# Petition for Writ of Certiorari — Neville v. United States

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## Record

- **Collection:** Supreme Court brief
- **Document type:** Petition for Writ of Certiorari
- **Published:** January 1, 1975
- **Citation:** 423 U.S. 925

## Text

SUPREME COURT, U. &

In THE

Supreme Court of the United States

Ocroser TERM, 1974

No. 75°56

CLARENCE EDWARD NEVILLE,
Petitioner,
vs.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Respondent.

PETITION FOR A WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT

EDWARD M. GENSON
THEODORE M. BECKER
134 N. LaSalle Street

Suite 306
Chicago, Illinois 60602
(312) 726-9015

Attorneys for Petitioner

Midwest Law Printing Co., Chicago 60601, Financial 6-3988

INDEX

PAGE
thc pest Phra gai TT eo EN Oe 1
"dare omens tases oft a ELE Es 2 2
QUESTIONS PRESENTED 2

CONSTITUTIONAL AND STATUTORY PROVI-
cea EMT SORE RT ee aa +
STATEMENT OF THE CASE o.oo 4
REASONS FOR GRANTING THE WRIT 11

1.

The District Court’s Instruction, Permitting
The Jury To Find Petitioner Guilty Of Trans-
porting Stolen Vehicles If The “Major Parts” Of
A Stolen Vehicle Were Found To Have Been Com-
bined With Parts Of One Or More Other Legit-
imately Acquired Motor Vehicles Into One Rebuilt
Motor Vehicle, Is Prejudicial Error Where:
(A) The District Court Refused To Define, In
Any Manner, The Term “Major Parts”;

(B) The Instruction, Given The Circumstances
Of This Case, Permitted The Jurors To Con-
vict Petitioner Even If They Believed His
Theory Of Innocence, Because Of The Lack
Of Guidelines As To What Constitutes
“Major Parts” Of A Motor Vehicle;

(C) The Instruction Given In This Case Conflicts
Squarely With The Law Of Other Circuits _ 11

ii

Il.

Petitioner’s Fourth Amendment Rights Were
Violated By A Missouri Highway Patrolman’s
Warrantless Seizure Of Four Trucks Petitioner
Had Consigned To A St. Louis Auto Auction,
Where:

(A) The Trucks Were Secure In The Possession
Of The Auction, And Were Thereby Effec-
tively Immobilized ;

(B) The Highway Patrolman, Without Any At-
tempt To Obtain Judicial Approval, Seized
The Trucks, Transported Them From The
Auction Premises, Held Them Impounded,
Inspected Them, Invited Numerous Civilians
And Other Law Enforcement Officers To Jn-
spect Them, Disassembled Parts From Them,
Seratched Paint From Them, Ete., And Sub-
sequently Introduced Evidence Derived From
The Seizure At A Trial On Charges Filed
Ten Months After The Seizure ......................

ILL,

The Admission, In This Federal Trial, Of Evi-
dence Procured By Illinois State Law Enforcement
Officers Through Illegal Eavesdropping and Wire-
tapping, Violated Petitioner’s Due Process Rights
And The Fourth, Ninth And Tenth Amendments,
Where The Illinois Law Enforcement Officers Com-
mitted A Crime In Procuring The Evidence Con-
trary To Explicit Illinois Statutory Prohibition _.

IV.
Where Possession Of Recently Allegedly Stolen
Property Is Explained, No Instruction Permit-

14

16

ae

iii

ting An Inference Of Knowledge To Be Drawn
From Possession Of Recently Stolen Property
Should Be Given, And The Holding Below Con-
flicts' With That Of Other Circuits Concerning
The Constitutional Propriety Of Such An Instrue-
ne Lo OE PORE OE TT SINC EE OR Se 17

CONCLUSION nvvehnonniernnbiegnhiint , 18

APPENDICES:
Opinion and Judgment of Court of Appeals
\cslantneastmisinsichateanbsaeniabiniiinimneshabinnssniapnsigniasans App. A-la
Order of Court of Appeals Denying Rehear-
ing and En Banc Suggestion ........ App. B-1l4a
Order of Court of Appeals Staying Mandate
Pending Application for Certiorari .. App. C-15a
Constitutional and Statutory Provisions In-

IE ctsscichietaderse App. D-17a
CITATIONS
Cases
Barnes v. United States, 412 U.S. 837 |.) SENSES 18
Cardwell v. Lewis, 417 U.S. 583 ( 1974) 15
Chambers v. Maroney, 399 U.S. 42 RUUNITIIEL Scinicisstacinnanieitecs 15
Chimel v. California, 393 U.S. 752 ( FED Shiniecnconbeiiaiinnis 15
Coolidge v. New Hampshire, 403 U.S. 443 2 ee 15
Cooper v. California, 386 U.S. 58 (1967 ) 17

Freije v. United States, 386 F.2d 408 (1st Cir. 1967) ... 18
Gilbert v. Minnesota, 254 U.S. 325 TIONED deiidiccripicheisnesincg

iv

Goodman v. United States, 362 F.2d 965 (D.C. Cir.
a aabin 18

Lee v. Florida, 392 U.S. 378 (1968)... ees 17
McBoyle v. United States, 283 U.S. 25 (1931)... 12
People v. Richardson, 328 N.F.2d 260 (S.C.TH. 1975) . 16
Rea v. United States, 350 U.S. 214 (1956) 0000. 17
United States v. Bishop, 4384 F.2d 1284 (6th Cir. 1970) 12
United States v. Casey, 428 F.2d 229 (5th Cir. 1970)

seicilciakchasidisinnesphtngecniivalaitiapiicaisiieitabianidiiaain inthehainaieisihngapiitsteanl 13, 18
United States v. Lofty, 455 F.2d 506 (4th Cir. 1972) ... 18
United States v. Turley, 352 U.S. 407 (1957) -0.0......... 12
United States v. Wallace, 254 F. Supp. 653 (E.D. Tenn.

1965), aff'd 361 F.2d 494 (6th Cir. 1966) 202... 12
United States v. Wooten, 239 F.Supp. 123 (E.D. Tenn.

UIITIEIE -sihicinsbassarscaiassdreetnslisthaipnintebisen dedidbclipncapainaclabplecigitelndptesnchancipieay 13

Statutes
8 AES) ROREERSREE PRES aetna en ne eae 12
Ns Th I ahha aad cn cchinssivinhteimncetpranoccimsabsivenns 16
I a ed gnsianes 16
NIE, 0 EEE. ssi oninitnneencasiiideininemnegebanainnars inn
Illinois Revised Statutes, Chapter 38, § 14-1(b), 142

RN IPI Mcesiessccnecntonicasaniedlpanieisibintinasmanadahcssaksacctnensiaiinivainin 16
Missouri Revised Statutes, § 301.390 200000000 15

Miscellaneous

Senate Report, No. 1097, 90th Cong., 2d Sess., at 98... 17

In THE

Supreme Court of the United States

Ocroser Term, 1974

No.

CLARENCE EDWARD NEVILLE,
Petitioner,
vs.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Respondent.

PETITION FOR A WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT

The petitioner, Clarence Edward Neville, respectfully
prays that a writ of certiorari issue to review the judgment
and opinion of the United States Court of Appeals for the
Eighth Circuit entered in this proceeding on May 20, 1975.

OPINION BELOW

The opinion of the Court of Appeals, not yet reported,
appears in Appendix A hereto. No opinion was rendered
by the District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.

agi

JURISDICTION

The judgment of the Court of Appeals for the Eighth
Circuit was entered on May 20, 1975. A timely petition for
rehearing with en banc suggestion was denied on June 11,
1975, and this petition for certiorari was filed within thirty
days of that date. The Court of Appeals, on June 17, 1975,
entered an order staying the mandate pending application
for certiorari. This Court’s jurisdiction is invoked under
28 U.S.C. §1254(1).

