Opinion · Supreme Court of the United States

Grau v. United States

Grau v. United States, 287 U.S. 124 (1932)

Type
Opinion
Court
Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction
Federal
Date
1932-11-07
Topic
general

*126 Mr. Justice Roberts delivered the opinion of the Court. The petitioner was convicted under an indictment in two counts, the first charging the unlawful manufacture of whisky, and the second possession of property designed for the unlawful manufacture of intoxicating liquors. 1 He complains that certain articles offered at the trial were obtained by virtue of a void search warrant and that the trial court erred in overruling a motion to quash the process and to suppress the evidence, and in admitting it at the trial. The Circuit Court of Appeals overruled errors assigned to the District Court’s action and affirmed the judgment. 2 The assertion is that the warrant is void for failure to observe the statutory requirement that it state the “ par *127 ticular grounds or probable cause” for issuance; and for the further reason that it is based on affidavits which do not “ set forth the facts tending to establish the grounds of the application or probable cause for believing that they exist.” 3 We need not consider the alleged defect of the warrant, as we think the objection to the affidavits well taken, and the warrant consequently without lawful foundation. Two affidavits were made before the commissioner.

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Headnotes

  1. Criminal Law & Procedure — Fourth Amendment An affidavit that merely asserts the affiant's belief in the truth of statements made in another affidavit to which it refers does not establish probable cause and is insufficient to support the issuance of a search warrant. 287 U.S. 124, 127
  2. Criminal Law & Procedure — Fourth Amendment An affidavit setting forth facts tending to show that a dwelling was used as a manufactory of intoxicating liquors, but stating no facts from which a sale on or off the premises necessarily is to be inferred, is insufficient to support the issuance of a search warrant to search a private dwelling. 287 U.S. 124, 128
  3. Constitutional Law — Fourth Amendment The guaranties of the Fourth Amendment are to be liberally construed to prevent impairment of the protection extended. 287 U.S. 124, 128
  4. Statutory Interpretation — Construction Section 25 of Title II of the National Prohibition Act was intended to preserve, not encroach upon, the citizen's right to immunity from unreasonable searches and seizures, and it should be construed so as to effect that purpose. 287 U.S. 124, 128
  5. Criminal Law & Procedure — Fourth Amendment A search warrant may issue only upon evidence that would be competent in the trial of the offense before a jury and that would lead a man of prudence and caution to believe that the offense has been committed. 287 U.S. 124, 128
  6. Criminal Law & Procedure — Fourth Amendment A dwelling's use as a manufactory or headquarters for merchandising liquor is not alone probable cause for believing that actual sales are made there. 287 U.S. 124, 128
  7. Criminal Law & Procedure — Fourth Amendment Where a search warrant is issued without lawful foundation, the process should be quashed and the articles seized delivered to the petitioner; admission of those articles as evidence is error. 287 U.S. 124, 128-129
GRAUv. UNITED STATES,287 U.S. 124(1932)
53 S.Ct. 38
GRAUv. UNITED STATES.
CERTIORARI TO THE CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT.
No. 43.
Argued October 10, 1932.
Decided November 7, 1932.
1. An affidavit which merely asserts affiant's belief in the truth of statements made in the affidavit of another, to which it refers, is insufficient to support the issuance of a search warrant. P. 127. 2. An affidavit setting forth facts tending to show that the dwelling described was used as a manufactory of intoxicating liquors, but which states no facts from which a sale, on or off the premises, necessarily is to be inferred, is insufficient to support the issuance of a search warrant. National Prohibition Act, Title II, § 25; Act of June 15, 1917, Title XI, § 6. P. 128. 3. The guaranties of the Fourth Amendment are to be liberally construed to prevent impairment of the protection extended.Id. 4. Section 25 of Title II of the National Prohibition Act was intended to preserve the citizen's right to immunity from unreasonable search, and it should be construed so as to effect that purpose. P. 128. 5. The evidence upon which a search warrant is based must be such as would be competent in a trial before a jury and would lead a man of prudence and caution to believe that the offense was committed. P. 128.56 F.2d 779, reversed.
CERTIORARI,286 U.S. 539, to review a judgment affirming a
conviction for violation of the National Prohibition Act.
Mr. Charlton B. Thompson, with whomMr. Stephens L.Blakelywas on the brief, for petitioner.

