People v. McAdoo

• Decision Date: 22 March 1965
• Citation: 257 N.Y.S.2d 763,45 Misc.2d 664
• Parties: PEOPLE of the State of New York, Plaintiff, v. William McADOO, Vivian Anderson, David Douglas, Michael Crenovich, Nathaniel Barnett, Defendants.
• Court: New York City Court

Page 763

257 N.Y.S.2d 763

45 Misc.2d 664

PEOPLE of the State of New York, Plaintiff, v. William McADOO, Vivian Anderson, David Douglas, Michael

Crenovich, Nathaniel Barnett, Defendants.

Criminal Court of the City of New York New York County, Part 2B.

March 22, 1965.

Frank S. Hogan, Dist. Atty., Robert T. Hartmann, Asst. Dist. Atty., of counsel, for the People.

Stanley Faulkner, New York City, for defendants William McAdoo, Vivian Anderson and David Douglas.

Sanford M. Katz, New York City, for defendants Michael Crenovich and Nathaniel Barnett.

Before RINGEL, P. J., and KERN and MATZKIN, JJ.

WILLIAM E. RINGEL, Presiding Judge.

The Defendants are each charged with violation of Section 600, subd. 6 of the Penal Law (Criminal Contempt), as a misdemeanor.

They appeared before the Second August 1964 Grand Jury, pursuant to subpoena, were sworn, and refused to answer certain questions, ^* after immunity had been conferred. This Grand Jury had been impanelled for the purpose of determining if a conspiracy existed to instigate the Harlem riots of July 1964, and to inquire into acts relating thereto. Anderson executed a limited waiver of immunity, not pertinent here. Douglas alone was advised as to the purpose of the inquiry. The defendants were tried separately on informations ordered filed by the Grand Jury. However, we decide each case in one opinion on the grounds common to all.

The defenses interposed (see numbered headings, infra), will be treated seriatim.

1. Prosecution for a violation of Penal Law, § 600 subd. 6, may only be had by indictment, (e. g. Penal Law, § 602).

We do not read Penal Law Section 602 as mandating prosecutions thereunder by indictment only. An information charging contempt as a misdemeanor is authorized (People ex rel. Frank v. McCann, 253 N.Y. 221, 170 N.E. 898). This Court has jurisdiction to try this offense (N.Y.C.Criminal Ct.Act, §§ 31, 33 subd. 10).

2. 'To incite to riot' is not a crime in this state. The investigation is therefore a nullity.

The informations herein charge that the Grand Jury was conducting 'an investigation to determine whether violations of the Penal Law relating to conspiracy to incite to riot occurred.' If the Grand Jury were investigating a non-existent crime, this objection would be will taken (Wood v. Hughes, 11 A.D.2d 893, 203 N.Y.S.2d 460; Code Cr.Proc. § 245). The language used in the informations, reasonably construed, lends itself to no such interpretation. The word 'incite' means 'instigate' (Black's Law Dictionary, 4th ed. 1951 p. 905): it means 'to urge on; stimulate or prompt to act', (American College Dictionary). Words must be accorded their natural and obvious meaning (McKinney's Statutes, §§ 94, 232; Young v. Gerosa, 11 A.D.2d 67, 202 N.Y.S.2d 470). The subject of the Grand Jury inquiry was whether a conspiracy existed to instigate or stimulate a riot and to determine if violations of the Penal Law occurred relating thereto.

It might be added that conspiracy to commit a crime constitutes a separate and independent crime (People v. Cadle, 202 Misc. 415, 114 N.Y.S.2d 451). It does not merge into the actual commission of the crime (People ex rel. Thornton v. Becker, 188 Misc. 181, 66 N.Y.S.2d 804). It is clear from the record that the Grand Jury inquiry concerned itself with two separate crimes, conspiracy and riot. An inquiry into the crimes of conspiracy and riot were proper subjects of the Grand Jury's investigation (Penal Law, §§ 580, 2090, 2091).

3. The questions asked were not legal and proper. ^*

A 'legal' question is one 'required or permitted by law' (Black's Law Dictionary 4th ed.). A 'proper' question is one that is 'fit, suitable or appropriate', (Black's Law Dictionary, ibid.). In any legal proceeding a determination of what is a legal and proper question will depend on the issues involved or likely to become involved (Van Dyke v. Doughty, 174 Mich. 351, 140 N.W. 627). The purpose of a grand jury inquiry is to ferret out facts which will enable it to determine whether formal charges should be made against someone. It is not the purpose of a grand jury to try offenders (United States v. McGovern, 2 Cir., 60 F.2d 880).

Though illegal evidence may not be the basis for a grand jury indictment or information (Application of Cole, 208 Misc. 697, 145 N.Y.S.2d 748), wide latitude and scope must be afforded a grand jury in propounding its questions to witnesses. The purpose of a particular grand jury inquiry, by the very nature of its secrecy, (C.C.P. § 258) lies peculiarly within the knowledge of that body. As the investigation proceeds, leads may be developed which will enable it to discover the truth. The competency, relevancy and materiality of questions propounded are not the concern of a witness (United States v. McGovern, supra), though they may be the concern of a defendant.

