United States v. Biami, 65-CR-5.

Citation243 F. Supp. 917
Decision Date06 August 1965
Docket NumberNo. 65-CR-5.,65-CR-5.
PartiesUNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff, v. Edith Grace BIAMI, Defendant.
CourtU.S. District Court — Eastern District of Wisconsin

James B. Brennan, U. S. Atty., by Robert J. Lerner, Asst. U. S. Atty., Milwaukee, Wis., for plaintiff.

Darryl K. Nevers, Milwaukee, Wis., for defendant.

GRUBB, District Judge.

The defendant has moved to dismiss the indictment on the ground that the allegations in the indictment, as supplemented by a bill of particulars, do not constitute a violation of Title 18 U.S.C.A. § 1071, which prohibits harboring or concealing "any person for whose arrest a warrant or process has been issued under the provisions of any law of the United States, so as to prevent his discovery and arrest, after notice or knowledge of the fact that a warrant or process has been issued for the apprehension of such person, * * *."

The indictment, as supplemented by the bill of particulars, alleges that the defendant had knowledge that a federal warrant of arrest had been issued for the apprehension of Clarence Perkins, Jr., and that when federal and Milwaukee law enforcement officials came to the defendant's apartment, identified themselves, and announced they had a warrant for the arrest of Perkins, the defendant "did refuse to admit said police officials on at least two occasions during the early morning hours of July 30, 1964."

The word "conceal" as used in 18 U.S.C.A. § 1071, is defined: "to hide, secrete or keep out of sight." The word "harbor," in the same statute, is defined: "to lodge, to care for after secreting the offender." United States v. Thornton, 178 F.Supp. 42, 43 (E.D.N.Y.1959).

The defendant argues that the law enforcement officials knew where Perkins was and, consequently, the defendant could not have concealed or harbored Perkins from them. The record is not clear in this respect. It is no doubt likely that the enforcement officers at least suspected he was at this place.

But, as the Government points out, the statute is directed at the conduct of the defendant. The refusal to admit the officials was an active measure taken by the defendant to prevent the discovery and arrest of Perkins. If the Government officials knew where Perkins was, this would not alter the nature of the defendant's conduct.

The motion to dismiss the indictment must be and it is hereby denied.

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5 cases
  • State v. Walker, 55552
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Court of Iowa
    • May 22, 1974
    ...178 F.Supp. 42, 43 (E.D.N.Y.1959); United States v. Shapiro, 113 F.2d 891, 893, 130 A.L.R. 147 (2d Cir. 1940); United States v. Biami, 243 F.Supp. 917, 918 (E.D.Wis.1965); United States v. Giampa, 290 F.2d 83, 84 (2d Cir. 1961); United States v. Magness, 456 F.2d 976, 978 (9th Cir. 1972). C......
  • U.S. v. Donaldson, 645
    • United States
    • United States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (2nd Circuit)
    • June 20, 1986
    ...conviction for harboring and concealing escaped prisoner, 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1072, cert. denied, 429 U.S. 1073 (1977); United States v. Biami, 243 F.Supp. 917, 918 (E.D.Wis.1965) (refusal to admit officers so as to prevent discovery of subject of arrest warrant was an act of harboring or Steaga......
  • U.S. v. Hash, 82-1543
    • United States
    • United States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (8th Circuit)
    • September 7, 1982
    ...his discovery and arrest." 18 U.S.C. § 1071. See Stamps v. United States, 387 F.2d 993, 994 (8th Cir. 1967); United States v. Biami, 243 F.Supp. 917, 918 (E.D.Wis.1965). There was sufficient evidence from which the jury could infer that defendant intentionally harbored and concealed Doyle S......
  • United States v. Foy, 16996.
    • United States
    • United States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (7th Circuit)
    • September 17, 1969
    ...purpose of the payments being to allow him to evade arrest, did not come within the proscribed behavior. The court in United States v. Biami, 243 F.Supp. 917 (E.D.Wis.1965), held that the refusal to admit the police officers into the apartment where the fugitive was, constituted harboring a......
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