Opinion

United States v. 3,599 Bags of Liquor

  • 13 F.2d 548
  • 1926 U.S. App. LEXIS 3608
Court
Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Filed
Jul 12, 1926
Status
Published
Author
Hand
On the bench
Hand, Hough, Manton
Cited by
2 cases

The opinion

HAND, Circuit Judge

(dissenting). I agree that the cargo should be forfeited, and that the ninth and tenth causes of forfeiture are made out against the Squanto, resulting in a fine of $500. I dissent as to the first cause of forfeiture under section 586 of the Tariff Act of 1922 (Comp. St. Ann. Supp. 1923, § 5841h5). It does not seem to me that the proof warranted the conclusion that the missing liquor was unladen within four leagues of the coast. It is quite true that it may have been put off on the tug which escaped, or on the launch from which the supposed pilot was taken on; but either conclusion, it seems to me, is a mere guess. Section 615 (Comp. St. Ann. Supp. 1923, § 5841h35), assuming this to be a case “relating to the collection of duties,” does not supply any defect of proof, as would a presumption; all it does is to put the burden of proof on the claimant, which is quite another matter.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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