United States v. Alper, 257.

• Court: United States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (2nd Circuit)
• Writing for the Court: L. HAND, SWAN and FRANK, Circuit
• Citation: 156 F.2d 222
• Parties: UNITED STATES v. ALPER.
• Docket Number: No. 257.,257.
• Decision Date: 20 June 1946

156 F.2d 222 (1946)

UNITED STATES
v.
ALPER.

No. 257.

Circuit Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.

June 20, 1946.

156 F.2d 223

Louis Kaye, of New York City (Abraham J. Gellinoff, of New York City, of counsel), for appellant.

John F. X. McGohey, U. S. Atty., of New York City (Harold J. McAuley, Asst. U. S. Atty., of New York City, of counsel), for appellee.

Before L. HAND, SWAN and FRANK, Circuit Judges.

SWAN, Circuit Judge.

Upon a jury trial the appellant was convicted under an indictment based on section 29, sub. b(1) of the Bankruptcy Act, 11 U.S.C.A. § 52, sub. b(1), which makes it a criminal offense for any person to have "knowingly and fraudulently (1) concealed from the receiver, custodian, trustee, marshal, or other officer of the court charged with the control or custody of property, or from creditors in any proceeding under this title, any property belonging to the estate of a bankrupt." The indictment alleged that an involuntary petition in bankruptcy was filed against Sol Chernow on October 22, 1940, he was adjudicated bankrupt on November 7, 1940, a trustee of his estate was elected on December 12, 1940 and thereafter qualified as such, and that from October 22, 1940 up to the date of filing the indictment (November 9, 1944) the defendant "did unlawfully, wilfully, knowingly and fraudulently conceal from the said trustee" 140 cases of distilled spirits having a value of approximately $2800 and belonging to the estate in bankruptcy of said Chernow. The appeal questions the sufficiency of the evidence, the adequacy of the charge to the jury, and the propriety of several rulings on evidence.

The appellant's first contention is based on the claim that the evidence was insufficient to establish the crime charged and consequently the court erred in denying a motion for a directed verdict of acquittal. This contention is not supportable. The bankrupt, who had pleaded guilty to a similar charge, was a witness for the prosecution. He testified that he purchased from one Huggins a bar and grill known as "The Red Arrow" and to finance the transaction

156 F.2d 224

borrowed $1,000 from the appellant, agreeing to repay it, with $250 interest, by a series of $25 checks payable weekly, and turning over as security a certificate for 50 shares of stock in a corporation which owned a bar in Manhattan. In April 1940 the appellant also acquired from Huggins $250 of notes made by the bankrupt, whose total indebtedness to the appellant thus became $1,500. After paying some of the checks Chernow became in default and in August 1940 told the appellant that he could not pay. Thereupon the appellant suggested that Chernow go into bankruptcy "and take plenty of liquor. I will take it away from you. Whatever will be the difference, I will pay it to you." At that time according to Chernow's testimony his debt to the appellant was $860 or more. During September and early October Chernow purchased on credit 228 cases of liquor of a value of about $20 a case. After its delivery at "The Red Arrow" he proceeded to secrete it. He testified that he delivered to the appellant or his nominees a total of 140 cases and that on October 10th the appellant returned the stock certificate he had held as security for the debt. Having so disposed of the liquor Chernow made an assignment for the benefit of creditors, which was followed by the involuntary petition of October 22, 1940 and the adjudication of November 7th. In his schedules the bankrupt did not list the appellant as a creditor; nor did the appellant file any claim. This was not due to lack of knowledge of the bankruptcy; in a conversation with agent Colby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1943, the appellant stated that Chernow was still indebted to him and that he had refrained from filing a claim in the bankruptcy because he believed Chernow would pay him in the future after getting back into business

The appellant's argument as to insufficiency of the evidence rests chiefly on the point that the prosecution failed to prove that he knew that a trustee had been appointed; hence he could not be guilty of knowingly concealing from the trustee assets of the estate. Particular reliance is placed on United States v. Yasser, 3 Cir., 114 F.2d 558, 560, where the court said: "It must, therefore, appear that the defendant had actual knowledge of the existence of a receiver or trustee in bankruptcy or that he wilfully closed his eyes to facts which made the existence of such an officer obvious." In the case at bar not only did the accused know of the bankruptcy, but himself suggested it, telling Chernow that after he (Alper) had been satisfied out of the liquor the bankrupt was to purchase, he would turn back the rest. This clearly justified the inference that he expected the bankrupt to keep it from his...