Curry v. United States

Decision Date08 November 1951
Docket NumberNo. 13430.,13430.
PartiesCURRY et al. v. UNITED STATES.
CourtU.S. Court of Appeals — Fifth Circuit

Simeon Slosberg, Miami, Fla., for appellant.

Ernest L. Duhaime, Asst. U. S. Atty., Miami, Fla., Herbert S. Phillips, U. S. Atty., Tampa, Fla., for appellee.

Before HOLMES, STRUM and RIVES, Circuit Judges.

STRUM, Circuit Judge.

Appellants Curry, Hastings and Gillyard, were convicted of conspiring amongst themselves and with others to violate the Internal Revenue laws in the operation of an illicit liquor still, Hastings and Gillyard being additionally convicted of a substantive offense of possessing and concealing 31 gallons of non-tax paid distilled spirits.

The appeal has been abandoned as to all save Curry, who presents two grounds for reversal, first, the asserted inadmissibility in evidence of 31 gallons of illicit liquor discovered by state officers in the search of a dwelling without a warrant; second, the asserted insufficiency of the evidence to establish Curry's guilty connection with the conspiracy.

As to the first point: It appears that Curry rented from the owner of, and paid the rent upon, the dwelling in question for use and occupancy by other persons. He does not claim that he was in possession thereof when the search was made, nor that he occupied it as his dwelling, or otherwise, nor was he present when the search was made, nor does he claim that the whiskey belonged to him. The dwelling was in fact occupied by other defendants, one of whom gave the searching officers permission to enter for the declared purpose of searching. As Curry's privacy was not invaded, he can not complain. He can not vicariously assert the constitutional rights of others who do not complain. Moreover, the search was wholly by state officers, there being no participation or co-operation by federal officers. Appellant did not move to suppress the evidence. He contented himself with merely making running objections to its admissibility as the trial progressed, thus attempting to raise extraneous questions of fact while the court was engaged in trying the issues made by the indictment and plea. In the circumstances stated, the evidence was clearly admissible.

As to the second point: We have examined the evidence and find it sufficient to connect Curry with the conspiracy. There are circumstances from which the jury might reasonably infer guilty association between Curry and other defendants in furthering the objects and purposes...

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5 cases
  • United States v. One 1948 Cadillac Convertible Coupe
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — District of New Jersey
    • 28 October 1953
    ...only by the person whose rights are invaded. United States v. Walker, 2 Cir., 197 F.2d 287; Id., 2 Cir., 190 F.2d 481; Curry v. United States, 5 Cir., 192 F.2d 571; Jeffers v. United States, 88 U.S.App.D.C. 58, 187 F.2d 498, 500, and the cases therein cited; United States v. One Buick Autom......
  • State v. One 1960 Mercury Station Wagon, CR
    • United States
    • Circuit Court of Connecticut. Connecticut Circuit Court, Appellate Division
    • 12 January 1968
    ...invaded, he cannot complain. 'He cannot vicariously assert the constitutional rights of others who do not complain.' Curry v. United States, 5 Cir., 192 F.2d 571, 572. We hold that the defendant lacks the requisite standing to raise infirmities, if any, in the search and seizure INNOCENCE O......
  • People v. Rosenthal
    • United States
    • New York City Court
    • 12 May 1969
    ...in structures owned by him and leased to others. In support thereof, the cases of Thomas v. United States, 154 F.2d 365, Curry v. United States, 192 F.2d 571, and Schnitzer v. United States, 77 F.2d 233, are The outstanding hour in the history of 'standing' to move for suppression was the P......
  • People v. Kortwright
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court
    • 16 October 1962
    ...[United States v. Sferas, 210 F.2d 69 (7th Cir., 1954); Driskill v. United States, 281 F. 146 (9th Cir., 1922); Curry v. United States, 192 F.2d 571 (5th Cir., 1951)], and the Second Circuit has gone so far as to hold the consent of a wife sufficient to authorize a search resulting in the a......
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