Sanders v. United States, No. 13972.

CourtUnited States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (5th Circuit)
Writing for the CourtHUTCHESON, , and HOLMES and RIVES, Circuit
Citation201 F.2d 158
PartiesSANDERS v. UNITED STATES.
Docket NumberNo. 13972.
Decision Date14 January 1953

201 F.2d 158 (1953)

SANDERS
v.
UNITED STATES.

No. 13972.

United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit.

January 14, 1953.


Will A. Hickman, Oxford, Miss., for appellant.

W. H. Jolly, Asst. U. S. Atty., and Noel H. Malone, U. S. Atty., Aberdeen, Miss., Chester H. Curtis, Asst. U. S. Atty., Clarksdale, Miss., for appellee.

Before HUTCHESON, Chief Judge, and HOLMES and RIVES, Circuit Judges.

201 F.2d 159

HOLMES, Circuit Judge.

This appeal is from an order forfeiting to the United States certain property used in violation of the Internal Revenue Laws, Sections 3116, 3321, Title 26 U.S.C. It is alleged that the court erred in overruling a motion to suppress evidence, and in refusing to return the automobile to the claimant because it was illegally seized without a warrant. The basic question presented is whether an officer of the United States, having seen property used in violation of the Internal Revenue Laws, may return to the premises of the alleged owner on a later date and, without a warrant or writ, seize the property for the original violation. The appellant contends that the procedure is a violation of Section 3116, Title 26, of the United States Code, and Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, 18 U.S.C.; and that it is an unreasonable seizure under the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution. The lower court held that it was not, and our conclusion is in accordance with that holding.

The seizure of property, the title to which has been forfeited to the United States, is to be distinguished from the exclusion of evidence secured through an unlawful search and seizure. Boyd v. United States, 116 U.S. 616, 6 S.Ct. 524, 29 L.Ed. 746; Dodge v. United States, 272 U.S. 530, 47 S.Ct. 191, 71 L.Ed. 392. In the one case the government is entitled to the possession of the property; in the other it is not. There is no constitutional objection to the enforcement by the courts of the forfeiture of an offending article. The Fourth Amendment does not guarantee against seizures in a proceeding such as this, where there is no need of a search and the right to the property has passed to the United States by forfeiture. The Caledonian, 4 Wheat. 100, 4 L.Ed. 523; Wood v. United States, 16 Pet. 342, 10 L.Ed. 987; U. S. v. Stowell, 133 U.S. 1, 10 S.Ct. 244, 33 L.Ed. 555; U. S. v. One Ford Coupe Automobile, 272 U.S. 321, 47 S.Ct. 154, 71 L.Ed. 279, 47 A.L.R. 1025; Voorhies v. U. S., 5 Cir., 299 F. 275; U. S. v. One Studebaker Seven-Passenger Sedan,...

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24 practice notes
  • Fell v. Armour, Civ. A. No. 6367.
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Middle District of Tennessee
    • November 27, 1972
    ...253 F.2d 725 (4th Cir. 1958); Welsh v. United States, 95 U.S.App.D.C. 93, 220 355 F. Supp. 1326 F.2d 200 (1955); Sanders v. United States, 201 F.2d 158 (5th Cir. 1953); Harman v. United States, 199 F.2d 34 (4th Cir. 1952); United States v. Pacific Finance Corporation, 110 F.2d 732 (2d Cir. ......
  • Farley v. $168,400.97
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Court (New Jersey)
    • November 17, 1969
    ...Currency, 323 F.2d 211 (3 Cir.1963); United States v. One 1956 Ford Tudor Sedan, 253 F.2d 725 (4 Cir. 1958); Sanders v. United States, 201 F.2d 158 (5 Cir. 1953); Grogan v. United States, 261 F.2d 86 (5 Cir. 1963); United States v. One Bally 'Barrel-O-Fun' Coin-operated Gaming Device, 224 F......
  • State v. Merchandise Seized, No. 55510
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Court of Iowa
    • February 19, 1975
    ...324, 326--327 (4th Cir. 1958); United States v. One 1956 Ford Tudor Sedan, 253 F.2d 725, 727 (4th Cir. 1958); Sanders v. United States, 201 F.2d 158 (5th Cir. 1953); Farley v. $168,400.97, 55 N.J. 31, 259 A.2d 201, 210--211 (1969). But see Warden, Maryland Penitentiary v. Hayden, 387 U.S. 2......
  • United States v. Hart, Crim. A. No. 2338.
    • United States
    • United States District Courts. 3th Circuit. United States District Court (Delaware)
    • May 23, 1973
    ...v. United States, 88 U.S.App.D.C. 58, 187 F.2d 498 (1950), aff'd 342 U.S. 48, 72 S.Ct. 93, 96 L.Ed. 59 (1951); Sanders v. United States, 201 F.2d 158 (C.A.5, The Court finds no reason in the present case to depart from the Colonnade requirement that statutorily-created exceptions to the Fou......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
24 cases
  • Fell v. Armour, Civ. A. No. 6367.
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Middle District of Tennessee
    • November 27, 1972
    ...253 F.2d 725 (4th Cir. 1958); Welsh v. United States, 95 U.S.App.D.C. 93, 220 355 F. Supp. 1326 F.2d 200 (1955); Sanders v. United States, 201 F.2d 158 (5th Cir. 1953); Harman v. United States, 199 F.2d 34 (4th Cir. 1952); United States v. Pacific Finance Corporation, 110 F.2d 732 (2d Cir. ......
  • Farley v. $168,400.97
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Court (New Jersey)
    • November 17, 1969
    ...Currency, 323 F.2d 211 (3 Cir.1963); United States v. One 1956 Ford Tudor Sedan, 253 F.2d 725 (4 Cir. 1958); Sanders v. United States, 201 F.2d 158 (5 Cir. 1953); Grogan v. United States, 261 F.2d 86 (5 Cir. 1963); United States v. One Bally 'Barrel-O-Fun' Coin-operated Gaming Device, 224 F......
  • State v. Merchandise Seized, No. 55510
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Court of Iowa
    • February 19, 1975
    ...324, 326--327 (4th Cir. 1958); United States v. One 1956 Ford Tudor Sedan, 253 F.2d 725, 727 (4th Cir. 1958); Sanders v. United States, 201 F.2d 158 (5th Cir. 1953); Farley v. $168,400.97, 55 N.J. 31, 259 A.2d 201, 210--211 (1969). But see Warden, Maryland Penitentiary v. Hayden, 387 U.S. 2......
  • United States v. Hart, Crim. A. No. 2338.
    • United States
    • United States District Courts. 3th Circuit. United States District Court (Delaware)
    • May 23, 1973
    ...v. United States, 88 U.S.App.D.C. 58, 187 F.2d 498 (1950), aff'd 342 U.S. 48, 72 S.Ct. 93, 96 L.Ed. 59 (1951); Sanders v. United States, 201 F.2d 158 (C.A.5, The Court finds no reason in the present case to depart from the Colonnade requirement that statutorily-created exceptions to the Fou......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

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