Brief for the Respondent in Opposition — Cohen v. United States
Supreme Court brief1945
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DON oe ee Coie 1
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Statutes and regulations involved__.__-__--________-_. 6, 2
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CITATIONS
Cases:
penton w. THonkel, A496 UB the 3a Se se 14
Billings v. Truesdell, 321 U. 8. 542... -....---_......- 10, 12
Cohen v. United States, 294 Fed. 498, certiorari denied, 264
U.S. 584__ ee eg ee ee pee ee, 14
Crinnian v. United States, 1 F. (2d) 643__._____________. 14
Daniels v. United States, 17 F. (2d) 339_________________ 14
Falbo v. United States, 320 U. S. 549__._.__.________.____. 11
Fall v. United States, 60 App. D. C. 124, 49 F. (2d) 506,
certiorari denied, 283 U. 8. 867_...___..........-_..- 15
Fisher v. United States, 8 F. (2d) 978, certiorari denied, 271
OT cd ea sc te ea ee eet BC omen es Oe 16
People v. Lafaro, 250 N. Y. 336 ;
United States v. Birdsall, 233 U. 8. 223
United States v. Goldstein, 135 F. (2d) 359
United States v. Mitchell, 322 U.S. 65.._.___________ 18, 21, 22
United States v. Woods, 66 F. (2d) 262
Statutes and Regulations Involved:
Section 37 of the Criminal Code (18 U. 8. C. 88)
Section 117 of the Criminal Code (18 U. 8. C. 207). 10, 13, 14, 24
The Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 (54 Stat.
885, 50 U.S. C. App. 301-318):
Sec. 10 (a)__-
Sec. 10 (a) (2)
623712—44-—_-1
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Statutes and Regulations Involved—Continued.
ny
Selective Service Regulations: Page
Oh a See ec nto oes uw ea cas PP ee Aer 11, 26
ete ee ee ea pp reas ea a eee oes 12, 27
eh i eo ee a eee eosin eu sso eee 27
7 A ee ia ke ce ee tre Diba res 11, 28
NEE Orn Pon ee ne Oa ak melas mies 28
BR SaaS pl ta SM Seg ena es eS UL pepe 7a ay 29
Miscellaneous: ,
Miller, Handbook of Criminal Law, p. 474-~.------------ 15
Selective Service System—
Local Board Memorandum No. 80_-_--------------- 12, 29
Memorandum to all State Directors No. 1-415____--- 12, 33
Memorandum to all State Directors No. 1-423____-_-- 34
Plate Director Advice No; 204+... 22.5. cc casccen 12, 36
Inthe Supreme Court of the Mnited States
Ocroser TERM, 1944
No. 723
EMANUEL Max CoHEN AND ALBERT CHARLES
SCHNEE, PETITIONERS
v.
Unirep States or AMERICA
ON PETITION FOR A WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED
STATES CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH
CIRCUIT
BRIEF FOR THE UNITED STATES IN OPPOSITION
OPINION BELOW
The opinion of the Circuit Court of Appeals (R.
386-399) is reported at 144 F. (2d) 984.
JURISDICTION
The judgment of the Circuit Court of Appeals
Was entered September 29, 1944 (R. 399-400). A
petition for rehearing was denied November 6,
1944 (R. 400). The petition for a writ of cer-
tiorari was filed December 2, 1944. The jurisdic-
(1)
2
tion of this Court is invoked under Section
240 (a) of the Judicial Code, as amended by the
Act of February 13, 1925. See also Rules XI and
XIIL of the Criminal Appeals Rules promul-
gated by this Court May 7, 1934.
QUESTIONS PRESENTED
The principal contentions raised by the peti-
tion for a writ of certiorari are:
1. Whether in the circumstances presented by
the case certain actions of petitioner Cohen, a
Government Appeal Agent in the Selective Serv-
ice System, and of the local draft board to which
he was attached were within their official capacity
within the meaning of Section 117 of the Criminal
Code (18 U.S. C. 207).
9. Whether the trial court erroneously received
in evidence certain statements made by petitioner
Schnee, on the theory that they were statements
by a coconspirator regarding the conspiracy made
during the existence of the conspiracy.