QUESTIONS PRESENTED

1. Whether the District Court’s instruction, permitting the
jury to find petitioner guilty of transporting stolen ve-
hicles if the “major parts” of a stolen vehicle were
found to have been combined with parts of one or more
other legitimately acqui~ed motor vehicles into one re-
built motor vehicle, is prejudicial error where:

(A) The District Court refused to define, in any man-
ner, the term “major parts”;

(B) The instruction, given the circumstances of this
case, permitted the jurors to convict petitioner
even if they believed his theory of innocence, be-
cause of the lack of guidelines as to what consti-

tutes “major parts” of a motor vehicle;

a

(C) The instruction given in this case conflicts square-
ly with the law of other circuits?

2. Whether petitioner’s fourth amendment rights were vio-
lated by a Missouri highway patrolman’s warrantless
seizure of four trucks petitioner had consigned to a St.
Louis Auto Auction, where:

(A) The trucks were secure in the possession of the
auction, and were thereby effectively immobilized;

(B) The highway patrolman, without any attempt to
obtain judicial approval, seized the trucks, trans-
ported them from the auction premises, held them
impounded, inspected them, invited numerous ci-
vilians and other law enforcement officers to in-
spect them, disassembled parts from them, scratch-
ed paint from them, etc., and subsequently intro-
duced evidence derived from the seizure at a trial
on charges filed ten months afier the seizure?

3. Whether the admission, in this federal trial, of evidence
procured by Illinois state law enforcement officers
through illegal eavesdropping and wiretapping, violated
petitioner’s due process rights and the Fourth, Ninth,
and Tenth Amendments, where the Illinois law enforce-
ment officers committed a crime in procuring the evi-
dence contrary to explicit Illinois statutory prohibition?

4. Whether, where possession of recently allegedly stolen
property is explained, an instruction permitting an in-
ference of knowledge to be drawn from possession of
recently stolen property should be given, and whether
the holding below conflicts with that of other circuits
concerning the constitutional propriety of such an in-
struction?

iscillate

CONSTITUTIONAL AND STATUTORY
PROVISIONS INVOLVED

The Fourth, Fifth, Ninth and Tenth Amendments to the
United States Constitution; Title 18, United States Code,
Sections 2811, 23812, 2516(2), 2518(7) and 3231; Illinois
Revised Statutes, Chapter 38, Sections 14-1(b), 142(a)
and 14-4; and Missouri Revised Statutes, Section 301.390
are involved herein and are set forth in Appendix D.

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

A. The Proceedings Below

Petitioner Clarence Edward Neville was indicted on seven
counts in the United States District Court for the East-
ern District of Missouri for violations of the Dyer Act,
18 U.S.C. $2312 (1970). Each count concerns a separate
allegedly stolen truck. Following a jury trial, the petitioner
was convicted and sentenced to concurrent terms of five
years in prison on counts 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7; and to five years
imprisonment on counts 2 and 4, consecutive to the other
counts but concurrent with each other, for an aggregate of
ten years, and fined $35,000.00. On appeal, because of the
form of sentence, the Court of Appeals considered the suf-
ficiency of evidence only as to Counts 1 and 2. |

a ae
B. The Evidence

Petitioner owns and operates Neville Auto Sales, a sal-
vage yard and rebuilding operation in Springfield, Illinois,
covering forty-eight acres (Tr. 1186).

Generally, petitioner buys, by check, a wrecked truck
from an insurance pound or other salvage dealers, obtain-
ing title to the salvage truck. Petitioner also purchases vast
quantities of used and salvage parts at bulk sales and
auctions, which comprise his inventory. He then replaces
the wrecked cab, box, bed and front end with used replace-
ments in good condition drawn from his inventory. The
engines, transmissions and major running parts of the
salvage trucks generally are in working order and remain
in the rebuilt trucks, unless replaced from petitioner’s in-
ventory of used parts. Petitioner then paints, cleans and
repairs the rebuilt trucks as required and sells them at
auction or at his own place of business.

Petitioner installs the Vehicle Identification Number
plate of the salvage truck on the door of the replacement
cab, as the major parts correspond to those of the salvage
truck. Accordingly, title to the rebuilt truck is under the
salvage truck’s I.D. number.

It is uncontested that Neville Auto Sales submitted the
seven rebuilt trucks to a Missouri auto auction for sale
to dealers and the public. The three trucks comprising the
last three counts of the indictment were sold at the auction
on March 9, 1973 (Tr. 377).

The four trucks comprising the first four counts of the
indictment were examined at the auction by a Missouri
highway patrolman, seized without warrant, and retained
for inspection over a ten-month period.

a

The proof was similar as to each of the seven tracks. The

evidence presented at trial falls into three general catego.
ries.

CATEGORY OF PROOF: (1)
Certain non-running, non-major parts of each of
petitioner’s rebuilt trucks were identified by per
sons who had owned trucks that had heen stolen
from them. These witnesses were unable to iden-
tify major, running parts. Petitioner aecounted for
the legal acquisition of the major running parts.

These seven prior owners of trucks had been chosen by
state police from law enforcement agency lists of stolen
vehicles (Tr. 487). For all bunt the Count 2 truck, these
witnesses testified that they had viewed one of the trucks
and were able to identify certain non-running, non-major
parts. They were in each case unable to identify the major-
ity of running, major parts. Petitioner accounted for the
legal acquisition of the major running parts. [See CAT-
EGORY OF PROOF (III), below.| The Count 2 truek at
no time was viewed by an alleged prior owner (Tr. 495-97,
870). The parts identified and those that remain «wniden-
tified as to each truck are as follows:

Truck

Corer 1

Covrr 2

Cover 8

Cover 4

Parte Identified
Improperly closing door, drill
vd holes, wiring. left tailliedt,
emidge on door, ehild’s hont
(Tr, 829-93).

Repainted eab top (Tr 498
94),

Drilled holes, alternating back
up lights, tailpipe extension,
horn wire and hole, front cent
stain, a shoek abeorher, dente
and eeratehes (Tr, 868.79)

Parte Witheeses Teatified They
Were Unable to Identify

Engine, differential, steering
meehaniom, brakes, front ens
pension, rear end, frame, bem
per (Tr. 479, 824-94),

Bingine, frame (Tr. 495-97)

Pingine, tranemission, steering
wheel, brake and drum aseem
hly, snepension unit, front end
springs, air conditioner com
preseor, tires, wheels, frame,
bumper (Tr. 635-40, 877-90)

A piece of tape, tailpipe modi
fieation, strip of caulking on
door, paint on bumper, ereo
sote in bed, dente (Tr. 004.07)

Pingine, transmission, differen.
tinl, steering unit, snepension
unit, front end honsing, rear
end, wheel honsing, wheels,
tires, frame (Tr. 643-45, 905
19).

Court

Filled dent in hood, drilled
holes, missing seat belt em
Hlems, glue on dashboard, hand
diseoluration, key for glove
compartment, drug store re
eeipt (Tr. 922-27).

Eingine, differential, steering
wheel, brake drome, springs,
front end assembly, top of the
cab, rear end, wheel hensing.
grill work, frame, bormper (Tr
434.36, 922-46).

Count 6

Wax under hood, tailgate in
sulation, wiring on underside
of hood, holes in bed rail,
seratches on tailgate, paint on
dash (Tr, 957-61).

Engine, transmission, differ.
ential, steering wheel, power
steering unit, brake assembly,
power brake mit, front end
assembly, rear springs, rear
end, compressor, wheels, wheel
housing, tires, frame, radio
(Tr. 660-66, 960-73).

Count 7

Drilled holes in bed and side of
cab, dash and step bumper,
worn spot on hood, wiring on
sunvisor, turned antenna (Tr.
976-88).