The search warrant is invalid on its face because it does not state the particular grounds or probable cause for its issuance as required by § 6, Title XI, Act of June 15, 1917.

The affidavits furnished no basis for the issuance of the warrant to search a private residence because they state no facts showing sales of liquor on the premises.Byarsv.UnitedStates,273 U.S. 28;United Statesv.Page 125Berkeness,275 U.S. 147;Simmonsv.United States,18 F.2d 85;Maccienov.United States,270 U.S. 629;Wagnerv.United States,8 F.2d 581;In re Phoenix Cereal BeverageCo.,58 F.2d 953;United Statesv.Deloic,2 F.2d 377;United Statesv.Palma, 295 F. 149;Thompsonv.UnitedStates,22 F.2d 134;Jozwichv.United States, 288 F. 831;Singletonv.United States, 290 F. 130.

Probable cause for one offense can not be supplied by proof of another offense.

The narrow construction given to § 25, Title II, reverses the principles of broad construction frequently laid down by this Court.Solicitor General Thacher, with whomAssistant AttorneyGeneral YoungquistandMessrs. Paul D. Miller, John J. Byrne, andW. Marvin Smithwere on the brief, for the United States.

The court below having considered the affidavit adequate to establish probable cause for believing that the dwelling in question was being used as a "headquarters for the merchandising of liquor," we opposed the writ. We are still of the opinion that a warrant may lawfully issue to search a dwelling house thus used.Kasprowiczv.United States,20 F.2d 506;UnitedStatesv.Berger,22 F.2d 867;United Statesv.Vottiero,25 F.2d 346;United Statesv.Backer,32 F.2d 936. The difficulty we experience is that upon further consideration we are unable to escape the conclusion that the allegations of the affidavit in question are not sufficiently comprehensive to support a showing that the premises were used in connection with the sale of liquor anywhere.Nobrigav.UnitedStates,22 F.2d 507;United Statesv.Deloic,2 F.2d 377; cf.In re Herter,33 F.2d 402;Hurleyv.UnitedStates, 300 F. 75;United Statesv.Lepper, 288 F. 136, aff'd, 295 F. 1017;United Statesv.Backer,Page 12632 F.2d 936. The agent was not unaware that the place to be searched was a private dwelling, and his affidavit should have set forth the evidence of commercialism in clear, precise, and unequivocal language.

The affidavit did not show that the dwelling house was being used for any business purpose. For this purpose, it was not enough to show illegal manufacture.Stakerv.United States,5 F.2d 312;Jozwichv.United States, 288 F. 831;United Statesv.Leach,24 F.2d 965;United Statesv.ACertain Distillery,24 F.2d 557;United Statesv.Jajeswiec, 285 F. 789. There was nothing to show continuity of operations or any other circumstances from which it could fairly be assumed that liquor was being manufactured for commercial purposes. SeeNobrigav.United States,22 F.2d 507;United Statesv.Goodwin,1 F.2d 36.
MR. JUSTICE ROBERTS delivered the opinion of the Court.
The petitioner was convicted under an indictment in two counts, the first charging the unlawful manufacture of whisky, and the second possession of property designed for the unlawful manufacture of intoxicating liquors.1He complains that certain articles offered at the trial were obtained by virtue of a void search warrant and that the trial court erred in overruling a motion to quash the process and to suppress the evidence, and in admitting it at the trial. The Circuit Court of Appeals overruled errors assigned to the District Court's action and affirmed the judgment.2

The assertion is that the warrant is void for failure to observe the statutory requirement that it state the "particularPage 127grounds or probable cause" for issuance; and for the further reason that it is based on affidavits which do not "set forth the facts tending to establish the grounds of the application or probable cause for believing that they exist."3We need not consider the alleged defect of the warrant, as we think the objection to the affidavits well taken, and the warrant consequently without lawful foundation.