2 Whether the admission in evidence of certain
oral statements made by petitioner Schnee under
circumstances claimed to render applicable the
rule of McNabb v. United States, constituted re-
versible error.
STATUTES AND REGULATIONS INVOLVED
The applicable statutory provisions and Selee-
tive Service Regulations, as worded at the times
in question, are set forth in the Appendix, infra,
pp. 24-29.
3
STATEMENT
On March 31, 1943, petitioners were indicted
in the District Court of the United States for the
Southern District of California in two counts
(R. 2-7). Count one (R. 2-5) charged that on
March 6, 1943, there was pending before Loeal
Board No. 199, Los Angeles, California, an appli-
cation by one James L. Sartor, a Selective Serv-
ive registrant who had already been inducted into
the Army, for a recommendation by the board to
the Army that his furlough be extended; that pe-
titioner Cohen was the Government Appeal Agent
attached to the local board; and that petitioners
on or about March 6, 1943, unlawfully conspired
with intention to defraud the United States ‘hy
endeavoring to corruptly obstruct, impede, hin-
der, impair and interfere with the due adminis-
tration of the proper and lawful function of the
United States Army in the granting or denying
of an extended furlough to’’ Sartor, in that for a
sum of money petitioner Cohen, as Government
Appeal Agent, would endeavor to corruptly obtain
from the local board a favorable recommendation
with respect to Sartor’s furlough application, in
violation of Section 37 of the Criminal Code (18
U.S. C. 88). Count two (R. 5-7), incorporating
by reference the facts alleged in count one, charged
that petitioners unlawfully conspired to violate
Section 117 of the Criminal Code (18 U.S. ¢.
207) by asking for money from Sartor for the
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4
purpose of influencing the action of petitioner
Cohen in the performance of his official duty as ¢
Government Appeal Agent in respect of Sartor’s
application for a recommendation relating to his
request for a furlough extension. Petitioners
were convicted on both counts (R. 20-21), but
judgment was entered only on the second count.
Petitioners were each fined $2,500 and sentenced
to imprisonment for nine months (R. 28-32). On
appeal, after rehearing, the Circuit Court of Ap-
peals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed the judgment
of the District Court (R. 399-400).’
The evidence in support of the judgment may be
summarized as follows:
Sartor, a Selective Service registrant with Local
Board No. 199, Los Angeles, California, was in-
ducted into the United States Army on October
14, 1942. At the time of his induction he was
given a short furlough and thereafter was granted
various extensions until March 8, 1943, when he
was to report for active duty (R. 67-68). The
purpose of the furloughs was to enable him to dis-
pose of his holdings, a retail liquor store, a bar,
‘On May 19, 1944, the Cireuit Court of Appeals, Judge
Healy dissenting, reversed the conviction on the ground that
petitioner Cohen’s official duties as Government Appeal
Agent did not include authority to recommend an extension
of furlough for a registrant already inducted into the Army
(Pet. 41-50). On June 17, 1944, the court gre anted the Gov-
ernment’s petition for rehearing (R. 384-385). On Septen-
ber 29, 1944, it affirmed the judgment of the District Court
(KR. 385).
Pow Mya [OLGA ISR SEN
5
and an equity in an apartment house, without
financial loss. On February 11, 1943, Sartor re-
quested an additional 60 days’ deferment from
active duty by letter addressed to Major General
Joyce of the Ninth Service Command, Fort Doug-
las, Utah (R. 68-69), and was advised by letter
from Lt. Col. A. E. Merrill of that Command that
a recommendation from his local Selective Service
Board would be necessary to secure a further
extension (R. 70, 71). At the direction of his
local board (R. 71), Sartor went to the place
of business of petitioner Cohen, the Government
Appeal Agent, on Monday, March 1, 1943, and
showed him Lt. Col. Merrill’s letter suggesting
that he obtain the draft board’s recommendation
with regard to his application for a further fur-
lough (R. 72). Cohen instructed Sartor to appear
at the draft board headquarters that evening.