Engine, transmission, power
brake nonit, brake assembly.
dram housing, brakes, front
end assembly, front springs,
leaf springs, air conditioner,
frame, tires (Tr. 672-77, 990-
95).

iialll si

Summarizing the above table, certain minor portions or
contents of the cabs and beds' or modifications thereto
were identified by these government witnesses. None were
able to identify positively any major parts of any of the
trucks. Petitioner accounted for the legal acquisition of the
major running parts.

CATEGORY OF PROOF: (IL)
The Government showed certain parts of peti-
tioner’s rebuilt trucks were similar to those of
stolen trucks, but could not positively identify
these parts as stolen.

This was circumstantial evidence, in the form of testi-
mony by the Missouri highway patrolman, concerning sim-
ilar engine sizes, paint colors, models, options and model
years (Tr. 398-402, 454, 463, 476, 480, 493-94, 501-02, 513-
14, 525-29, 535-42, 543-45). None of this evidence was con-
clusive or constituted positive identification.

1 For the information of automotive laymen, as were the jurors,
it might be well to define the terms ‘‘cab’’ and ‘‘bed’’, which were
used frequently at trial. The ‘‘cab’’ is the enclosed compartment
on a pick-up truck having a windshield at the front and seats for
the driver. The term ‘‘bed’’ refers primarily in the sense used at
trial to the box on a pick-up truck used for carrying goods.

cli

CATEGORY OF PROOF: (III)

Petitioner Neville accounted for the lawful acqui-
sition and use in the rebuilding process of the
major and running parts of each of the seven re-
built trucks.

it was uncontested that petitioner Neville held legal title
to the salvage trucks that constitute the foundations of the
rebuilt trucks. The government itself proved these facts
(Tr. 130, 172, 198, 212-16, 244-46, 251-55, 286-90, 296-305,
319-20, 333-40).

Petitioner rebuilt all but the Count 1 truck, which he
took in trade from a party known to him, who he had some
months before helped procure a bank loan on the same
truck (Tr. 1183, 1199-1204). This testimony was corrobo-
rated by the bank’s assistant cashier.

As to each of the Count 2-7 trucks, petitioner explained
his rebuilding process (Tr. 1205-1208, 1224-27, 1238-39,
1241-42, 1243-44, 1244-47).

Petitioner’s inventory of cabs, beds and other used parts
in good condition is acquired primarily through bulk pur-
chases (Tr. 1188-91). Petitioner proved various bulk pur-
chases across the United States in which he had bought
large quantities of salvage truck parts (Tr. 1253-57). Sev-
eral witnesses testified to the extensive quantity of used
parts in inventory at petitioner’s salvage yard (Tr. 1120,
1137, 1142). Witnesses testified they had seen petitioner
rebuild trucks (Tr. 1137, 1148). One witness testified to
having seen petitioner buy four to five hundred salvage
trucks at one auction (Tr. 1156-57), and testified that Ne-
ville Auto Parts is the largest salvage truck dealer in cen-
tral Illinois (Tr. 1157).

ee
C. An Uncorroborated, Impeached Witness

Harold Stewart, a convict whose major source of income
over the past fourteen years has been derived from steal-
ing motor vehicles (Tr. 718), testified that he had partici-
pated with petitioner in alleged uncharged acts concerning
unspecified vehicles (Tr. 721-22). He also claimed to have
knowledge that parts of the Count 1 and Count 3 trucks
were stolen (Tr. 739-40). He was impeached on cross-exam-
ination (Tr. 761-70, 1081, 1045-46, 1050-51, 1055). Petitioner
explicitly denied the truth of Stewart’s testimony (Tr.
1211-21).

D. Eavesdropping Evidence

In rebuttal, over objection, Decatur, Illinois Police Of-
ficer Donald Brooks testified concerning portions of a tele-
phone conversation between petitioner and Stewart. Brooks
had overheard this conversation while in Stewart’s home
on December 2, 1973.

E. The Seizure of Four Trucks

On April 20, 1973, the Missouri highway patrolman seized
and impounded for ten months, without seerch warrant,
the Counts 1-4 trucks from a Missouri auto auction. He
had inspected them pursuant to the auction’s request, but
had no knowledge they were stolen (Tr. 414). He observed
what he thought to be indicators causing him to become
suspicious, but also noted that the vehicle identification
numbers on the trucks matched the titles (Tr. 11-12). He
questioned petitioner, who was present at the auction, and
testified that he did not suspect petitioner of the theft of
the trucks (Tr. 26-27).

=

REASONS FOR GRANTING THE WRIT ©

I.

THE DISTRICT COURT’S INSTRUCTION, PERMITTING
THE JURY TO FIND PETITIONER GUILTY OF TRANSPORT-
ING STOLEN VEHICLES IF THE ‘‘MAJOR PARTS’’ OF A
STOLEN VEHICLE WERE FOUND TO HAVE BEEN COM-
BINED WITH PARTS OF ONE OR MORE OTHER LEGITI-
MATELY ACQUIRED MOTOR VEHICLES INTO ONE RE-
BUILT MOTOR VEHICLE, IS PREJUDICIAL ERROR WHERE:

(A) THE DISTRICT COURT REFUSED TO DEFINE, IN ANY
MANNER, THE TERM ‘‘MAJOR PARTS’’;

(B) THE INSTRUCTION, GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF
THIS CASE, PERMITTED THE JURORS TO CONVICT
PETITIONER EVEN IF THEY BELIEVED HIS THEORY
OF INNOCENCE, BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF GUIDE-
LINES AS TO WHAT CONSTITUTES ‘‘MAJOR PARTS’’
OF A MOTOR VEHICLE;

(C) THE INSTRUCTION GIVEN IN THIS CASE CONFLICTS
SQUARELY WITH THE LAW OF OTHER CIRCUITS.

As a result of the refusal of the District Court to define
“major parts” in any manner (Tr. 1231, 1417), in the cir-
cumstances of this case, the law, in effect, was whatever
the jury decided it to be. The jurors were allowed to create
law to fit the facts.

Petitioner Neville, a volume salvage truck dealer, ac-
counted for the lawful acquisition of the frames, founda-
tions and running parts of the seven rebuilt trucks. The
government generally proved certain minor, non-running
parts and contents of the cabs and beds of the rebuilt trucks
to have emanated from stolen trucks. Petitioner Neville
proved that he buys huge quantities of truck parts and

oii

bodies in bulk sales from legitimate dealers across the
United States. It certainly is possible that the allegedly
stolen parts were sold to petitioner, without his knowledge
of their stolen nature, as part of these bulk acquisitions.

In the circumstances of this case, the jurors could have
believed petitioner's account in entirety and still have been
compelled to find him guilty because they believed that
minor parts of cabs, beds and boxes (all non-running parts)
comprised “major parts” of a truck. It is impossible to dis-
cern the meaning of the verdict because of the erroneous
instruction.

Petitioner recognizes that convictions under the Dyer
Act have been held to be proper where major parts of
a motor vehicle in question are stclen, although the 18
U.S.C. § 2311 definition of “motor vehicle” makes no refer-
ence to “major parts” as falling within the prohibition.
Petitioner seeks no loophole in Congress’ effort, through
the Dyer Act, to curb auto theft. cf. United States v. Tur-
ley, 352 U.S. 407 (1957).

Petitioner does, however, urge this Court to consider
how far the instant case strays from accepted notions of
the meaning of “motor vehicle”. cf. McBoyle vy. United
States, 283 U.S. 25 (1981).

