United States v. ONE BUICK SUPER DE LUXE CONV. SEDAN, Civ. A. No. 507.

• Decision Date: 21 May 1951
• Docket Number: Civ. A. No. 507.
• Citation: 97 F. Supp. 516
• Parties: UNITED STATES v. ONE BUICK SUPER DE LUXE CONVERTIBLE SEDAN.
• Court: U.S. District Court — Western District of Virginia

97 F. Supp. 516

UNITED STATES v. ONE BUICK SUPER DE LUXE CONVERTIBLE SEDAN.

Civ. A. No. 507.

United States District Court W. D. Virginia, Roanoke Division.

May 21, 1951.

R. Roy Rush, Asst. U. S. Atty., Roanoke, Va., for the Government.

T. W. Messick and Hunter & Fox, all of Roanoke, Va., for the defendant and claimant.

BARKSDALE, District Judge.

This action having been submitted to the court for its determination without a jury by consent of the parties, upon a stipulation of the evidence, pursuant to Rule 52(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, 28 U.S.C.A., the court doth hereby find the facts and state separately its conclusions of law as follows:

Findings of Fact.

On December 7, 1950, the Buick Sedan here in controversy was seized while being used by its owner in the removal and concealment of whiskey upon which the tax had not been paid. The forfeiture of the automobile is not contested in this action, the question for determination arising from the petition of Colonial-American National Bank for mitigation and remission of the forfeiture to the extent of its lien. On June 23, 1950, the owner of the automobile, one Stinnette, gave a lien thereon to the Bank, which is now a valid and subsisting lien in the amount of $1,070. The Bank acquired this lien in good faith, and had at no time any knowledge or reason to believe that the automobile was being or would be used in the violation of the laws of the United States or of any state relating to liquor. The interest asserted by the Bank arises out of its lien agreement with Stinnette, the owner, who at the time of the creation of the lien had no record of violation of the laws of the United States or any state relating to liquor. On June 23, 1950, the date of the creation of the lien, and for at least some months theretofore, Stinnette, the owner, had the reputation of violating the laws of the United States and the State of Virginia relating to liquor. The lien was created in the City of Roanoke, and Stinnette lived in that locality. This reputation of Stinnette was known to Detective Vest of the Roanoke Police Department, who was attached to the office of the Superintendent of Police of that City, to Police Officer Moore, who was attached to the office of said Superintendent of Police, to Detective Britt of the Roanoke Police Department, and to Investigator Elmore of the Alcohol Tax Unit stationed at Roanoke. Stinnette's reputation for violating the liquor laws was not known to Superintendent Bruce, Chief of Police of the City of Roanoke. At and before the creation of the lien, the Bank made its usual credit investigation of Stinnette, who was already known to the Bank, having previously been a customer. The Bank made no inquiry at the headquarters of the Sheriff, Chief of Police, principal Federal Internal Revenue Office, other principal local or federal law enforcement offices of the locality, or any other person, as to whether or not Stinnette had a record or reputation of violating the liquor laws. If such inquiry had been made of Superintendent Bruce, Chief of Roanoke City Police, he would have replied as follows:

"(1) That a person using the name of Edward Gordon Stinnette, who gave the address of Route 3, Box 179, Roanoke, was on July 3, 1949, charged with tampering with an automobile, petty larceny and disorderly conduct. He was convicted at that time of...