When Sartor appeared at the board’s office he was
interviewed by Cohen, who dictated a letter as Gov-
ernment Appeal Agent to the Army authorities
describing Sartor’s property holdings and financial
position and stating that Sartor requested an ex-
tension of his furlough on the basis of those facts.
The letter was posted by Sartor on the following
day (R. 71-74) and on the same day Sartor again
called on Cohen and told him that the letter was
not ‘any good”’ because it did not contain a recom-
mendation. Cohen then advised Sartor that he
had no authority to make a recommendation. On
ARREARS, 3 IEE CEA GAS et ERIC ERE SaaS OEE EE ate an Soa A
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6
the following day Sartor again went to see Cohen,
requesting a recommendation, and Cohen again
advised him that he had no power to make a reeom-
mendation. (R. 75.)
Sartor did not see Cohen again until the fol-
lowing Saturday morning, March 6, 1943, when at
about 11:00 a.m. Cohen stopped at Sartor’s place
of business in his automobile, blew his horn, and
when Sartor came out stated to him that he had
someone by the name of ‘Davis’ who was going
to help him get an extension from the Army and
that ‘Davis’? would telephone him in about 10
or 15 minutes about getting the extension CR. 75,
76). Shortly thereafter Sartor received a_tele-
phone call from ‘Davis’, who told Sartor that a
60-day extension would cost $2,000 (R. 76, 78-79).
Sartor told him he thought the price was too high,
but that he should call him again CR. 79). About
one hour later Cohen again appeared in his car
outside of Sartor’s place of business, blew his
horn, and when Sartor came out drove him around
the block in Cohen's ear. When Sartor entered
the ear Cohen asked, “Did he call vou up?”
Sartor related his conversation with ** Davis”? and
Cohen stated that he had nothing to do with the
to
Sartor and said that * Davis’? would *tcome down
and see’ Sartor (R. 78-80). Cohen did net ad-
transaction. Cohen then deseribed ** Davis’
vise Sartor that the dratt board had just decided
to recommend a 30-day extenston of Sartor’s fur-
7
lough and that a wire to this effect already had
been sent to the Army authorities (R. 81).
“Davis”? again telephoned Sartor at about one
o'clock on the same day and promised to see what
he could do for him for $500 (R. 81). ‘Davis”’
called Sartor a third time an hour later and in-
formed Sartor he could get him a 30-day furlough
for $500. He instructed Sartor to put the money
in an envelope and to deliver it to a Mr. Popkin,
the manager of a nearby theater, at about 2:30
o'clock that day. Because Sartor did not have
enough money on hand, ** Davis’? agreed to a par-
tial payment. (R. 82, 83, 106-107.) Sartor eom-
plied with ** Davis* *’ instructions, but before doing
so apprised one Donovan, a detective from the
Los Angeles Police Department, of the develop-
ments (R. 83-85). As soon as Sartor delivered
the envelope containing the money, Donovan pre-
sented himself to Popkin and requested delivery
of the envelope. About one hour later, after he
had called his attorney and talked on the telephone
with an official of the Los Angeles Police Depart-
ment, Popkin surrendered to Donovan the en-
velope given him by Sartor (R. 147-149). Dono-
van opened it and found in it the money placed
there by Sartor. (CR. 114-115.)
Popkin testified that petitioner Schnee with
whom he was friendly had called him early in the
afternoon of March 6, 1943, and asked him to
accept delivery of an envelope for him. Schnee
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told Popkin that the envelope would be addressed
toa ‘“*Mr. Davis’? and would be delivered at ap-
proximately 3 o’clock and that ‘tthe man deliver-
ing the envelope knew him [Schnee] as Mr.
Davis.’ (R. 144-145.) Popkin received the on-
velope from Sartor at the request of Schnee and
testified that after he had surrendered it to Don-
ovan, he told Donovan he would call the man
known as “Mr. Davis.”’ He ealled Schnee’s home
and left a message with his wife. [In response to
that message Schnee therafter called Popkin and
they conversed concerning the envelope while
Donovan listened on another telephone, CR. 115-
117, 148-149.) Immediately thereafter Schnee
was Interviewed by Donovan and others (see infra,
p. 16). THe denied having any part in the bribery
scheme, but admitted that he knew petitioner
Cohen (R. 150). At this point he was placed
under arrest (R, 123).
