpreter in this, that he was not a citizen of the “United States of America, and therefore could not take an “oath to support the Constitution and laws of the United States “of America as required by law, and that hence the intelligence going to the Court through this interpreter came through “a wrong channel.
“Second. Because the said Shiozawa was prejudiced and “biased as against the said defendant or defense, for the reason “that he had assisted in the prosecution of cases against this “said defendant before. That the defendant’s counsel and the “defendant requested that he be permitted to question the said “interpreter regarding his qualifications to act as such, but he “was overruled.
“9. That this Court erred in overruling the defendant’s “motion for a directed verdict of acquittal, which motion was “based upon the following grounds:
“Because it has not been proven that this defendant falsely “assumed and pretended to be any officer or employe of the “Government of the United States.
[370]*370“Because there is no such officer or employe of the Govern“ment of the United States as a ‘Policeman.’
“Because it has not been proven that this defendant falsely “pretended to do any act that would or does fall within the “province of any officer of the Government of the United States.
“Because it has not been proven that this defendant falsely “pretended that he came from the Government at Washington, “District of Columbia, or from the Government of the State or “Territory of Washington, or from the County of Washington, “in the State of Maine.
“Because it has not been proven that this defendant was not “an officer or employe of the Government of the United States.
“Because the Court committed prejudicial error in the instructions to the jury.
“Because the Court refused to give defendant’s instruction “number twelve.
“Because it has not been proven that Matsuoka and Uyehiro “believed the alleged false assumption and pretence of this defendant that he was an officer and employe acting under the “authority of the Government of the United States.”

The Assistant U. S. Attorney quotes Rule I of the Supreme Court of the United States and Rule 10 of the Circuit Court of Appeals of the Ninth Circuit as denying validity to a general exception to a charge to a jury.

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Bluebook (online)
2 D. Haw. 366, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-bertelmann-hid-1906.