In the other cases in which similar situations have arisen
concerning rebuilt motor vehicles, other courts have pro-
ceeded differently and with utmost caution. In United
States v. Bishop, 434 F.2d 1284 (6th Cir. 1970), while the
court was able to affirm the conviction because the evidence
was sufficient to show that the entire motor vehicle was
transported interstate and thereafter split into two pieces
found near each other, the court mandated a “major parts”
instruction given in United States v. Wallace, 254 F. Supp.

a a

653 (.D. Tenn. 1965), aff'd 361 F. 2d 494 (6th Cir. 1966).
This Sixth Circuit instruction requires the court to charge
the jury that a “motor vehicle” must have “an engine, frame
and wheels,” and “that the body does not constitute a motor
vehicle” within the intendment of the Dyer Act. (434 F. 2d
at 1288). See also United States v. Wooten, 239 F. Supp.
123 (E.D. Tenn. 1965); United States v. Lofty, 455 F. 2d
506 (4th Cir. 1972) (truck trailer not a “motor vehicle,”
but “goods”) ; United States v. Casey, 428 F. 2d 229 (5th Cir.
1970), cert. denied 400 U.S. 839 (held: the fact that parts
of a stolen vehicle were found in an automobile in which
defendant was riding was insufficient to support the con-
viction of interstate transportation of a motor vehicle).
The Eighth Cireuit Court of Appeals in this case implicitly
recognized the important conflict that exists concerning
“major parts” instructions by its grant to petitioner of
a stay of mandate.

In direct conflict with the Sixth Cireuit’s holdings, the
Eighth Circuit in the instant case has approved an instruc-
tion that allows the jury to decide for itself what con-
stitutes “major parts” of a motor vehicle within the in-
tendment of the Dyer Act. The Eighth Cireuit of Appeals
below expressed its fear that the jury would be confused
by guidelines as to what constitutes “major parts.” Peti-
tioner contends, on the contrary, that the jury was con-
fused by the total lack of guidelines. Moreover, it is impos-
sible to discern whether, in fact, the jurors found peti-
tioner guilty based on non-major, non-running parts, or
whether they disbelieved his account of his lawful acquisi-
tion of the major-running parts of each rebuilt vehicle.
Therefore, the instruction given effectively vitiated peti-
tioner’s defense to the charges.

oa

Petitioner prays this Court to resolve the important con-
flict between the circuits and set forth guidelines concern-
ing the propriety and contents of “major parts” instrue-
tions in Dyer Act prosecutions,

II.

PETITIONER'S FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS WERE
VIOLATED BY A MISSOURI HIGHWAY PATROLMAN’S
WARRANTLESS SEIZURE OF FOUR TRUCKS PETITIONER
HAD CONSIGNED TO A ST. LOUIS AUTO AUCTION, WHERE:

(A) THE TRUCKS WERE SECURE IN THE POSSESSION
OF THE AUCTION, AND WERE THEREBY EFFEC.
TIVELY IMMOBILIZED ;

(B) THE HIGHWAY PATROLMAN, WITHOUT ANY AT-
TEMPT TO OBTAIN JUDICIAL APPROVAL, SEIZED
THE TRUCKS, TRANSPORTED THEM FROM THE AUC-
TION PREMISES, HELD THEM IMPOUNDED, IN.
SPECTED THEM, INVITED NUMEROUS CIVILIANS
AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO IN.
SPECT THEM, DISASSEMBLED PARTS FROM THEM,
SCRATCHED PAINT FROM THEM, ETC., AND SUBSE-
QUENTLY INTRODUCED EVIDENCE DERIVED FROM
THE SEIZURE AT A TRIAL ON CHARGES FILED TEN
MONTHS AFTER THE SEIZURE.

The Missouri highway patrolman, by seizing these ve-
hicles, exceeded the scope of his lawful authority and ex-
ceeded any authority the auction owner could have pur-
ported to impute to him. Petitioner does not contest that
the patrolman, at the request of the auction owner to whom
the trucks had been consigned for the purpose of sale, had
authority to inspect the trucks, Petitioner contends that,
pursuant to that initial inspection, even if the patrolman
observed facts that constituted probable cause for his be-
lief that the trucks were stolen, the seizure and impound-

a en

ment of the trucks could not lawfully be accomplished with-
out judicial process.

There was no showing by the Government that there was
any threat of the trucks being moved from the auction
premises, which was secure, guarded, locked and under the
control of an impartial third party. This Court has held
consistently that the “general requirement that a warrant
be obtained is basic to the Amendment's protection of pri-
vacy, and the burden is on those seeking [an] exception
to show the need for it.” Chimel vy. California, 395 U.S. 752,
762 (1969). The Government failed to meet that burden in
the instant case. .

The Court of Appeals below has cited only (in ef. form)
Chambers v. Maroney, 399 U.S, 42, 51-52 (1970). Petitioner
contends that the Chambers decision cannot support this
seizure. The panel notes its opinion that the patrolman
acted pursuant to Missouri statutory authority. Petitioner
respectfully submits that the Missouri statute cannot be
read to authorize this conduct, and further that if it can
be so read it is unconstitutional. The portion of the statute
omitted in the Court of Appeals’ Opinion explicitly requires
the peace officer to immediately commence judicial pro-
cess,”

Recently, in Cardwell vy. Lewis, 417 U.S. 583 (1974), this
Court distinguished its holding therein from Coolidge v.
New Hampshire, 403 U.S. 448 (1971), noting that the Cool-
tdge search was extensive. The seizure and subsequent in-
spection in the instant case far exceeds the scope of per-
missible activity defined in Cardwell,

2 Missouri Revised Statutes, Section 301.390: set forth in Appen-
dix D hereto.

—16--

III.

THE ADMISSION, IN THIS FEDERAL TRIAL, OF EVI.
DENCE PROCURED BY ILLINOIS STATE LAW ENFORCE.
MENT OFFICERS THROUGH ILLEGAL EAVESDROPPING
AND WIRETAPPING, VIOLATED THE PETITIONER'S DUE
PROCESS RIGHTS AND THE FOURTH, NINTH AND TENTH
AMENDMENTS, WHERE THE ILLINOIS LAW ENFORCE.
MENT OFFICERS COMMITTED A CRIME IN PROCURING
THE EVIDENCE CONTRARY TO EXPLICIT ILLINOIS STAT-
UTORY PROHIBITION.

The Illinois Revised Statutes’ prohibit any person, in-
cluding a law enforcement officer, from eavesdropping un-
less he does so with the consent of one party to the conver-
sation and at the request of a State’s Attorney. A violation
of these statutes carries with it criminal and civil liability.
The Illinois Supreme Court recently upheld this require-
ment in People v. :ichardson, 328 N.E.2d 260 (S.C. Tl.
1975).

In the instant case, the Government not only used tran-
scripts of unlawfully monitored conversations between
Petitioner and witness Stewart, but called a Decatur, IIli-
nois Police Officer to testify concerning a conversation he
overheard.

It has long been tecognized that, consistent with the
Ninth and Tenth Amendments, persons are citizens of both
the United States and the state in which they reside, Both
may enact criminal statutes for mutual protection unless
Congress has otherwise provided, Gilbert v. Minnesota,
254 U.S. 325 (1920). In the area of eavesdropping, the fed-
eral statute welcomes state legislation, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2516
(2), 2518(7). See especially 18 U.S.C. $3281.

3 Illinois Revised Statutes, Chapter 38, Sections 14-1(b), 14-2(a)
and 14-4: set forth in Appendix D hereto.

—17—

The question thus posed is whether the federal govern-
ment can use, in federal prosecutions, evidence and the
fruits thereof obtained by the criminal activity of state
agents, Petitioner vigorously contends it cannot, since the
power to create authorization procedures is reserved to the
states and such procedures are permitted to be more strin-
gent than federal rules. Senate Report, No. 1097, 90th
Cong., 2d Sess., at 98; Cooper v. California, 386 U.S. 58, 62
(1967); ef. Lee v. Florida, 392 U.S. 378 (1968); Rea v.
United States, 350 U.S. 214 (1956).

IV.

WHERE POSSESSION OF RECENTLY ALLEGEDLY STOL-
EN PROPERTY IS EXPLAINED, NO INSTRUCTION PERMIT-
TING AN INFERENCE OF KNOWLEDGE TO BE DRAWN
FROM POSSESSION OF RECENTLY STOLEN PROPERTY
SHOULD BE GIVEN, AND THE HOLDING BELOW CON.
FLICTS WITH THAT OF OTHER CIRCUITS CONCERNING
THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROPRIETY OF SUCH AN IN-
STRUCTION.