VTestitving in his own defense petitioner Cohen
stated that he had been appointed Government
Appeal Agent in September 1940 and had acted
in that capacity through the period in question
here CR. 202); that “it is my job to present mat-
ters for registrants’ CR. 228); that Sartor’s loeal
board referred the matter of Sartor’s reeom-
mendation to him and that it was his function to
present Sartor’s application to the draft board
(R. 214, 224); that when the Sartor matter was
first presented to him, he requested the clerk of
the draft board to communicate with the Coor-
9
dinator of Selective Service to determine “wheth-
er the Board had jurisdiction to entertain such a
recommendation” (R. 209), and that he was there-
after informed that the Coordinator had advised
that the hoard possessed jurisdiction to make a
recommendation in Sartor’s case (R. 209); that
when Sartor consulted him on March 4, 1943, “I
told him that the Board had jurisdiction; that I
will present it to them * * # at a meeting on
Saturday morning’ (R, 209); that he suggested
to the board that it meet on Saturday morning,
Which was not its regular Ineeting time (R, 226);
vid that on Saturday “I went down for the sole
purpose of presenting Sartor’s name, he was so
insistent, and talked so persistently I brought the
matter up’? (R. 227),
While these events Were taking place, the Army
authorities received the letter written by peti-
tioner Cohen as Government Appeal Agent
(supra, p. 5) and, regarding it as a favorable
recommendation from the loeal board. granted
Sartor another sixty-day furlough (R. 178).
When it was discovered that Cohen's letter was
not the recommendation of the board and that the
board had thereafter recommended only a thirty-
day furlough, the sixty-day furlough which had
been granted was immediately canceled by the
military authorities (R. 179-180),
ARGUMENT
1. Petitioners’ basic contention (Pet. 21, 31)
appears to be that the alleged conspiracy did not
la a aL et fae ee ANU DO ROT a Te ete nee eT emiets Fer RE
10
relate to any of Cohen’s official duties and hence
could not be a conspiracy to violate Section 117 of
the Criminal Code. Petitioners argue that when
Sartor was inducted into the armed forces his
local board’s jurisdiction over him and Cohen’s
official duty as Government Appeal Agent in
respect of him ended. We submit that, in the
light of the relationship which exists between the
Selective Service System and the armed forces,
(a) Cohen’s and the local board’s actions, which
the solicited bribe was to influence, were within
their authority, and (b) petitioners conspired to
commit an offense under Section 117 of the Crimi-
nal Code even if, strictly speaking, the functions
performed by the Selective Service System in
relation to post-induction furloughs are beyond
its authority.
In the words of this Court in Billings v. Trues-
dell, 321 U.S. 542, 547, “the mobilization program
established by the Selective Service System is de-
signed to operate ‘as one continuous process for
the selection of men for national service’—a_ proc-
ess In which the civil and military agencies per-
This Court there was
form integrated functions.’
concerned with those phases of the process of
selection which precede induction; but we think
its characterization of the relationship of the
Selective Service System to the armed forces is
equally applieable to the functions of the System
after a registrant has been inducted.
Section 10 (a) (2) of the Seleetive Training and
Service Act (infra, p. 25) empowers local boards
11
to hear and determine ‘all questions or claims
with respect to inclusion for, or exemption or de-
ferment from, training and service’? under the
Act “of all individuals within the jurisdiction”’
of the boards. Under Selective Service Regula-
tion 603.54 (infra, p. 26) the jurisdiction of each
local board extends to all persons registered in
or subject to registration in the area for which it
Was appointed. The local board’s functions do
not end with its selection of registrants for mili-
tary service in the manner summarized in Falbo vy.
United States, 320 U.S. 549. It does not strike
a registrant from its rolls upon his induction but
is required to reclassify him I-C (member of land
or naval forces); he remains registered with it.
Selective Service Regulation 622.15 (infra, p. 28).
