United States v. Pagano, 47

Decision Date19 November 1953
Docket NumberDocket 22724.,No. 47,47
PartiesUNITED STATES v. PAGANO.
CourtU.S. Court of Appeals — Second Circuit

Samuel Bonom, New York City, for appellant; Meyer Kraushaar, New York City, of counsel.

J. Edward Lumbard, U. S. Atty., Washington, D. C., for appellee; Leonard B. Sand, Asst. U. S. Atty., New York City, of counsel.

Before CHASE, Chief Judge, CLARK, Circuit Judge, and BRENNAN, District Judge.

PER CURIAM.

The appellant was convicted by a jury after trial on an indictment charging the sale of heroin in violation of Title 21 U.S.C.A. §§ 173-174. He was admittedly a second offender; was sentenced to imprisonment as such; and has since been serving that sentence, a small fine having been imposed and remitted.

The denial of appellant's motion for a jury view of the premises, where, according to the testimony of a narcotics agent the purchaser of the heroin handed money in payment for it to the appellant was without error. It was a matter of discretion reviewable only for abuse of that. Le Prell v. United States, 5 Cir., 192 F.2d 132; Neufield v. United States, 73 App.D.C. 174, 118 F.2d 375; Massenberg v. United States, 4 Cir., 19 F.2d 62. Here no abuse was shown. The conditions about which the witness testified were well enough shown by photographs of the premises to enable the jury to determine whether he was in a position to have seen money passed from where he said he did.

Dean who made the purchase was acting as a decoy and was shown to have been a dope addict with a criminal record. His testimony was an essential part of the government's case and the court was requested to charge that it "should be examined with much greater scrutiny than that of an ordinary witness." The court did not use that language but charged the jury that his interest and criminal record should be taken into consideration in passing upon his credibility and in giving his evidence "such weight as you think it deserves." Though it might often serve a good purpose to caution a jury to give "greater scrutiny" to testimony of such a witness cautionary language may otherwise be adequate. Caminetti v. United States, 242 U.S. 470, 37 S.Ct. 192, 61 L.Ed. 442; United States v. Becker, 2 Cir., 62 F.2d 1007, 1009; Wainer v. United States, 7 Cir., 82 F.2d 305, affirmed 299 U.S. 92, 57 S.Ct. 79, 81 L.Ed. 58. Here it was. Nor was the refusal to charge as to "entrapment" erroneous. The defense was a denial that the...

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12 cases
  • U.S. v. Valencia
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Second Circuit
    • September 18, 1980
    ...Swiderski reserved this question. 539 F.2d at 859 & n.4. As Swiderski pointed out, two cases in this circuit, United States v. Pagano, 207 F.2d 884, 885 (2d Cir. 1953) (per curiam), and United States v. Di Donna, 276 F.2d 956 (2d Cir. 1960) (per curiam), have held that it was not error for ......
  • U.S. v. Valencia
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Second Circuit
    • March 5, 1981
    ...Swiderski reserved this question. 539 F.2d at 859 & n.4. As Swiderski pointed out, two cases in this circuit, United States v. Pagano, 207 F.2d 884, 885 (2d Cir. 1953) (per curiam), and United States v. Di Donna, 276 F.2d 956 (2d Cir. 1960) (per curiam), have held that it was not error for ......
  • State v. Bruno
    • United States
    • Iowa Supreme Court
    • February 21, 1973
    ...suggestion or solicitation. The foregoing pronouncement is supported in whole or in part by the following decisions: United States v. Pagano, 207 F.2d 884, 885 (2 Cir. 1953); Munroe v. United States, 424 F.2d 243, 244 (10 Cir. 1970); Burris v. United States, 430 F.2d 399, 403 (7 Cir. 1970);......
  • Walker v. Schult, 9:11-CV-287
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Northern District of New York
    • March 13, 2019
    ...properly denied a visit where witness testimony and photographs adequately described the scene of the crime. United States v. Pagano, 207 F.2d 884, (2d Cir. 1953) (per curiam) (reviewing denial of jury visit for abuse of discretion).Since Pagano, at least one district court in our Circuit c......
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