The Court of Appeals recognized that petitioner “is an
experienced automobile and truck salvage dealer and re-
builder who has operated for fifteen years in the Spring-
field, Illinois, area, He concentrates on late model trucks
and carries a large inventory of new and used parts and
used trucks.”

Petitioner’s defense, as reviewed above in the Statement
of the Case, consisted in large part of his explanation of
the lawful acquisition of salvage trucks and parts. He buys
large quantities of salvage, pays with checks, and titles
trucks in his own name, Certainly this is adequate expla-
nation of his unknowing possession of stolen parts.

—18—

In the instant case, the instruction allowing the jury to
infer petitioner’s knowledge that parts incorporated in the
rebuilt trucks were allegedly stolen had the effect of con-
verting petitioner’s exculpatory testimony in his defense
into inculpatory statements, The Kighth Circuit Court of
Appeals’ holding below conflicts with the holdings of the
First and District of Columbia Circuits, Goodman vy, United
States, 362 F.2d 965 (D.C. Cir. 1966); Freije v. United
States, 386 F.2d 408 (1st Cir. 1967), See also United States
v. Casey, 428 F.2d 229 (5th Cir. 1970). This Court's recent
holding in Barnes vy. United States, 412 U.S. 887 (1978) is
not read by petitioner as authorizing the instruction’s con-
stitutionality in the circumstances of the instant case.

CONCLUSION

—_——

For these reasons, a writ of certiorari should issue to
review the judgment and opinion of the Eighth Circuit.

Respectfully submitted,

EDWARD M. GENSON
THEODORE M. BECKER
134 N. LaSalle Street

Suite 306
Chicago, Hlinois 60602
(312) 726-9015

Attorneus for Petitioner

ox | Qo=

APPENDIX A

In The
| UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
For Tue Kianru Crrevir

No, 74-1708

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 7

Appellee,
Vs Appeal from the United
j \ States District Court
for the Eastern Dis-
CLARENCE EDWARD NEVILLE, trict of Missouri

Appellant.

Submitted: March 31, 1975
Filed: May 20, 1975

Before Ginson, Chief Judge, Lay, and Ross, Cireuit Judges.

CGisson, Chief Judge.

Defendant Clarence Edward Neville appeals his jury
convictions on seven counts for violations of the Dyer Act.’

} ' 18 U.S.C, § 2312 (1970). That section reads:

Whoever transports in interstate or foreign commerce a
notor vehicle or aircraft, knowing the same to have been
stolen, shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not
more than five years, or both.

a

He was sentenced by the District Court? to concurrent terms
of five years in prison on counts 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7 and to five
years imprisonment on counts 2 and 4, consecutive to the
other counts but concurrent with each other, for an ag-
gregate of ten years, and fined $85,000.

On appeal the defendant challenges (1) the court’s in-
struction permitting the jury to convict him for knowingly
transporting rebuilt trucks containing undefined “major
parts” of stolen vehicles; (2) the sufficiency of the evidence
to identify the stolen trucks, to prove they were “motor
vehicles,” or to prove defendant’s knowledge that they were
stolen; (3) the court’s instruction permitting the jury to
infer guilty knowledge from defendant’s unexplained pos-
session of recently stolen property; (4) the admission of
evidence of other crimes; and (5) the admission of evidence
allegedly obtained unconstitutionally. We affirm.

Neville is an experienced automobile and truck salvage
dealer and rebuilder who has operated for fifteen years in
the Springfield, Tlinois, area. He concentrates on late
model trucks and carries a large inventory of new and used
parts and used trucks. In March and April of 1973 he at-
tempted to sell through a St. Louis auto auction seven
stolen pickup trucks disguised to appear as used vehicles
legitimately titled. A total of fourteen trucks were involved
in the scheme, Seven “clean” trucks were legally obtained
by Neville—one purchased new through an accomplice,
the other six in wrecked condition. He removed their fac-
torv marked frames and all other identification markings
and transferred them to seven stolen trucks whose frames

2 The Honorable John K. Regan, United States District Judge
for the Eastern District of Missouri, passed sentence September
13, 1974.

—3a—

and identification markings he had removed and destroyed.
He and his employees then drove four of the trucks from
Illinois to St. Louis, Missouri, and consigned them to the
Floyd Hauhe Auto Auction for sale.

The auction company guarantees title to all trucks sold
by it and reserves the right to inspect the vehicles before
they are sold. Suspicious of the legitimacy of the titles to
the trucks, the manager of the auction contacted the Mis-
souri State Highway Patrol. On April 20, 1973, Sergeant
Mudd of the Missouri State Highway Patrol received the
keys and titles to the four late model trucks and proceeded
to inspect them.

Inspection revealed that the frames (which contain eon-
fidential or hidden identification numbers) had all been
changed. Also, the federal warranty sticker was missing
on each truck, even though one truck showed only 594 miles
on its odometer. The trucks were seized and subsequent
investigation revealed them to be stolen trucks disguised
with lawfully obtained frames and markings. Three other
stolen trucks previously sold by Neville through the auction
in March, 1973, were similarly traced.

Neville claimed to have purchased six of the seven trucks
in wrecked condition and rebuilt them for sale. The seventh
he claimed to have received in trade. All seven appeared
to be lawfully registered in Neville’s name but none showed
any signs of repair or body work; none was properly iden-
tified with all factory and registration markings; none
matched the description of the original truck registered
with the same identification numbers; and two of the seven
carried no identification numbers at all. At trial the owners
of six of the seven stolen trucks positively identified them
as their own, and government witness Harold Stewart,

a

Neville’s accomplice, admitted stealing the remaining truck
and delivering it to Neville in 1972.

I. The defendant’s primary challenge is to the court’s
instruction permitting the jury to convict as to each count
if it found that the defendant transported rebuilt trucks
in interstate commerce knowing that they had been recon-
stituted by combining the “major parts” of stolen vehicles
with parts of other vehicles.’ Relying on United States v.
Bishop, 434 F.2d 1284 (6th Cir. 1970), and United States
v. Wallace, 361 F.2d 494 (6th Cir. 1966), defendant argues
that he was prejudiced by the court’s failure to define
“major parts” to guide the jury in determining whether
the trucks Neville was aceused of transporting contained

% The court instructed the jury in pertinent part as follows:

The term ‘‘motor vehicle’’ includes an automobile, truck, or
any self-propelled vehicle designed for running on land but
not on rails,

4 * *

It is an essential element of the crime charged that the
pickup trucks involved had been ‘‘stolen.”’ In determining
whether the pickup trucks had been stolen, the Court in-
structs the Jury that whenever one person’s motor vehicle
is acquired or is thereafter possessed * * * with the intent
to deprive the owner of the right and benefits of ownership,
s eh motor vehicle is ‘‘stolen’’ as that term is used in these
instructions.

In this connection you are instructed that if you find as
to any count that the motor vehicle described therein was
stolen and that thereafter the major parts of said stolen
motor vehicle were combined with the major parts of one
or more other motor vehicles into one rebuilt motor vehicle
which was thereafter transported in interstate commerce, then
you may find that the rebuilt motor vehicle is the stolen
motor vehicle described in said count which the defendant is
charged with transporting * * *. (Emphasis added.)

pe

the requisite stolen parts to constitute them stolen “motor
vehicles” within the meaning of the Act.