The armed services may invoke the assistance of
local boards in dealing with matters lying within
their competence after induction, as the Army did
in this case in suggesting that Sartor obtain the
recommendation of his board with reference to
the extension of his furlough. As Colonel Mer-
rill testified (R. 177), “if we did otherwise * * *
the effect would be to nullify the procedure of
the Selective Service system in ordering a man
seo
mm,
“In respect of the reliance of the military authorities on
the recommendation of the registrant's local board Colonel
Merrill's letter to Sartor (R. 70) explained the procedural
requirement as follows:
It is suggested that you present a copy of this conmu-
nication to your Local Board, and ask them to make their
12
Pursuant to the Act and regulations, official
memoranda of the Selective Service System, cited
in the opinion of the court below (R. 391-392),
have continuously recognized and provided for
functions of local boards with respect to reg-
istrants who have been inducted into the armed
forces. Local Board Memorandum No. 80, issued
on January 10, 1942 (infra, pp. 29-33), imposes
upon local boards the duty to cooperate with the
military authorities in connection with the sepa-
ration of inducted men from active military serv-
ice and their transfer to the Enlisted Reserve for
proper reason. Memoranda Nos. 1-415 and 1-423
to State Directors, dated April 17 and May 18,
1942 (infra, pp. 33-36) and State Director Advice
No, 204, dated May 8, 1943 (infra, pp. 36-37)
impose similar duties with respect to post-indue-
tion furloughs and post-induction stays of active
service for newly drafted men.’
Paragraph 605.71 of the Selective Service Regu-
lations (iufra, p. 27) provides for the Govern-
recommendation through the State Director of Selective
Service, Plaza Building, Sacramento, California, It is
the function of the Selective Service System to register,
classify, and deliver for induction men who are con-
sidered eligible and qualified for such procedure. It is
not consistent that the War Department should nullify
the action of the Selective Service System by unduly
extending the deferment status of individuals selected
for service. Hence the procedure suggested above.
‘As this Court noted in Bil/ings vo Truesdell! 321 UL S.
542, 554, the induction procedure has again deen changed to
eliminate post-induction furloughs and stays in ordinary
Cases,
13
ment Appeal Agent to undertake investigations
“after classification’’ of registrants, with respect
to matters submitted by the local board, and ‘‘to
impart to the local board * * * information
which in his opinion ought to be investigated.’’
Petitioner Cohen caused an inquiry to be made of
the Coordinator of the Selective Service System
concerning the power of the local board to make a
recommendation in Sartor’s case (supra, pp. 8-9)
and was advised that it was vested with authority
to do so. The board acted upon his suggestion.
In causing the board to meet and consider Sartor’s
request that an additional furlough be recom-
mended, he was legally as well as de facto (in the
words of Section 117 of the Criminal Code, infra,
p. 24) “acting for or in behalf of the United
States, in any official capacity, under or by virtue
of the authority of * * * [a] department or
office of the Government * * *.’'* He acted
*We perceive no merit in petitioners’ assertion (Pet. 31)
that since the Army mistakenly granted Sartor a furlough
prior to March 6, 1943, the day the draft board met (see
supra, p. 9) there was no valid basis for count two of the
indictment, as the matter for which the official action was
to be sought had already been accomplished. Regardless of
whether the local board’s recommendation would have had
any operative effect, there is no question that the board might
make a recommendation tothe Army or that petitioner Cohen
in his official capacity as Government Appeal Agent partici-
pated in the presentation of the matter to the local board.
In these circumstances a conspiracy to obtain a bribe to
influence Cohen’s official action was a conspiracy to violate
Section 117 of the Criminal Code.
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14
officially when he interviewed Sartor at the board’s
office and evidently had reference to further offi-
cial action in his subsequent dealings.
The .court below properly took judicial notice
of ‘‘the general system which * * * has now
been in force and operation throughout the country
for several years’”’ (Crinnian v. United States, 1 F.
