United States v. Simmons

• Decision Date: 01 October 1877
• Citation: 24 L.Ed. 819,96 U.S. 360
• Parties: UNITED STATES v. SIMMONS
• Court: U.S. Supreme Court

96 U.S. 360

24 L.Ed. 819

UNITED STATES v. SIMMONS.

October Term, 1877

CERTIFICATE of division between the judges. of the Circuit Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.

Simmons was indicted in the Circuit Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York for violating sects. 3258, 3259, 3266, and 3281 of the Revised Statutes of the United States. The indictment contained four counts, the second of which was drawn under sect. 3266, and the fourth under sect. 3281. It is as to the sufficiency of these counts that the case comes here on certificate of division in opinion.

The facts are fully stated in the opinion of the court.

The Solicitor-General, for the United States, cited United States v. Mills, 7 Pet. 138; United States v. Cook, 17 Wall. 168; United States v. Cruikshank et al., 92 U. S. 542.

Mr. Benjamin F. Tracy, for the defendant, cited Lipe v. Becker, 1 Den. (N. Y.) 568; United States v. Clark, 1 Gall. 497; Whart. Crim. Law, 285, 294, 300, 304, 366, 369, 372, 382, 2705; 1 Archb. Crim. Pr. & Pl. 86, note 2; id. 88; United States v. Mills, 7 Pet. 138; People v. Wilbur, 4 Park (N. Y.), Cr. 19; Ewright v. People, 21 How. (N. Y) Pr. 383; People v. Allen, 5 Den. (N. Y.) 76; 1 Hale, P. C. 517, 526, 535; United States v. Pond, 2 Curt. 265; 1 Bishop, Crim. Proc. 141, 372; United States v. Bentilini, 15 Int. Rev. Rec. 32; United States v. Howard, 1 Sawyer, 507; United States v. States, 8 How. 41; United States v. Rood, 1 Low. 232; United States v. Cruikshank et al., 92 U. S. 542; People v. Gaige, Green, Cr. L. R. 524; United States v. Watkins, 3 Cranch C. C. 441; People v. Gates, 13 Wend. (N. Y.) 311; United States v. Thomas, 4 Ben. 370; State v. Jackson, 39 Conn. 299; United States v. Claflin, 13 Blatchf. 178; The Emily, 9 Wheat. 381; United States v. Gooding, 12 id. 460; Fillinger v. The People, 15 Abb. (N. Y.) Pr. 128; United States v. Fox, 1 Low. 199.

MR. JUSTICE HARLAN delivered the opinion of the court.

Upon an indictment, charging violations of certain provisions of the Revised Statutes of the United States, relating to distilled spirits, Simmons was found guilty as charged in each count, and moved in arrest of judgment. The first and third counts were held to be bad, and the case is here upon a statement of facts and a certificate of division in opinion upon several questions involving the sufficiency of the second and fourth counts.

The second count, pursuing the words of sect. 3266 of the Revised Statutes, charges that the defendant 'did knowingly and unlawfully cause and procure to be used a still, boiler, and other vessel, for the purpose of distilling, within the intent and meaning of the internal revenue laws of the United States, in a certain building and on certain premises where vinegar was manufactured and produced, against the peace of the United States and their dignity, and against the form of the statute of the said United States in such case made and provided.'

Under this count we are asked the following questions: First, whether it is sufficient, in an indictment drawn under that portion of the section which prohibits the use of a still, boiler, or other vessel, for the purpose of distilling, in any building or on premises where vinegar is manufactured or produced, to charge the offence in the words of the statute. Second, whether the omission of an averment that the distilling there referred to was of alcoholic spirits is a valid objection to the count.

The first question is answered in the negative.

Where the offence is purely statutory, having no relation to the common law, it is, 'as a general rule, sufficient in the indictment to charge the defendant with acts coming fully within the statutory description, in the substantial words of the statute, without any further expansion of the matter.' 1 Bishop, Crim. Proc., sect. 611, and authorities there cited. But to this general rule there is the qualification, fundamental in the law of criminal procedure, that the accused must be apprised by the indictment, with reasonable certainty, of the nature of the accusation against him, to the end that he may prepare his defence, and plead the judgment as a bar to any subsequent prosecution for the same offence. An indictment not so framed is defective, although it may follow the language of the statute.

Tested by these rules, the second count is insufficient. Since the defendant was not charged with using the still, boiler, and other vessels himself, but only with causing and procuring some one else to use them, the name of that person should have been given. It was neither impracticable nor unreasonably difficult to have done so. If the name of such person was unknown to the grand jurors, that fact should have been stated in the indictment.

Nor does it sufficiently appear that vinegar was manufactured or produced in the building and on the premises referred to at the time the still and other vessels were used for the purpose of distilling. It is consistent with the averments that the vinegar had been manufactured or produced long prior to the date when the alleged distilling occurred. The two facts must coexist, in order to constitute the offence described in the statute.

In reference to the second question, we do not think it essential to aver in terms that the spirits distilled were alcoholic. In view of the statutory definition of distilling, the allegation that the vessels were used 'for the purpose of distilling, within the intent and meaning of the internal revenue laws of the United States,' was distinct and broad enough to advise the accused of the nature of the offence charged.

Counsel for the accused contend that the indictment does not show that the stills and other vessels were used for distilling. This objection cannot be sustained. The averment, that the defendant caused and procured them to be used, implies, with sufficient certainty, that they were in fact used. United States v. Mills, 7 Pet. 138.

Nor was it necessary, as argued by counsel for the accused, to set forth the special means employed to effect the alleged unlawful procurement. It is laid down as a general rule, that 'in an indictment for soliciting or inciting to the commission of a crime, or for aiding or assisting in the commission of it, it is not necessary to state the particulars of the incitement or solicitation, or of the aid or assistance.' 2 Wharton, sect. 1281; United States v. Gooding, 12 Wheat. 460. The nature of the means whereby the unlawful use of the still and other vessels was procured is matter of evidence to establish the imputed intent, and not of allegation in the indictment.

The fourth count is based upon sect. 3281 of the Revised Statutes, and charges that the defendant 'did knowingly and unlawfully engage in and carry on the business of a distiller, within the intent and meaning of the internal revenue laws of the United States, with the intent to defraud the United States of the tax on the spirits distilled by him, against the peace,' &c.

This count seems to us sufficient to...