18 U.S.C. § 2311 (1970) provides that “motor vehicle in-
cludes an automobile, automobile truck, automobile wagon,
motorcycle, or any other self-propelled vehicle designed for
running on land but not on rails.” “Major parts,” however,
are not independently defined in the Act. The District
Court’s charge to the jury tracked the statutory definition
of “motor vehicles,” but did not independently define or
list their “major parts.” The Government submits, and we
agree, that no further definition of the term “major parts”
is required. It is sufficient to show under the statute “that
only some of the major parts of the vehicle in question
were stolen.” United States y. Stettmeier, 465 F.2d 436, 437
(9th Cir. 1972) (major parts of stolen aircraft). Onee the
trial judge delivers a legally aceurate jury charge, as here.
“the extent of its amplification must rest largely in his
discretion.” United States vy. Bayer, 331 U.S. 532, 536 (1947).
We find no evidence that the jury misunderstood the charge
and no abuse of diseretion in this case,

“Major parts” is a commonly used conversational term
without a technical meaning in this statutory context: it
is not a word of art. Its meaning is within the jury’s knowl-
edge and experience and need not be explained. Indeed,
as we have recognized in other contexts, to indulge in vari-
ations of statement in order to define otherwise under-
standable language might well confuse as much as help
the jury. Guon v. United States, 285 F.2d 140, 149 (8th Cir.
1960). Moreover, excessive definitions of secondary, non-
statutory concepts might often because of imprecise lan-
guage contain technical deficiencies that for lack of com-
pleteness would enable criminals to argue compliance with

—6ba—

the definition, though in actuality violating the statute and
its spirit.’

On the contrary, the Dyer Act is not to be construed so
narrowly as to disregard the paramount congressional pur-
pose of curbing commercial interstate traffic in stolen motor
vehicles. See United States v. Turley, 352 U.S. 407, 413-14
(1957). Without “major parts” of a vehicle being encom-
passed within the definition of “motor vehicles,” enforce-
ment of the Act might be foreclosed simply whenever a
thief swaps stolen parts before being caught. We believe
Congress intended no such impediment to enforcement.
United States v. Stettmeter, supra at 437.

In this case we are far from a marginal situation in
which only one major part, i.e., a set of wheels, is proved
to be stolen. Here, the subject vehicles themselves were all
proved stolen and identified. The basic changes made by
the defendant on the stolen vehicles were some repainting
and substitution of the frames and clean identification
plates and numbers of totally wrecked vehicles. Titles from
the wrecked vehicles were then used to merchandise the
stolen vehicles. Such an obvious loophole need not be pro-
vided for fences and dealers in stolen vehicles. The au-

* In many situations a comprehensive definition is impossible to

fashion :
Human language is not so constructed that it is possible to
prevent people from misunderstanding it if they are deter-
mined to do so, and overdefinition for that purpose is like
the attempt to rid a house of dust by mere sweeping. You
make more dust than you remove. If too fine a point is put
upon language you suggest a still greater refinement in quib-
bling.

3 J. Stephens, A History of the Criminal Law in England 305-06
(1883).

—J7a—

thorities cited by the defendant do not hold to the eon-
trary.®

Il. Neville also challenges the sufficiency of the evidence
to identify the stolen trucks, to prove they were “motor
vehicles,” and to prove his knowledge that they were stolen.
However, after a careful review of the record in a light
most favorable to the Government, granting it the benefit

* In United States v. Bishop, 434 F.2d 1284 (6th Cir. 1970), the
Sixth Circuit affirmed a Dyer Act conviction for tra i

|The Act only] makes unlawful the transportation of a ‘“‘mo-
tor vehicle.’’ It does not Separately make unlawful the trans-

to have been stolen. * * * Byen considering the broad con-
gressional purposes of the Dyer Act, * * * it cannot be said
that an engine block taken by itself may be fairly encompassed
within the wording of [the Act].
434 F.2d at 1287.
The court held, however, that the evidence as a whole was suffi-
cient for the jury to find the defendant guilty and approved the
inference from his admitted possession of the engine block that
he was a party to the interstate transportation of the entire stolen
vehicle.

In United States v. Wallace, 361 F.2d 494 (6th Cir. 1966), four

not appear for argument. The trial court’s Opinion recounts the
jury instruction that a “motor vehicle’? must have an engine,
frame and wheels capable of travelling on land and that the body
alone is not a ‘‘motor vehicle’’ within that definition. The court
of appeals, however, did not comment on the charge or otherwise
require a definition of “‘major parts’’ as part of the jury charge.
United States v. Wallace, 354 F.Supp. 653, 654 (E.D.Tenn. 1965),
af}'d, 361 F.2d 494 (6th Cir. 1966).

idl in

of all factual inferences, Whiteside vy. United States, 3A6
F.2d 500, 502 (Sth Cir.), cert. denied, 384 U.S. 1023 (1965),
we conclude that there was not only substantial, but over-
whelming, evidence to support the verdict. Moody v. United
States, 477 F.2d 548 (Sth Cir. 1973).

The first count of the indictment concerned a red 1973
Chevrolet pickup containing a V-8 engine and most avail-
able options. Its coded identification number and warranty
card, however, indicated that it should have contained only
a six cylinder engine and very few optional features. A truck
of that description, orange in color, bearing the same iden-
tification number, had in fact been purchased from a St.
Louis dealer by one Evans in December, 1972. Neville
claimed he obtained it from Evans in a trade.

Harold Stewart, however, testified that Neville admitted
he and Evans stole the fully equipped red truck and _re-
placed its frame and identifiable parts with those from the
less expensive orange truck purchased by Evans. Thus,
Neville hoasted, they “owned” a fully equipped stolen truek
with a legitimate identification number and bill of sale. At
trial the true owner of the red truck positively identified
his custom camper modifications and wiring installed on
the truck before it was stolen. Thus, as to the first eount
in the indictment, there was adequate evidence for the jury
to identify the truck as stolen, to find that even rebuilt it
retained enough original major parts to remain a statutory
“motor vehicle.” and to conelude that Neville knew it was
stolen.

The second count of the indietment identified a maroon
1972 Ford pickup containing a V-8 engine. Its coded serial
number, however, also represented a different truck—a
green 1971 Ford pickup with a smaller engine salvaged to

|
k
:
:

willie

Neville after being wrecked in a fatal collision in 1972,
Harold Stewart identified the maroon 1972 Ford pickup
as one he had stolen for Neville from an Illinois Ford
dealer in September, 1972, and delivered to Neville after
removing and destroying its marked frame and identifying
numbers. Thus, as to the second count, there was sufficient
evidence for conviction.

In sum, as to both counts there was ample evidence from
which the jury could find that Neville, an experienced and
successful purveyor and fence of stolen trucks and major
truck parts, knowingly transported stolen vehicles in inter-
state commerce. The evidence against the defendant is
equally persuasive and damaging on the other five counts.*

IIT. Neville also challenges the court’s instruction per-
mitting the jury to conclude that he knew the vehicles were
stolen by virtue of the inference raised by his unexplained
possession of the recently stolen property, The Government
offered proof that defendant Neville employed parts from
salvage vehicles to camouflage and title stolen trucks for
resale. Neville’s explanation was that he legitimately re-
built wrecked trucks and claimed not to have known the
trucks he sold were stolen. The court instructed the jury
that possession of recently stolen property, if not satis-
factorily explained, is ordinarily a cireumstance from which

* Beeause we find the evidence of Neville’s guilt sufficient to
Support the aggregate ten year sentence on counts one and two,
and because the sentences passed on counts three through seven
are effectively concurrent with those of the first two, it is un-
necessary for us to consider the sufficiency of the evidence re-
lating to the remaining counts, Barnes v. United States, 412 US.
837, 848 n. 16 (1973) ; United States vy. Leach, 429 F.2d 956, 960
(8th Cir. 1970), cert. denied, 402 U.S. 986 (1971) ; see Benton vy.
Maryland, 395 U.S. 784, 788-90 (1969).

—10a—

one may reasonably infer that the person in possession
knew the property was stolen, but that no such inference
can be drawn if the possession is explained in a manner
consistent with the defendant’s innocence."