(2d) 643, 644 (C. C. A. 6)), in determining the
official nature of the actions to which the bribe was
to relate. In order to constitute official action
within the purview of Section 117 of the Criminal
Code (18 U.S. C. 207), it is not required that the
action be prescribed by statute, but sufficient that
it come within the authority and practice of the
agency which the officer is serving. United States
v. Birdsall, 233 U. 8S. 223; Haas v. Henkel, 216
U.S. 462; Benson v. Henkel, 198 U.S. 11; Daniels
v. United States, 17 F. (2d) 339 (C. C. A. 9);
Cohen v. United States, 294 Fed. 488 (C. C. A. 6),
certiorari denied, 264 U. 8S. 584. In the Birdsell
ease this Court stated that it is not ‘‘necessary
that the requirement should be prescribed by a
written rule or regulation. It might also be
found in an established usage which constituted
the common law of the department and fixed the
duties of those engaged in its activities. * * *
In numerous instances, duties not completely de-
fined by written rules are clearly established by
settled practice, and action taken in the course of
their performance must be regarded as within the
15
provisions of the above-mentioned statutes against
bribery.”’ 233 U.S. at p. 231.
Even if it were thought that functions relating
to Sartor’s furlough were beyond the legal author.
ity of the local board and of Cohen, the offense
of bribery under Section 117 of the Criminal Code
and conspiracy to bribe might be committed with
respect to them. It is sufficient if the official in
question ‘‘acted under color of authority,” at least
if he ‘‘was a de jure officer occupying at the time
a lawful office * * *,* * * acting in a de
facto capacity.”’ Fall vy. United States, 60 App.
D. C, 124, 49 F. (2d) 506, 509, certiorari denied,
283 U. S. 867. Such is the prevailing doctrine
with respect to the crime of bribery. Miller,
Handbook of Criminal Law, p. 474. It cannot be
doubted that Cohen’s acts were ‘“‘under color of
authority’’ in this sense. At the very least, he
acted ‘‘corruptly in a matter to which he * * *
[bore] some official relation’. People v. Lafaro,
250 N. Y. 336, 342 (1929).
2. Primarily on the theory that the conspiracy
had already ended, petitioners contend (Pet. 33-
36) that the trial court committed reversible error
in receiving in evidence testimony relating to oral
statements made by petitioner Schnee when he was
first questioned at his place of employment, prior
to his removal to police headquarters. Since it is
clear that the object of the conspiracy had not been
accomplished at the time the statements were
623712—44——--3
beh alta eae
= BERNE
16
made and that the bribery scheme was still opera-
tive except as it had been frustrated without the
knowledge of the parties, we submit that petition-
ers’ contention is without merit.
The contention has reference to Schnee’s con-
versation with Donovan, Popkin, and one Barr
immediately after the incident at Popkin’s theater
when Sartor’s envelope was recovered (supra,
p. 7). Donovan, Popkin, Barr, and Popkin’s
wife called on Schnee at his place of employment
at about 4:30 p. m. on March 6, 1943, about two
hours after Sartor had delivered part of the bribe
to Popkin (R. 130). In the course of their eon-
versations with Schnee he denied that he had had
any part in the bribery scheme or that he had
initially called Popkin earlier in the day. He ad-
mitted that he knew Cohen and that he had seen
him on the morning of that day, but he claimed
that he saw him with respect to an income tax
matter. (R. 117-123; 130-133; 150-151.) At this
point, Donovan advised Schnee ‘‘that I was going
to take him up town to the police station’? (R.
123).
We think it is clear that Schnee’s statements
were those of a conspirator seeking to conceal the
conspiracy and, as such, were admissible against
both petitioners. United States v. Goldstein, 135
F. (2d) 359 (C. C. A. 2); United States v. Woods,
66 F. (2d) 262 (C. C. A. 2); Fisher v. United
States, 8 F. (2d) 978 (C. C. A. 1), certiorari
denied, 271 U. S. 666. Contrary to petitioners’
contention at the trial (R. 121), the delivery of
17
the money by Sartor to Popkin did not accom-
plish the object of the conspiracy, which was the
receipt of $500 by Cohen and Schnee. At the
time of Schnee’s statements none of the money
had been received by petitioners. Sartor had
delivered $155 to Popkin (R. 84; see supra, p.