Two affidavits were made before the commissioner. One purported to state the facts; the other merely asserted a belief that the statements in the first were true, and is clearly insufficient.Byarsv.United States,273 U.S. 28.

So far as material, the more detailed affidavit states that "on or about October 14, 1931, he (affiant) went around and about the premises hereinafter described and saw persons haul cans, commonly used in handling whisky, and what appeared to be corn sugar up to and into the place and saw the same car or truck haul similar cans, apparently heavily loaded away from there and smelled odors and fumes of cooking mash coming from the place, and he says there is a still and whisky mash on the premises."

Pursuant to the process issued officers seized a still, its appurtenances, and 350 gallons of whisky, and these were offered and admitted in evidence at the trial.

Section 25 of Title II of the National Prohibition Act4provides: "No search warrant shall issue to search any private dwelling occupied as such unless it is being used for theunlawful saleof intoxicating liquor, or unless itPage 128is in part used for some business purpose such as a store, shop, saloon, restaurant, hotel, or boarding house."

The affidavit fails to state the place to be searched is not a private dwelling, and the record affirmatively shows it was. At most the deposition charges the manufacture of whisky? no averment of sale is made; indeed no facts are given from which sale, on or off the premises described, necessarily is to be inferred. The court below, however, held that the facts set forth warranted a belief that the dwelling was being used as headquarters for the merchandising of liquor. This was deemed a sufficient compliance with the statutory permission for search of a dwelling if "used for the unlawful sale of intoxicating liquor."

The broad construction of the act by the Court of Appeals unduly narrows the guaranties of the Fourth Amendment, in consonance with which the statute was passed. Those guaranties are to be liberally construed to prevent impairment of the protection extended.Boydv.United States,116 U.S. 616,635;Gouledv.United States,255 U.S. 298,304;Go-BartCo. v.United States,282 U.S. 344,357. Congress intended, in adopting section 25 of Title II of the National Prohibition Act, to preserve, not to encroach upon, the citizen's right to be immune from unreasonable searches and seizures, and we should so construe the legislation as to effect that purpose.

A search warrant may issue only upon evidence which would be competent in the trial of the offense before a jury (Gilesv.United States, 284 F. 208;Wagnerv.United States,8 F.2d 581); and would lead a man of prudence and caution to believe that the offense has been committed.Steelev.UnitedStates,267 U.S. 498,504. Tested by these standards the affidavit was insufficient. While a dwelling used as a manufactory or headquartersPage 129for merchandising may well be and doubtless often is the place of sale, its use for those purposes is not alone probable cause for believing that actual sales are there made.

The process should have been quashed, and the articles seized delivered to the petitioner. Their admission as evidence was error, and the judgment must be reversed.Reversed.

MR. JUSTICE STONE and MR. JUSTICE CARDOZO are of opinion that the judgment should be affirmed.
  1. Page 126 These counts were based on U.S. Code, Tit. 27, §§ 12 and 39. ↩
  2. Page 12656 F.2d 779. Certiorari was granted to resolve a conflict of decision with other Circuits. Cf.Gilesv.United States,284 F. 208(C. C.A. 1);Simmonsv.United States,18 F.2d 85(C. C.A. 8). ↩
  3. Page 127 Section 25 of Title II of the National Prohibition Act (U.S.C. Tit. 27, § 39) authorizes the issuance of a search warrant in accordance with the terms of the Act of June 15, 1917 (U.S.C. Tit. 18, §§ 613-616). The matter quoted as to affidavits is contained in § 615, and that concerning warrants in § 616. ↩
  4. Page 127 U.S.C. Tit. 27, § 39. ↩