We have recognized the evidentiary rule permitting such
an inference as “factually sound and necessary.” Aron v.
United States, 382 F.2d 965, 970 (8th Cir. 1967). The in-
struction was a correct statement of the law, see Earnhart
v. United States, 417 F.2d 547 (D.C. Cir. 1969), cert. denied,
397 U.S. 1068 (1970), properly given in the instant cireum-
stances. Harding v. United States, 337 F.2d 254, 256 (8th
Cir. 1964).

IV. At trial Neville objected to testimony by state po-
lice officers describing the proper Illinois and Missouri
procedures for affixing vehicle identification plates onto
rebuilt trucks on the ground that the challenged testimony,
by inference, accused Neville of violating state registra-
tion procedures, another crime. We find no errer in the
admission of the evidence. The testimony was not calculated
to infer that the defendant committed another crime but
was relevant to the jury’s understanding of the crime
charged. Rule 401, Fed. R. Ev. ;* Babb v. United States, 351
F.2d 863, 867 (Sth Cir. 1965). Furthermore, the defendant
proceeded to develop the matter more extensively in his
cross-examination of one of the officers and cannot now
be heard to complain that the Government led the jury

* The challenged instruction is substantially similar to that ap-
proved in Barnes v. United States, 412 U.S. 837, 840 n. 3 (1973).
® Although the Federal Rules of Evidence, Pub. L. No. 93-595
(Jan. 2, 1975), are not effective until July 1, 1975, we feel it ap-
propriate to cite them as a primary source of evidentiary rules
where not contrary to caselaw.

» TAS te aie

tlh

;

—lla—

astray by first mentioning it. Moreover, the defendant
failed to object to being cross-examined by the Government
as to his own knowledge of the lawful identification proce-
dures.

His objection to being cross-examined regarding threats
made against government witness Stewart and Stewart’s
alleged admission of perjury is similarly without merit.
It also passed without defense objection at trial and merely
developed material which was introduced by the defendant
in his direct testimony. It was relevant for his impeach-
ment, Rule 611(b), Fed. R. Ev.; United States vy. Olsen,
487 F.2d 77, 82 (8th Cir. 1973), cert. denied, 415 U.S. 993
(1974), and was well within the discretionary limits for
cross-examination. United States y. Vaughn, 486 F.2d 1318,
1321-22 (8th Cir. 1973).

V. The defendant argues that the warrantless seizure
of the four consigned trucks from the St. Louis auction
by Sergeant Mudd of the Missouri State Highway Patrol
on April 20, 1973, was unreasonable and violated his Fourth
Amendment rights. He does not, however, challenge the
Officer’s initial inspection of the trucks at the auction. We
find Officer Mudd’s subsequent seizure of the trucks to
have been reasonable, based upon probable cause to believe
that they were stolen, and find no error in the admission
of evidence developed from them.

Neville surrendered possession of the trucks to the
auction for public sale and “assumed the risk” of official
examination. Frazier y. Cupp, 394 U.S. 731, 740 (1969).
As previously noted, the auction company guaranteed title
to all vehicles it sells and reserved the right to inspect the
trucks before selling them. It therefore had requisite con-
trol over the vehicles to request official inspection and to

—12a—

consent to their search. Thereafter, Officer Mudd’s seizure
of the vehicles was reasonable under the circumstances
revealed by the officer’s unchallenged initial inspection. Cf.
Chambers v. Maroney, 399 U.S. 42, 51-52 (1970). The trucks’
federal safety stickers and identification plates were loose
and appeared not to have been factory attached; there
were discrepancies between the trucks’ actual engines, op-
tions and color characteristics and the characteristics de-
scribed by their coded serial numbers; the trucks seized
were easily moveable and situated at a public auction; and
the officer had a statutory duty to impound them.’

The defendant also challenges the admission of evidence
of overheard telephone conversations consisting of testi-
mony of government witness Stewart recalling telephone
conversations he had with the defendant, government cross-
examination of the defendant using transcripts of moni-
tored telephone conversations, and testimony by a Decatur,
Illinois, police officer reporting a telephone conversation
between Stewart and the defendant that he overheard with
Stewart's consent. The defendant argues that the officer

* Mo. Rev. Stat. § 301.390 (1969) provides in pertinent part:

1. No person shall sell, or offer for sale, or shall own or
have the custody or possession of a motor vehicle * * * on
which the original manufacturer’s number or other distin-
guishing number has been destroyed, removed, covered, al-
tered or defaced, and no person shall sell, offer for sale, own
or have the custody or possession of a motor vehicle * * *
having no manufacturer’s number or other original number,
or distinguishing number.

2. Every peace officer who has knowledge of a motor ve-
hicle * * * the number of which has been removed, covered,
altered, destroyed or defaced, and for which no special num-
ber has been issued, shall immediately seize, |and] take pos-
session of such motor vehicle * * *.

SEC ae MEER INES SE Mla LMR DR dS OMENS huis id ies nts hea eibs

Si la A ae a ed

—1l3a—

violated the Illinois anti-eavesdropping statute, Ill. Rev.
Stat. ch. 38, §§ 14-1 and 14.2 (1973), in overhearing the con-
versation, and that admission of any of the telephone evi-
dence was constitutionally improper. The transcripts of
the conversations, however, were not admitted into evi-
dence.

We find no error in the admission of any of the evidence
of telephone conversations between defendant Neville and
government witness Stewart. Gathering evidence by over-
hearing a telephone conversation with the consent of one
party does not violate the other party’s Fourth Amend-
ment rights. United States v. White, 401 U.S. 745, 752 (1971)
(plurality opinion). Misplaced expectations of confidence
or trust in an accomplice are not constitutionally protected.
Hoffa v. United States, 385 U.S. 293, 302 (1966). Moreover,
wiretap or other evidence obtained without violating the
Constitutional or federal law is admissible in a federal
criminal triai even though obtained in violation of state
law.”° On Lee v. United States, 343 U.S. 747, 754-55 (1952);
United States v. Keen, 508 F.2d 986, 989 (9th Cir.), petition
for cert. filed, 43 U.S.L.W. 3374 (U.S. Dec. 26, 1974) (No.
74-806).

The judgments of conviction are affirmed.
A true copy.
Attest:
Clerk, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit.

70 We intimate no view of the propriety of the Decatur, Illinois,
police officer’s conduct under state law.

ey Sa

APPENDIX B

In Tue
UNTITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

For Tur Eieutu Cirevir

No. 741708 September Term, 1974
THE UNITED STATES,
Appellee, Appeal from the United
bs States District Court
( for the Eastern Dis-
CLARENCE E. NEVILLE trict of Missouri
Appellant.

The Court having considered petition for rehearing en
bane filed by counsel for appellant, and being fully advised
in the premises, it is ordered that the petition for rehear-
ing en bane be, and it is hereby, denied.

Considering the petition for rehearing en bane as a peti-
tion for rehearing, it is ordered that the petition for re-
hearing also be, and it is hereby, denied.

June 11, 1975

ee

—lia—

APPENDIX C

_

United States Court of Appeals
For the Eighth Circuit
St. Louis, Mo. 63101,

June 17, 1975
Robert C. Tucker, Clerk
Mr. Edward M. Genson
134 North LaSalle Street, Suite 306
Chicago, Hlinois 60602
Mr. Theodore F, Schwartz
7701 Forsyth
Clayton, Missouri 63105
Hon. Donald J. Stohr
U.S. Attorney
St. Louis, Missouri
Mr. William D. Rund, Clerk
U.S. District Court
St. Louis, Missouri
Re: No. 741708. The U. S. v. Neville.
Dear Sirs:

Enclosed herewith to each of you is copy of order entered
by us today in the above case at the direction of the Court.

Very truly yours,
/s/ Robert C. Tucker,
Clerk

—16a—

In THE
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

For THe Eiegutru Circuit

No. 74-1708 September Term, 1974
THE UNITED STATES,
Appellee,
vs.
CLARENCE E. NEVILLE,
Appellant.

