13 F.2d 564 | 9th Cir. | 1926
Liberato seeks reversal of a judgment of conviction of conspiracy (section 37, Penal Code [Comp. St. § 10201]).
The indictment charges that on or about the 20th of March, 1923, Liberato, together with Gatt, Severi, Ciei, and others unknown, combined and conspired to manufacture and possess intoxicating liquors, said possession being intended for the purpose of selling, bartering, and disposing of the liquors, and for the further purpose of maintaining a common nuisance, and that the conspiracy, was a continuing one up to the time of presenting the indictment. Overt acts charged are that Liberato, with others charged, on January 31, 1925, at a certain ranch near Seattle, manufactured and possessed a described quantity of liquor, and that from January 1, 1925, to January 31, 1925, at the same place, they conducted and maintained a nuisance by manufacturing, keeping, and selling liquor. The court held the evidence insufficient as against Gatt. Severi and Cici were not on trial.
The evidence of the government was that proMbition agents, under authority of a search warrant, on January 31, 1925, accompanied by an informant, searched the premises described; that when they entered the barn they found two men, eodefendants, two stills in operation, about 7,500 gallons of mash, 31 gallons of moonshine, and various other property used in the manufacture of liquor; that Liberato was then in the house, about 100 yards from the barn; that with a prohibition agent he went to the barn, where, in the presence of the agent and two codefendants, he stated that ho rented the premises from one Nelson, and that the two eodefendants were working for him; that he admitted ownership of the stills. There was testimony that there was no indication that the barn was used for a purpose other than the operation of the stills. A witness testified that some time before the arrest Liberato and Gatt had entered into a contract with her for the purchase of the ranch property; that her understanding was that Gatt loaned Liberato the money to make the 'first payment, Liberato to make subsequent payments to Gatt, who has made them to her. She testified that up to th,e time of the sale the place had been used as a dairy ranch; that when the contract was made Gatt and Liberato told her Liberato wanted the place for a garden.
Liberato in Ms own behalf testified that he bought the premises for $6,400; that he borrowed sufficient money from Gatt to make the first payment; that the arrangement was that Liberato would furnish the money, and Gatt would pay the vendor; that he was away from the place from December 24, 1924, to January 25,1925, during which time Severi, a codefendant, was there under an agreement that he (Severi) could have what he could raise on the place; that when he returned he found the two defendants who were present when the bam was searched; that he never saw the stills until the day of the search. He denied that he had admitted ownership of the stills, or that he knew of their being in the bam, and testified that he had known Severi only 10 days prior to- the arrangement he made with him for the use of the place. We will consider the principal assignments in the order in which they are discussed in the brief , of the plaintiff in error.
In his argument to the jury, counsel for defendant, adverted to the fact that a witness for the government had testified that Liberato, in the presence of a prohibition agent, admitted ownersMp of the stills, and that certain eodefendants were working for Mm in their operation, and pointed out that such testimony had not been supported by the agent, who had been referred to by the witness, although such agent was present at the time of the alleged admissions. The district attorney, in his closing argument, referring to the argument of counsel for defendant, stated that the witness whose testimony had been assailed by counsel had served in the late war and had been wounded in the defense of his country. Counsel for defendant objected to such references as not supported by the record. The court directed the argument to proceed. Counsel for defendant excepted. The court allowed the exception, and told the jury to disregard that part of the argument of the district attorney as without support in the evidence. We think the admonition cured any possible error.
On direct examination a prohibition agent testified that, when he found the two stills in operation, Liberato, in the presence of himself and two eodefendants, made certain statements to the effect that the eodefendants were worMng for him. On cross-examination, witness said that an informant was also present at the time the statements were made by Liberato. Counsel for defendant asked who the informant was. The eourt sustained an objection by counsel
There.was no error in the ruling that the wife of defendant was not a competent witness for her husband. Jin Fuey Moy v. United States, 254 U. S. 189, 41 S. Ct. 98, 65 L. Ed. 214.
Error is assigned upon the refusal of the court to instruct the jury that defendants were not charged with the manufacture and possession of distilled liquor, or with maintaining a nuisance, but with having conspired to violate the Prohibition Act, and with having done certain acts in furtherance of the alleged conspiracy, and that, if it was found that Liberato did manufacture and possess liquor, and did maintain a nuisance,' it was their duty to acquit, unless the evidence showed that prior to the date of the alleged acts he conspired and agreed to do the unlawful things charged. Further requests refused were to the effeet that, if Liberato knew or should have known that his codefendants were qpon the property owned by him, and were manufacturing and possessing liquor, and were maintaining a nuisance on the property, still he should be acquitted, unless it was proved that he conspired with his eodefendants to commit the offenses charged, and unless one or more of the alleged conspirators committed one- or more of the overt acts charged; that mere-knowledge upon the part of Liberato that a crime was being committed on his premises would not be sufficient to convict him under the indictment; that the conspiracy must, be proved beyond a reasonable doubt, independent of evidence proving the alleged overt acts; that the several overt acts; charged were not allegations of any distinct facts that are “in law susceptible of being overt acts for the carrying into effect a conspiracy, such as is charged in the in-' dictment”; and that, if it were found that' Liberato entered into the conspiracy charged, but that the only overt acts committed by any-of the defendants were those described, thenLiberato must be acquitted.
In the instructions given the court ac~: eurately stated what the charge was and what overt acts were alleged. Conspiracy was-correctly defined, and the court stated that,, if Liberato himself manufactured the liquor and possessed it, and maintained the place -, as one for the keeping and manufacture and-sale of liquor by himself alone, he would not be guilty of conspiracy; that there must be-found a combination or agreement with oth-' ers to manufacture or possess, or maintain a nuisance; and that, to effect the objeet of the conspiracy, some one or more of the overt ’ acts charged must be proved. It was also-’ explained that, under the evidence, there was no serious dispute as to the fact that, if two-men were running the stills, they were guilty of conspiracy, but that the real question was whether Liberato had anything to do with the stills and knew about them. The-points covered by the charge were sufficient, to give the jury a clear and ample understanding of the material issues.
The requests that the overt acts charged,, if done, were not sufficient ”to execute the conspiracy alleged, if proved, did not correctly state the law. If a man agrees with, others to violate the prohibition law, by manufacturing or keeping liquor for sale, and to carry out such agreement one of them erects-a still, or manufactures or keeps liquor for sale, he is guilty of a conspiracy.
Other errors assigned are of less import-' anee.. Upon examination of the whole record, we find nó ground for disturbing the--' judgment.
Affirmed.