7), but even that money was recovered before
it reached petitioners. When he was interviewed,
petitioner Schnee plainly did not regard the econ-
spiracy as being at an end. In these circum-
stances, aside from the fact, pointed out by the
Circuit Court of Appeals (R. 399), that Schnee’s
statements were not prejudicial evidence since he
testified to the same effect at the trial, we submit
that the trial court properly concluded that ihe
statements were made prior to the termination
of the conspiracy and were therefore admissible
against both petitioners.
3. Finally, petitioners contend (Pet. 37-38)
that the trial court committed reversible error in
receiving in evidence the testimony of F. B. TI.
agent MacCulloch as to statements made by
Schnee while in custody, but prior to arraignment.
Particularly, petitioners complain of Mac-
Culloch’s testimony that Schnee refused to sign
a statement unless advised to do so by his at-
torney. Consideration of the circumstances sur-
rounding Schnee’s examination prior to arraign-
ment and of the fact that his statements were
of an exculpatory nature compels the conclusion,
in our view, that ‘‘the foundation for appli-
SELLER ALLS LEME MOLI RO CR Te Te ETE
SEMPER
Ash etn
Pe Pa Lee ae PRAM
18
cation of the McNabb doctrine are here totally
lacking.”’ (United States v. Mitchell, 322 U. S.
65, 69.) For it is clear that Schnee’s oral state-
ments were not secured during a period of illegal
detention and that petitioners” convictions do not
rest, in any sense, on the statements.
As we have shown, supra, pp. 8, 16, after Schnee
Was interviewed at his place of employment, he
was advised by detective Donovan that he would
have to accompany him to the Los Angeles police
station. At Schnee’s request they first: proceeded
to lis home, where he left his automobile, and
where he saw his wife (R. 125). He told her
that he was going to police headquarters for ques:
tioning (R. 252-253). At this point, shortly after
5:00 p.m. on Saturday, Mareh 6, 1943, Donovan
called the Federal Bureau of Investigation imto
the case since it involved a violation of federal
law (R. 124, 127, 183, 151). Sehnee testitied that
the agents arrived at police headquarters shortly
after 7:00 pom. (CR. 255). There is nothing in
the record showing any interrogation of Schnee
by the agents until almost LO: 00 p. un, at which
tune they requested him to accompany them to
the F. B. 1. office **so that we could get the story
in this case’? (R. 277). Schnee replied, ‘*L will
be very glad to go along and tell you what [ know”
(CR. 277, 260). Sehnee and the F. B. L. agents,
accompanied by Popkin, Sartor, Donovan, and
three other persons who apparently were wit-
nesses, proceeded to the F. B. 1. office, arriving
19
there at approximately 10:00 p. m. (R. 151, 257,
281).
Schnee testified that at a time not precisely
stated he requested and received permission from
the F. B. I. agents to telephone his wife. He did
not seek to call an attorney (R. 256, 268). The
agents then proceeded to examine each of the per-
sous present, none of whom had as yet been ar-
rested (R. 161, 260, 278), concerning the ease
(R. 279). In respect of the interrogation of
Schnee, Agent Wells testitied (R. 278-279), “I
advised Mr. Schnee that we were interested in
getting his story in this case; wanted to hear
what he had to say about it. I advised him at
that time that he did not have to make any state-
ment; [advised him that he did not have to say a
word unless he had talked to his attorney, or
unless he wanted to. IT advised him at that time
that anything he did say would be used against
him in court. He said. ‘Ll will be glad to tell you
fellows anything you want me to.’ *’ Schnee de-
nied any knowledge of illegal acts (R. 162). He
admitted that he had called Popkin at 4:00 p.m.
in response to his telephone message (supra, p.
8S) and that he knew Cohen and had seen him
that morning with regard to an income tax pro-
blem; but he denied knowing Sartor (R. 163-164,
257). Schnee deciined to sign a statement unless
he was advised to do so by his attorney (R. 164;
see also R. 258).
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During the interrogation of Schnee it was estab-
lished that in violation of Selective Service Regu-
lation 617.1 (infra, pp. 27-28), he did not have in
his possession a selective service registration card
(R. 279). Either at 1:00 a. m. or at 3:00 a, m.
in the mofning (on Sunday, Mareh 7, 1943) (R.
