Edwards v. United States
206 F.2d 855
10th Cir.
1953
Check Treatment
*856 PHILLIPS, Chief Judge.

An indictment containing four counts was returned against Edwards and Howard Glen Monroe. The first count charged unlawful possession of an unregistered still and distilling apparatus. 1 The second count charged the carrying on of the business of a distiller without having given the bond required by law. 2 The third count charged engaging in distilling or rectifying spirits without placing and keeping conspicuously on the outside of his place of business the sign required by law. 3 The fourth count charged the possession of distilled spirits in containers which did not have affixed thereto a stamp denoting the quantity of spirits contained therein and evidencing payment of all internal revenue taxes imposed by law on such spirits. 4

Edwards filed a motion to suppress certain evidence upon the ground that it was obtained through an illegal search and seizure. The motion was denied. Edwards also filed a motion for a severance, which was denied.

Counts 2, 3 and 4 were dismissed as to Monroe. Trial by jury was waived. On the trial by the court, Edwards was found guilty on counts 1, 2, 3 and 4. ' He was sentenced to the custody of the Attorney General for a period of 2 years on each of counts 1 and 2, 6 months on count 3, and 5 years on count 4, the several sentences to run concurrently.

, ,, .... . Edwards called as his sole witness in support of the motion to suppress Virgil Akers, an investigator for the Alcohol Tax Unit, Internal Revenue Department Alters testified to these facts :Un June 4, 1952, Akers went to a farm m Stephens County and observed m a pasture a large distillery and appurtenant equipment, which was dismantled and not in operation. He returned to the same vicinity on June 26 and discovered that the distillery and equip-merit had been moved. He noted that a bole had been cut through the fence and be followed vehicle tracks to a point on a creek, where he observed that the still and equipment had been set up for operation, Akers again visited the still site on June 27, 28 and 29. On the latter date he was accompanied by Investigator Wilson, Tlley observed that Edwards was cleaning ouf fbe and preparing mash, and that Monroe was approaching the still site with a J°ad °f wood. After observing the situation for approximately an hour, the officers approached the still site and arrested Edwards and Monroe. Edwards stated to fbe officers that the distilling outfit belonged him and that Monroe was helping him operate at.

The sti]1 site was located in Stephens County in the Eastern District of Olclahoma. The terrain surrounding the still site was a timbered area. The site was located where three creeks intersect. The nearest house was approximately % of a mile from the still site. There were no buildings of any type at the still site. The stl11 was of 350-gallon capacity. The officers discovered 450 gallons of mash, 260 Pounds of su£ar> and one and one-half gad°ns °f nontax-paid whisky.

There was no proof that Edwards owned the land upon which the still site was located.

The motion to suppress was prop-ed overrulcd The still site was located ^ ^ fidd. The protection of the Fourth Amendment securing people in thdr personS; h papers and effects ¡ast unreasonable searcll and seizure does nQt apply tQ an fieId 5

Whether a separate trial shall be granted for defendants jointly charged rests in the sound discretion of the trial judge. 6 Here, the case was tried to the *857 court without a jury and there is nothing in the record to show tha,t Edwards was in anywise prejudiced by the denial of a severanee.

The fixing of penalties for crimes is a legislative function. What constitutes an adequate penalty is a matter of legislative judgment and discretion and the courts will not interfere therewith, unless the penalty prescribed is clearly and manifestly cruel and unusual. 7 Where the sentence imposed is within the limits prescribed by the statute for the offense committed, it ordinarily will not be regarded as cruel and unusual. 8 We hold that the sentence imposed on count 4 was not cruel and unusu¡i.

Affirmed.

Notes

1

. 26 U.S.C.A. § 2810.

2

. on tt q n a s oqoq 2. 26 U.S.C.A. § 28u3.

3

. 26 U.S.C.A. § 2831.

4

. 26 U.S.C.A. § 2803.

5

. Hester v. United States, 265 U.S. 57, 59, 44 S.Ct. 445, 68 L.Ed. 898; Martin v. United States, 5 Cir., 155 F.2d 503, 505; Dulek v. United States, 6 Cir., 16 F.2d 275; Stark v. United States, 8 Cir., 44 F.2d 946, 948.

6

. Long v. United States, 10 Cir., 160 F.2d 706, 710; Waldeck v. United States, 7 Cir., 2 F.2d 243, 245; Durden v. Unit *857 ed States, 5 Cir., 181 F.2d 496; Hall v. United States, 83 U.S.App.D.C. 166, 168 F.2d 161, 163, 4 A.L.R.2d 1193; United States v. Cohen, 2 Cir., 124 F.2d 164, 165; Stilson v. United States, 250 U.S. 583, 585, 40 S.Ct. 28, 63 L.Ed. 1154.

7

. Schultz v. Zerbst, 10 Cir., 73 F.2d 668, 670.

8

. Schultz v. Zerbst, 10 Cir., 73 F.2d 668, 670; Rose v. United States, 10 Cir., 128 F.2d 622, 626.