Stern v. United States, 223 F. 762

Stern v. United States

223 F. 762 | 2d Cir. | 1915

WARD, Circuit Judge.

The defendants were indicted under section 215 of the Criminal Code for devising, under the name of the Reliable Brokerage Company, a scheme to defraud, in the execution of which they used the United States mails. The indictment contained four counts, in each of which a person defrauded or to he defrauded wps named.

[1, 2] The defendants object that they could be tried only on three counts for offenses committed within the same six calendar months and that the government was bound to prove that an intention to use the mails was a part of the original scheme to defraud. These tilings were true of section 54S0 of the United States Revised Statutes, but section 215 of the Criminal Code, under which this indictment is found, has amended the law by requiring only a use of the mails in executing the scheme to defraud and by prescribing no restriction as to the number of counts the indictment may contain or as to the period within which the separate offenses charged must have been committed.

[3] Objection is also made that the indictment does not sufficiently set forth the offenses charged. It is not restricted to a description of the offenses charged'in the language of the statute alone, but accompanies that language with a statement of facts fully apprising the defendants with what they have to meet. ■ The objection is frivolous.

The scheme described was substantially as follows: The defendants would see advextised in various newspapers properties to be sold or leased or businesses or stocks of goods to be sold. Thereupon they would send to the advertiser a postal card reading as follows:

*764“Dear Sir: If you desire to sell your property kindly call at our office without delay as we have several private parties with cash interested in same. Notice we charge no commission unless we sell. Trusting to see you, we remain.”

If the advertiser called in response to the postal card, the defendants would tell.him that they had one or more customers interested in property like his, but that he must make a deposit in cash to protect them against any sale over their heads. Upon receiving the deposit they would have him sign a blank form, properly filled out, authorizing the sale and concluding like this:

“§......given by me to the Reliable Real Estate and Brokerage Company is for the advertising and services of my house for sale and to be deducted of their commission when sold by them not otherwise.”

In some cases and in at least three of the cases mentioned in the indictment they would themselves give a receipt like this:

“$......received of......for the expense of advertising and services on his......for sale ....... When sold through our office return......dollars of commission, not otherwise.”

Thereupon some one would examine the property and either offer a price which would certainly be refused or else express dissatisfaction. The result was no sale and no money returned.

It was testified on behalf of the government by the persons claiming to have been defrauded that defendants, at the same time these papers were signed, promised' to return the deposit of cash if they did not sell the property, which was denied by the defendants.

[4] It is complained that evidence of other similar transactions was erroneously admitted by the court. The case, however presents an exception to the general rule for the purpose of proving intent. The other transactions proved were in the same business and done in the same way, with the same result. An intent to defraud would be more readily inferred from many instances than from the four charged in the indictment. People v. Marrin, 205 N. Y. 275, 98 N. E. 474, 43 L. R. A. (N. S.) 754. They go to show the system of doing business. 12 Cyc. 411; People v. Peckens, 153 N. Y. 576, 592, 47 N. E. 883.

[5] After the defendants had been arrested they did effect the sale of the- property mentioned in the first count through another broker. This was a fact for the consideration of the jury.

There was abundant evidence to support the conclusion at which the jury must have arrived, viz.; that the whole proceeding was a sham, that the defendants never expected to sell the property and never intended to return the1 deposit.

[ 6 ] It is further contended that the government was bound to prove that the defendants intended to defraud every person who deposited money with them in this way, reliance being placed upon the decision in United States v. Staples (D. C.) 45 Fed. 195. The indictment in that case did expressly allege that the defendant intended to defraud every one with whom he dealt, and the government was held bound to prove the charge as made. We should not wish to go so far, and if the decision can be understood as going further, we certainly cannot approve of it.

*765[7] Upon direct examination of one of the defendants, it was sought to show that he had been charged in a state court by one of the persons who complained of having been defrauded and had been acquitted. No proof by record was offered, and would not have been admissible had it been offered, because not for an offense under the statute in question.

The judgment is affirmed.