Coates v. United States, 6792.

• Decision Date: 31 May 1932
• Docket Number: No. 6792.,6792.
• Citation: 59 F.2d 173
• Parties: COATES v. UNITED STATES.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Ninth Circuit

59 F.2d 173 (1932)

COATES v. UNITED STATES.^*

No. 6792.

Circuit Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.

May 31, 1932.

Edwin V. McKenzie, Harry Gottesfelt, George C. Carmody, and Maxwell McNutt, all of San Francisco, Cal., for appellant.

Samuel W. McNabb, U. S. Atty., and P. V. Davis, Asst. U. S. Atty., both of Los Angeles, Cal.

Before WILBUR and SAWTELLE, Circuit Judges, and NETERER, District Judge.

NETERER, District Judge.

This appeal is from a judgment of conviction on two counts of an indictment charging, in count 1, a conspiracy to commit an offense against the laws of the United States, to violate title 2, §§ 3 and 25, of the National Prohibition Act (27 USCA §§ 12, 39), and, in violation of said act, the manufacture and possession of apparatus designed for the manufacture of intoxicating liquors fit for beverage purposes, and, in count 4, the possession of property and apparatus designed and intended for the manufacture of intoxicating liquors, giving a list of the articles composing the apparatus and "twenty-five gallons of mash," etc., all contrary to and in violation of the laws of the United States.

The sufficiency of the indictment is challenged for the first time in this court. After verdict, every intendment must be indulged in support of the indictment. No objection can avail, no prejudice appearing. Dealy v. United States, 152 U. S. 539, 14 S. Ct. 680, 38 L. Ed. 545; Lew Moy v. United States (C. C. A.) 237 F. 50.

"No indictment * * * shall be deemed insufficient, nor shall the trial, judgment, or other proceeding thereon be affected by reason of any defect or imperfection in matter of form only, which shall not tend to the prejudice of the defendant." Title 18, § 556, USCA.

See, also, Cochran and Sayre v. United States, 157 U. S. 286, 15 S. Ct. 628, 39 L. Ed. 704; Dunbar v. United States, 156 U. S. 185, 15 S. Ct. 325, 39 L. Ed. 390; Hagner v. United States, 284 U. S. ___, 52 S. Ct. 417, 420, 76 L. Ed. ___, decided by the Supreme Court April 11, 1932, and cases there cited. In the Hagner Case it is stated: "Upon a proceeding after verdict at least, no prejudice being shown, it is enough that the necessary facts appear in any form, or by fair construction can be found within the terms of the indictment."

Every ingredient and element of the conspiracy is clearly set out and "sufficiently apprises the defendant of what he must be prepared to meet, and, in case any other proceedings are taken against him for a similar offense, whether the record shows with accuracy to what extent he may plead a former acquittal or conviction." Cochran and Sayre v. United States, supra, 157 U. S. 286, 290, 15 S. Ct. 628, 630, 39 L. Ed. 704. See, also, Rosen v. United States, 161 U. S. 29, 16 S. Ct. 434, 480, 40 L. Ed. 606; Ford v. United States, 273 U. S. 593, 47 S. Ct. 531, 71 L. Ed. 793.

The conspiracy need not be charged with the same particularity as substantive offenses.

That a conspiracy existed to which appellant was a party is admitted; but he contends that there were two conspiracies, the Coates-Malter-Stumpf conspiracy and the Malter-Brix-Stumpf conspiracy. That Coates, Malter and Stumpf were engaged at the same time in co-operative activity to violate the law is beyond dispute, and Brix as well; but Coates may not have known of Brix' activity. Coates, Malter, and Stumpf no doubt had polluted by the conspiracy the stream of current of the law. It is immaterial when any of the parties entered the polluted stream. From the moment he entered he is as much contaminated and held as though an original conspirator. Johnson v. United States (C. C. A.) 5 F.(2d) 471, 475, c. d. 268 U. S. 689, 45 S. Ct. 509, 69 L. Ed. 1158. A conspiracy may be shown by circumstantial evidence, from which common design is the logical inference. Burkhardt v. United States (C. C. A.) 13 F.(2d) 841. The knowledge of some of the conspirators as to the scope thereof may be limited. Knowledge of membership or division of spoils is immaterial. Nor need overt acts be in themselves substantive offenses. A person knowing of a conspiracy to violate the law, and knowingly assisting in any way in furthering such unlawful enterprise, is guilty. The conspirators were partners in crime, and each was the agent of the other, and each was bound by the act of the other in furthering the unlawful enterprise. Coates paid money to Stumpf to forward the unlawful purpose on one ranch. Stumpf and Malter took some of the money for a still on another farm. The fact that Stumpf and Malter may have confederated to cheat Coates out of spoils on one still does not excuse Coates. He was engaged with them in the partnership of crime, and they were acting for him in carrying forward the unlawful scheme. The evidence of the several and distinct transactions went in without objection; and there is nothing in the case that inspires thought of Lamento v. United States (C. C. A.) 4 F.(2d) 901, or Terry v. United States (C. C. A.) 7 F.(2d) 28, as contended by appellant.

The fact that Coates, as one of the financial backers of the combine, was not advised of the detail of the investment of the funds in two instead of one still, or of Brix' connection, does not create a distinct conspiracy and exonerate him of culpability therein. Jezewski v. United States (C. C. A.) 13 F.(2d) 599. To sever a partnership in crime requires some affirmative act. A conspiracy once established is presumed to continue until the contrary is established. Hyde v. United States, 225 U. S. 347, 32 S. Ct. 793, 56 L. Ed. 1114, Ann. Cas. 1914A, 614; Miller v. United States (C. C. A.) 277 F. 721. The...