164, 258), he was arrested on a charge of not pos-
sessing such a card and was placed in jail. He
was not questioned further. At 8:00 a. m. on
Sunday the United States Attorney authorized the
issuance of a complaint charging Schnee with
failure to have his draft registration card in his
possession (R. 279-280). At an unspecified time
during the day he was arraigned before a United
States Commissioner and at 7:00 p. m. he was
released from custody on bond (R. 274, 259). On
Monday, July &, 1943, the United States Attorney
authorized the issuance of a complaint on the
present charges and Schnee was rearrested at that
time (R. 259, 280), but there is no evidence that
he was questioned further. Sehnee testified that
during the period of interrogation of from three
to five hours he was questioned only intermittently
and that he slept a part of the time (R. 258).
The only sharply disputed evidence in respect
of petitioner Schnee’s detention concerns the ef-
forts of an attorney to reach him at the F. B. L.
office Saturday evening. Ross, an attorney, testi-
fied that he was asked to inquire into Schnee’s
detention; that the Los Angeles police referred
21
him to the Federal Bureau of Investigation; that
he was unable to gain entrance into the building
containing the F. B. I. office: and that he tele-
phoned the F. B. 1. office but was advised that they
had no knowledge of Sehnee (R. 271-273). F. B.
I. agent Wells,* on the other hand, testified that all
persons were free to come to the F. B. 1. offices
at night; that ‘there is a night bell there. and the
elevator operator, who works for the building, will
bring them up, and they push that bell or knoek at
the door that adjoins the bell. There is an agent
In the reception room, and a clerk is there also,
right at the switclboard:"’ that he received no
telephone call from Ross on the night in ques-
tion; and that while he was at the Los Angeles
police station, no one inquired of him concerning
Schnee’s whereabouts (R. 278, 281: see also. R.
165-166).
Upon its facts this case is unlike the MeNabb
ease and more closely resembles United States v.
Mitchell, 322 U. S. 65. As in the Mitchell case,
Schnee was anxious immediately to state to the
F. B. L. agents his version of the pertinent events,
undoubtedly in the hope that he might clear him-
self. He testified that I told the F. B. 1. that l
would make a complete statement and tell them
all T knew about it” (R. 260). Moreover. as in
* Schnee testified (R. 268) that while he was at the F. B. 1.
office agent Wells talked on the telephone with Ross and that
Ross was informed that Schnee was not there.
Van ole
22
that case, the statements admitted in evidence were
not obtained by reason of coercion of any kind un-
less the time of questioning itself, from three to five
hours, is deemed coercive. Schnee was arraigned
promptly on Sunday before a United States Com-
missioner and released on bond. Even if there
had been unreasonable delay in arraignment, that
facet would not operate retroactively to render
inadmissible the evidence which had been properly
obtained. United States v. Mitchell, supra,
The statements which the agent, MaeCulloch,
testified Schnee made, moreover, were not essenti-
ally different from the statements which he made
when he was first interviewed at lis place of em-
ployment; and these had already been received
in evidenee at the time MaeCulloch testified
(R. 150-151, 163-164). Therefore the error, if
any, in admitting MaeCulloch’s testimony regard-
ing these statements was not prejudicial,
Petitioners’ complaint rests also upon the ad-
mission in evidence of testimony regarding
Schnee's refusal to sign a written statement. Pe-
titioners’ view (Pet, 37-38) appears to be that a
refusal to sign a statement is akin to the omission
of a criminal defendant to testify and = should
therefore not be referred to at the trial. This
argument, however, does not aid the petitioners,
since both of them testified in their defense and
therefore overcome any possible adverse inference
from the refusal to sign a statement. They were
23 \
not prejudiced by evidence of conduct on Schnee’s
part which was not harmful to their cause in the
light of subsequent events.
CONCLUSION
For the reasous stated, we respectfully submit
that the affirmance of the judgment of conviction
by the court below was free of error. The case
presents no conflict or important issue of law, and
the petition for a writ of certiorari should be
denied.
CHARLES Fany,
Solicitor General.
Tom C. CLARK,
Assistant Attorney General.
IrvING S. SHAPIRO,
Mayte B. GREENE,
Attorneys.
DECEMBER 1944.
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.