United States v. Gebell, Crim. A. No. 39167.

• Decision Date: 12 July 1962
• Docket Number: Crim. A. No. 39167.
• Citation: 209 F. Supp. 11
• Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff, v. Charles R. GEBELL, Defendant.
• Court: U.S. District Court — Western District of Michigan

209 F. Supp. 11

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff, v. Charles R. GEBELL, Defendant.

Crim. A. No. 39167.

United States District Court E. D. Michigan, S. D.

July 12, 1962.

Lawrence Gubow, U. S. Atty., William H. Merrill, Chief Asst. U. S. Atty., Detroit, Mich., for plaintiff.

James H. Hudnut, Detroit, Mich., for defendant.

THORNTON, District Judge.

On December 14, 1961 the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, issued a search warrant to search the premises known as 21748 Share, St. Clair Shores, Michigan, and described as a one story, brick veneer dwelling house with basement, including garage and appurtenances, located on the south side of Share Street, between Arrowhead Street and Harper Avenue in the Eastern District of Michigan. The search warrant and the affidavit of Special Agent Zawadzki submitted in support of the warrant allege that "there is now being concealed certain property; namely bookmaking records, wagering paraphernalia consisting of bet slips, run-down sheets, account sheets, recap sheets, telephones, money used in or derived from a bookmaking operation and other means and instruments used in violation of Sections 4411, 4412, 7203 and 7262, of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 26 U.S.C.A. §§ 4411, 4412, 7203, 7262."

The affidavit of John T. Zawadzki, Special Agent, Internal Revenue Service, states that:

"The facts tending to establish the foregoing grounds for issuance of a search warrant are as follows:

"On or about November 8, 1961 I received confidential information, considered reliable, that a handbook operation was being conducted by Charles R. Gebell in his residence at 21748 Share Street, St. Clair Shores, Michigan.

"On November 17, 1961 I examined the records of the Michigan Bell Telephone Company and determined that two telephones, PR 2-0569 and PR 5-6128 are installed at 21748 Share Street. Both are published. PR 2-0564 is listed to W. S. King and PR 5-6128 is listed to Charles R. Gebell. I examined the records of the District Director of Internal Revenue in Detroit and they disclosed no record of any tax return filed by W. S. King from this address. However a 1960 tax return was found for Charles R. Gebell. He listed his principal business activity as being Sporting Events; no other source of income was reported. During the period between November 13, 1960¹ through December 13, 1961 surveillance was conducted on this individual. He or his wife were observed driving to establishments which sell racing forms. The establishments they visited are located at 14645 Gratiot, 14513 Eight Mile Road and 8051 Harper. These persons then returned to their home. Observations further disclosed that the vehicles owned by Charles R. Gebell were unmoved between the hours of 12:00 P.M. and 6:00 P.M. Charles R. Gebell's criminal record shows that he has been convicted for handbook activities.

"On December 14, 1961 I personally searched the records of the District Director of Internal Revenue, Detroit, Michigan, for all wagering stamps issued in the State of Michigan for the period July 1, 1961 to June 30, 1962. I did not find any record of the registration or issuance of a wagering occupational stamp to Charles R. Gebell. My search also disclosed that the premises known as 21748 Share, St. Clair Shores, Michigan being the residence of Charles R. Gebell, is not registered as business or residence addresses of wagering stamp holders.

"I also searched for Excise Tax Returns, Form 730, for each of the above named persons and addresses, but the records disclosed no record that the returns were filed."

The search warrant was executed on December 14, 1961 at 3:00 P.M., a copy being left with Mrs. Charles Gebell, and the inventory filed by the Special Agent discloses that the following property was taken pursuant to the warrant:

"21748 Share, Saint Clair Shore, Basement

2 Telephones

1 Envelope. Bet slips burned partially

1 Bag. Pads of paper

1 Bag. Cigar Box of tools, pencils, slips

1 Bag. Racing publications

1 Bag. Racing slips and pads of paper

(Signed) Marvin R. Groh Special Agent (Signed) Mrs. Gebell —" "Inventory Main Floor 21748 Share St. Clair Shores Michigan

a) Cash in the amount of $1137.00

b) One princess telephone

c) One Charles Gebell Police Record

d) Three Football Pool tickets

e) Miscellaneous sheets and papers with mathematical computations and telephone numbers

f) Three telephone directories

g) One envelope containing B.G.

(Signed) Mrs. Gebell (Signed) John Hayes"

By motion for return of property and to suppress evidence, the defendant attacks the validity of the search warrant on two grounds:

"1. There was not probable cause for believing the existence of the grounds on which the search warrant was issued."

"2. The search warrant was illegally executed. * * *"

In relation to the search warrant heretofore issued in this case, the Government urges that the opinion of the United States Supreme Court in Jones v. United States, 362 U.S. 257, 80 S.Ct. 725, 4 L.Ed.2d 697 (1960) is authority for upholding its validity.

In Jones v. United States, supra, pp. 267-268, 80 S.Ct. p. 734 the affidavit of the narcotics agent is set forth in a footnote as follows:

"Affidavit in Support of a U. S. Commissioners Search Warrant for Premises 1436 Meridian Place, N. W., Washington, D. C., apartment 36, including window spaces of said apartment. Occupied by Cecil Jones and Earline Richardson.

"In the late afternoon of Tuesday, August 20, 1957, I, Detective Thomas Didone, Jr. received information that Cecil Jones and Earline Richardson were involved in the illicit narcotic traffic and that they kept a ready supply of heroin on hand in the above mentioned apartment. The source of information also relates that the two aforementioned persons kept these same narcotics either on their person, under a pillow, on a dresser or on a window ledge in said apartment. The source of information goes on to relate that on many occasions the source of information has gone to said apartment and purchased narcotic drugs from the above mentioned persons and that the narcotics were secreated sic in the above mentioned places. The last time being August 20, 1957.

"Both the aforementioned persons are familiar to the undersigned and other members of the Narcotic Squad. Both have admitted to the use of narcotic drugs and display needle marks as evidence of same.

"This same information, regarding the illicit narcotic traffic, conducted by Cecil Jones and Earline Richardson, has been given to the undersigned and to other officers of the narcotic squad by other sources of information.

"Because the source of information mentioned in the opening paragraph has given information to the undersigned on previous occasion and which was correct, and because this same information is given by other sources does believe that there is now illicit narcotic drugs being secreated sic in the above apartment by Cecil Jones and Earline Richardson.

"Det. Thomas Didone, Jr. Narcotic Squad, MPDC. "Subscribed and sworn to before me this 21 day of August, 1957. "James F. Splain, U. S. Commissioner D.C."

Speaking for the Court Mr. Justice Frankfurter stated in part as follows:

"The question here is whether an affidavit which sets out personal observations relating to the existence of cause to search is to be deemed insufficient by virtue of the fact that it sets out not the affiant's observations but those of another. An affidavit is not to be deemed insufficient on that score, so long as a substantial basis for crediting the hearsay is presented." Jones v. United States, 362 U.S. 257, 268-269, 80 S. Ct. 735.

The affidavit...