On motion of Appellant, it is now here ordered that the
issuance of the mandate herein be, and the same is hereby,
stayed for a period of thirty days from this date. If within
that time there is filed with the Clerk of this Court a cer-
tificate of the Clerk of the Supreme Court of the United
States that a petition for writ of certiorari has been filed,
the stay hereby granted shall continue until the final dis-
position of the case by the Supreme Court.

—l7a—
APPENDIX D

7

CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS INVOLVED
Constitution of the United States of America

AMENDMENT [TYV.]

The right of the people to be secure in their persons,
houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches
and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall
issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or af-
firmation, and particularly describing the place to be search-
ed, and the persons or things to be seized.

AMENDMENT [V.]

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or other-
wise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment
of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval
forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of
War or public danger, nor shall any person be subject for
the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb;
nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness
against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property,
without due process of law; nor shall private property be
taken for public use, without just compensation.

AMENDMENT [IX.]

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights,
shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained
by the people.

AMENDMENT [X.]
The powers not delegated to the United States by the
Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are re-
served to the States respectively, or to the people.

eitiitlisy

STATUTORY PROVISIONS INVOLVED

Federal
18 U.S.C. § 2311:

Definitions
As used in this chapter:

“Aircraft” means any contrivance now known or here-
after invented, used, or designed for navigation of or for
flight in the air;

“Cattle” means one or more bulls, steers, oxen, cows,
heifers, or calves, or the carcass or carcasses thereof ;

“Money” means the legal tender of the United States or
of any foreign country, or any counterfeit thereof ;

“Motor vehicle” includes an automobile, automobile truck,
automobile wagon, motorcycle, or any other self-propelled
vehicle designed for running on land but not on rails;

“Securities” includes any note, stock, certificate, bond,
debenture, check, draft, warrant, traveler’s check, letter of
credit, warehouse receipt, negotiable bill of lading, evidence
of indebtedness, certificate of interest or participation in
any profit-sharing agreement, collateral-trust certificate,
preorganization certificate or subscription, transferable
share, investment contract, voting-trust certificate; certifi-
cate of interest in property, tangible or intangible; instru-
ment or document or writing evidencing ownership of goods,
wares, and merchandise, or transferring or assigning any
right, title, or interest in or to goods, wares, and merchan-
dise; or, in general, any instrument commonly known as a
“security”, or any certificate of interest or participation in,
temporary or interim certificate for, receipt for, warrant,
or right to subscribe to or purchase any of the foregoing,
or any forged, counterfeited, or spurious representation of
any of the foregoing;

“Tax stamp” includes any tax stamp, tax token, tax
meter imprint, or any other form of evidence of an obliga-

=

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tion running to a State, or evidence of the discharge there-
of ;

“Value” means the face, par, or market value, whichever
is the greatest, and the aggregate value of all goods, wares,
and merchandise, securities, and money referred to in a
single indictment shall constitute the value thereof.

June 25, 1948, c. 645, 62 Stat. 805; Oct. 4, 1961, Pub.L.
87-371, 75 Stat. 802.

18 U.S.C. § 2312:

Transportation of stolen vehicles

Whoever transports in interstate or foreign commerce a
motor vehicle or aircraft, knowing the same to have been
stolen, shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned
not more than five years, or both.

June 25, 1948, ¢. 645, 62 Stat. 806.

18 U.S.C. § 2516(2):

Authorization for interception of wire or oral communica-
tions
o oe *

(2) The principal prosecuting attorney of any State, or
the principal prosecuting attorney of any political subdi-
vision thereof, if such attorney is authorized by a statute
of that State to make application to a State court judge of
competent jurisdiction for an order authorizing or approv-
ing the interception of wire or oral communications, may
apply to such judge for, and such judge may grant in con-
formity with section 2518 of this chapter and with the ap-
plicable State statute an order authorizing, or approving
the interception of wire or oral communications by investi-
gative or law enforcement officers having responsibility for
the investigation of the offense as to which the application
is made, when such interception may provide or has pro-
vided evidence of the commission of the offense of murder,
kidnapping, gambling, robbery, bribery, extortion, or deal-
ing in narcotic drugs, marihuana or other dangerous drugs,

—

or other crime dangerous to life, limb, or property, and
punishable by imprisonment for more than one year, desig-
nated in any applicable State statute authorizing such in-
terception, or any conspiracy to commit any of the forego-
ing offenses.

Added Pub.L. 90-351, Title IIT, § 802, June 19, 1968, 82
Stat. 216.

18 U.S.C. § 2518(7):

Procedure for tnterception of wire or oral communications

(7) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chap-
ter, any investigative or law enforcement officer, specially
designated by the Attorney General or by the principal
prosecuting attorney of any State or subdivision thereof
acting pursuant to a statute of that State, who reasonably
determines that—

(a) an emergency situation exists with respect to
conspiratorial activities threatening the national secu-
rity interest or to conspiratorial activities characteris-
tie of organized crime that requires a wire or oral
communication to be intercepted before an order au-
thorizing such interception can with due diligence be
obtained, and

(b) there are grounds upon which an order could
be entered under this chapter to authorize such inter-
ception,

may intercept such wire or oral communication if an ap-
plication for an order approving the interception is made
in accordance with this section within forty-eight hours
after the interception has occurred, or begins to oceur. In
the absence of an order, such interception shall immediate-
ly terminate when the communication sought is obtained
or when the application for the order is denied, whichever
is earlier. In the event such application for approval is
denied, or in any other case where the interception is ter-
minated without an order having been issued, the contents

—2la—

of any wire or oral communication intercepted shall be
treated as having been obtained in violation of this chap-
ter, and an inventory shall be served as provided for in
subsection (d) of this section on the person named in the
application.

18 U.S.C. § 3231:

District courts

The district courts of the United States shall have orig-
inal jurisdiction, exclusive of the courts of the States, of
all offenses against the laws of the United States.

Nothing in this title shall be held to take away or im-
pair the jurisdiction of the courts of the several States
under the laws thereof.

June 25, 1948, ¢. 645, 62 Stat. 826.

State

Illinois Revised Statutes,
Chapter 38, §§ 14-1(b), 14-2(a) and 14-4:

14-1. Definition.)

(b) Eavesdropper.

An eavesdropper is any person, including law enforce-
ment officers, who operates or participates in the operation
of any eavesdropping device contrary to the provisions of
this Article.

* . >

14-2. Elements of the Offense.] A person commits

eavesdropping when he:

(a) Uses an eavesdropping device to hear or record all
or any part of any conversation unless he does so with the
consent of any one party to such conversation and at the
request of a State’s Attorney; or

—

14-4. Sentence.) Eavesdropping is a Class A misde-
meanor.

Amended by P.A. 77-2638, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1973.

[Note: Legislation in Illinois has been introduced to in-
crease the classification to a felony.]

Missouri Revised Statutes,
Section 301.390:

“1. No person shall sell, or offer for sale, or shall own
or have the custody or possession of a motor vehicle,
trailer or motor vehicle tire on which the original mann-
facturer’s number or other distinguishing number has been
destroyed, removed, covered, altered or defaced, and no
person shall sell, offer for sale, own or have the custody
or possession of a motor vehicle or trailer having no manu-
facturer’s number of other original number or distinguish-
ing number.

“2. Every peace officer who has knowledge of a motor
vehicle, trailer or motor vehicle tire, the number of which
has been removed, covered, altered, destroyed or defaced,
and for which no special number has been issued, shall
immediately seize, take possession of such motor vehicle,
trailer or motor vehicle tire, arrest the supposed owner or
custodian thereof, and cause prosecution to be begun in
a Court of competent jurisdiction.”

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/brief%3Amicro_IA40385608_1495%3A1. Public record. Not legal advice.