Though no specific case in point has come to the court's attention relative to what constitutes a legal and proper question that may be asked of a grand jury witness, there are some cases that indicate how broad such interrogations may be. In People ex rel. Sillifant v. Sheriff, 6 N.Y.2d 487, 190 N.Y.S.2d 641, 160 N.E.2d 890, the court sustained a grand jury in its power to require the petitioner to complete a questionnaire as to the financial status, not only of himself, but also that of all members of his household. (See also People v. Doe (Byk), 247 App.Div. 324, 286 N.Y.S. 343).

On the other hand, in Nelson v. Hand, 23 Misc.2d 1077, 204 N.Y.S.2d 424 the court, in a similar situation refused to direct answers to questions that were ambiguous.

We conclude therefore that a question asked of a witness before a grand jury, duly impanelled, conducting an inquiry to determine if a crime has been committed, where such witness has waived or duly received immunity in a case where such immunity may be lawfully conferred, is a legal and proper question if it relates generally, though broadly, to the subject matter of the inquiry and providing further that the question is clear and unambiguous. (People v. Doe (Byk) supra). What constitutes a legal and proper question is a question of fact (People v. Amarante, Sup., 100 N.Y.S.2d 677).

Even if '[i]t is [requested] to scrutinize with acute legallism the propriety or relevance of the subject of inquiry of a witness' before a grand jury, (People v. Doe (Byk), supra, p. 326, 286 N.Y.S. p. 346), we hold that the questions asked were legal and proper. They were probative of the investigation. They were asked in order to obtain evidence which would have an effective influence and would logically tend to prove or disprove the existence of the crimes under investigation. We except from this determination only the question put to McAdoo, which is the basis of the First Count of the information filed against him. That question is not legal and proper by reason of its ambiguity.

4. Failure to advise the defendants of the purpose of the Grand Jury investigation precludes a prosecution for contempt.

We find no authority for this contention. The cases hold to the contrary (United States v. McGovern, supra; People v. Doe (Byk) These cases deal with Congressional investigating committees authorized under a federal statute (2 U.S.C. § 192) by which, congressional jurisdiction of an inquiry, disclosure of the subject-matter of the inquiry and pertinency of the questions to such subject-matter are specifically required.

supra). The authorities cited by defendants are not applicable (Watkins v. United States, 354 U.S. 178, 77 S.Ct. 1173, 1 L.E.2d 1273; Deutch v. United States, 367 U.S. 456, 81 S.Ct. 1587, 6 L.Ed.2d 963; Russell v. United States, 369 U.S. 749, 82 S.Ct. 1038, 8 L.Ed.2d 240).

The case of Malloy v. Hogan, 378 U.S. 1, 84 S.Ct. 1498, 12 L.Ed.2d 653, also cited, is likewise not in point. Malloy who appeared as a witness in a statutory inquiry had not received full immunity (Hoffman v. United States, 341 U.S. 479, 71 S.Ct. 814, 95 L.Ed. 1118; People ex rel. Taylor v. Forbes, 143 N.Y. 219, 38 N.E. 303).

It must be borne in mind that grand jury inquiries are secret (C.C.P. § 258). This secrecy has been zealously guarded both at common law and under statutes (People v. Dunbar Contracting Co., 82 Misc. 174, 143 N.Y.S. 337). There are cogent reasons behind this policy of secrecy. They are aimed at preventing an accused from escaping before he is indicted, from tampering with witnesses, and protecting an accused person who is not indicted, from unwarranted exposure (8 Wigmore on Evidence 3rd Ed. sec. 2360).

To compel a grand jury to divulge the purpose of its investigation to a witness (who incidentally is not sworn to secrecy (People v. Naughton, 38 How.Prac. 430)), would defeat this policy and render nugatory many grand jury investigations.

5. Compulsive testimony of a witness before a grand jury is violative of the Fifth Amendment.

Defendants urge that testimony they were required to give this Grand Jury might be used against them in a Federal prosecution. They cite Murphy v. Waterfront Commission, 378 U.S. 52, 84 S.Ct. 1594, 12 L.Ed.2d 678 as authority.

This case specifically held that as to compelled testimony given by an immunized witness in a state proceeding, the Federal government is precluded from using such testimony or its fruits, in any criminal prosecution of that witness. (See also United States v. Interborough Delicatessen Dealers, D.C., 235 F.Supp. 230).

Defendants also cited People v. DeFeo, 308 N.Y. 595, 127 N.E.2d 592. This case is likewise no authority for their position. Full immunity had not been conferred on DeFeo. (Mtr. of Grand Jury (Cioffi), 10 A.D.2d 425, 202 N.Y.S.2d 26, aff'd. 8 N.Y.2d 220, 203 N.Y.S.2d 841, 168 N.E.2d 663).

6. Questions relative to the printing of posters were violative of the First Amendment.

The posters in question described the manufacture and use of Molotov cocktails, a highly explosive instrument. It is sufficient to say in this regard that the...