United States v. Gulley
| Citation | 404 F.2d 534 |
| Decision Date | 22 January 1969 |
| Docket Number | No. 16655.,16655. |
| Parties | UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Bernard GULLEY, Defendant-Appellant. |
| Court | United States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (7th Circuit) |
James J. Traynor, Bernard B. Brody, Chicago, Ill., for defendant-appellant.
Thomas A. Foran, U. S. Atty., Lawrence E. Morrissey, Asst. U. S. Atty., Chicago, Ill., for plaintiff-appellee; John Peter Lulinski, Michael B. Nash, Asst. U. S. Attys., of counsel.
Before HASTINGS, CUMMINGS and KERNER, Circuit Judges.
On February 28, 1967, a federal grand jury returned Count I of an indictment charging that on September 3, 1966 one Paul Dean Thompson stole from the Devon Bank, Chicago, Illinois, a federally insured institution, approximately $48,257.74 in money and American Express Company travelers cheques in the approximate sum of $16,410.00, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C.A. § 2113(b).
In Count II of the same indictment, it was charged that defendant Bernard Gulley and one Elmo Frederick Thompson "did receive, possess, conceal, store, barter, sell and dispose of" part of the travelers cheques and money described in Count I, knowing the same to have been taken in violation of § 2113(b), supra, all in violation of Title 18, U.S.C.A. § 2113(c).
Each of the three charged persons was properly represented by competent court appointed counsel throughout the proceedings in the trial court. Eventually Paul Dean Thompson entered a plea of guilty to Count I and Elmo Frederick Thompson entered a guilty plea to Count II. The two Thompsons were not related. They were subsequently sentenced, did not appeal their convictions and are now serving time.
Defendant Gulley was tried on Count II and found guilty by a jury verdict. He now appeals from the judgment of conviction.
Defendant does not contend that there was insufficient evidence to sustain the verdict. He contends that a number of alleged trial errors prejudicially denied him a fair trial and challenges the credibility of an accomplice witness.
Paul Dean Thompson, the admitted accomplice, who stole the travelers cheques and money in question, testified for the prosecution. He not only admitted his own guilt but conclusively established defendant's guilt on the Count II violation.
Defendant first contends that the testimony of three witnesses, corroborative of Paul Thompson, was cumulative and immaterial and should have been stricken. We know of no such rule. The trial court properly admitted such corroborative evidence here. See United States v. Hoffa, 6 Cir., 349 F.2d 20, 40-41 (1965), aff'd 385 U.S. 293, 87 S.Ct. 408, 17 L.Ed.2d 374 (1966).
Defendant next charges the trial judge with prejudicial remarks in the presence of the jury. In one instance, defendant attempted to introduce certain documents in evidence without laying a proper foundation during the direct examination of defendant and as a result the trial judge addressed his counsel. Later, during the same examination, the trial judge inquired concerning a question counsel asked defendant. We have examined the record in each situation, and it is devoid of any showing of impropriety on the part of the judge or prejudice to defendant. As has been so well said: "They were part of the familiar give and take of a criminal trial and were not prejudicial." United States v. Stayback, 3 Cir., 212 F.2d 313, 319 (1954).
Defendant claims error because of a question asked of defendant by the prosecution. It was answered in the negative. No objection was made at trial. Error is asserted for the first time on appeal, and generally this may not be done. United States v. Garafolo, 7 Cir., 385 F.2d 200, 205-206 (1967) and cases cited therein; remanded for further hearing on another issue, 390 U.S. 144, 88 S.Ct. 841, 19 L.Ed.2d 970 (1968). This clearly does not come within the "plain error" exception in Rule 52(b), Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, 18 U.S.C.A.
Defendant complains that the trial court erred in admitting in evidence certain exhibits showing defendant's work record. These...
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United States v. Springer
...were preserved at the trial. There being no aspect of "plain error," we deem the contentions to have been waived, United States v. Gulley, 404 F.2d 534, 536 (7th Cir. 1968). Springer also quarrels with the trial judge's remarks to the jury when Springer's co-defendant was dismissed by motio......
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United States v. Lookretis, 17705.
...jurors will not be heard now, where no objection was made below, in the absence of a showing of plain error. United States v. Gulley, 404 F.2d 534, 536 (7th Cir. 1968); United States v. Jones, 204 F.2d 745, 748 (7th Cir. 1953), cert. den. 346 U.S. 854, 74 S.Ct. 67, 98 L.Ed. 368; Rule 52(b),......
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U.S. v. Weed, 82-1035
...here. United States v. Allain, 671 F.2d 248 (7th Cir. 1982); United States v. Spears, 671 F.2d 991 (7th Cir. 1982); United States v. Gulley, 404 F.2d 534 (7th Cir. 1968). Thus, this Court will consider the evidence at trial and all the inferences The Government argues that the issue of in-c......
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United States v. Turner
...in the absence of a showing of plain error. United States v. Lookretis, 422 F.2d 647 (7th Cir. February 5, 1970); United States v. Gulley, 404 F.2d 534, 536 (7th Cir. 1968); Rule 52(b), Fed.Rules Crim. Proc. No such showing has been made in the instant case; in fact, an argument similar to ......