This case arises on Balestreri’s appeal from the order of the district court deny *916 ing his motion, made after his conviction had become final for a new trial on the ground of newly discovered evidence, under Rule 33, Rules of Criminal Procedure, Title 18 U.S.C.A.
The defendant, Mario Balestreri, was indicted on March 7, 1952. Appellant was charged in the ninth count of the indictment with the violation of the Jones-Miller Act, 21 U.S.C.A. § 174, concealment and transportation of heroin, and in the twenty-fourth count of conspiring, 18 U.S.C.A. § 371, to violate the narcotic laws of the United States. Appellant was found guilty by jury verdict on both counts, and was sentenced to a term of three years imprisonment on each count, the sentences to run concurrently., Judgment was rendered September 4, 1953. No appeal was taken and the judgment became final.
On March 11, 1954, six months after the rendition of the judgment, appellant moved the district court for a new trial, on the ground of newly discovered evidence. The motion of appellant was supported by an affidavit of appellant’s attorney, James E. Burns, stating that he had, “since the * * * trial, verdict and sentence' * * * come into possession of certain documents” which established that the “only witness testifying against the defendant” and for the government, one Harry Winkelblack, had received favorable treatment and that his testimony was induced by threats, promises, and favors. The evidence consisted of letters written between two officials of the Bureau of Prisons. The district court denied appellant’s motion for a new trial and this appeal followed.
We first inquire if the order denying the motion for new trial is appeal-able. The broad language often used, that an order denying a motion for a new trial in a criminal case is “not assignable as error, and is not reviewable,” McElheny v. U. S., 9 Cir., 1944,
In the normal situation, the order granting or denying the motion for a new trial is non-appealable but the reason for this is that “the court may consider the evidence and the rulings of the trial on appeal from the judgment itself.” Hamilton v. U. S., 1944, 78 U.S. App.D.C. 316,
A motion for a new trial on ground of newly discovered evidence is addressed to the sound discretion of the trial judge. Adams v. U. S., 9 Cir., 1951,
On such a motion, the courts are in general agreement as to the factual
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showing necessary to move the court to exercise its judicial discretion. In Johnson v. U. S., 8 Cir., 1929,
The newly discovered evidence here presented does not meet these requirements. Though it appears that defendant did not know at the time of trial, of the treatment afforded the witness, Winkelblaek, there is no showing in the record of any facts from which the court can infer diligence on the part of the appellant. The affidavit of appellant’s counsel asserts that “such evidence was not available and could not be discovered with due diligence” [R. 35] so as to be presented at the time of the trial. No showing is made as to when, or how, or under what circumstances copies of official government correspondence came within possession of appellant’s counsel, nor when he first learned of such documents. Appellant’s showing clearly fails to meet the test required on such a motion. 1
The new evidence was only of an impeaching nature. Such a showing is ordinarily not sufficient to cause a court to grant a new trial. U. S. v. On Lee, supra ; Long v. U. S., 10 Cir., 1943,
Little factual matter, admissible at a new trial, could be culled from recitals, opinions and conclusions appearing in the correspondence attached to appellant’s affidavit, concerning incidents and treatment of Winkelblaek while in the Contra Costa jail, in and prior to May of 1952. The trial judge’s memo denying the motion for new trial recites that Winkelblaek, at the time the Federal grand jury was investigating the case in which appellant was later indicted, was an inmate of San Quentin, serving a state term. For the purpose of securing his testimony before the Federal grand jury, the district court issued a writ of habeas corpus ad testificandum, and pursuant to the writ the witness was lodged in the Contra Costa jail. After giving his testimony before the grand jury, and on June 17, 1953, the writ of habeas corpus was discharged and Winkelblaek was returned to the State prison. At the time of his testimony in August of 1953, he was on parole from the state conviction.
The trial judge, in determining the impact of newly discovered evidence, “may utilize the knowledge he gained from presiding at the trial as well as the showing on the motion.” U. S. v. On Lee, 2 Cir., 1953,
But it is appellant’s contention that the trial court abused its discretion in denying the motion for a new trial, in that the “only witness against the appellant”, to use the appellant’s words, was shown to be biased and prejudiced in favor of the government. Assuming arguendo that the evidence was newly discovered, and that there was a relationship between the new evidence and the witness’s testimony, appellant’s showing still fails. For whether or not Winkelblack was the only witness against appellant cannot be determined by the record as presented to this court. Appellant has submitted only a portion of the transcript of the trial; it is incumbent upon the appellant to furnish to this court a record of such extent as to “positively show the alleged error.” In re Chapman Coal Co., 7 Cir., 1952,
The motion for new trial was addressed to the sound discretion of the trial judge, and it thus being “manifest the trial court did not act arbitrarily or capriciously nor upon any erroneous concept of the law, the appellate court may not substitute its judgment for that of the trial judge.” Gage v. U. S., 9 Cir., 1948,
Affirmed.
Notes
. Wagner v. U. S., 9 Cir., 1933,
