National Surety Co. v. United States

PER CURIAM. Proceedings were instituted in the court below by Ebel, under section 3450 of the Revised Statutes (Comp. St. § 6352), to condemn an automobile used in the removal and for the deposit and concealment of a quantity of distilled spirits with intent to defraud the United States of the tax thereon. The judgment of forfeiture has been brought here for review by writ of error. The plaintiff in error contends, first, that the allegations contained in the libel do not state a ground or eause for forfeiture under section 3450; second, that there was-no evidence whatsoever to support a forfeiture under that section; and, third, that the government, by convicting the driver of the ear under the National Prohibition Act (Comp. St. § 1013814 et seq.), elected its remedy, and cannot now proceed against the automobile under the internal revenue laws. It appears from the record that the driver of the ear was neither prosecuted nor convicted for* the crime of transporting intoxicating liquor in violation of law, and there could be no forfeiture of the automobile under the National Prohibition Act. The first and last contentions, therefore, have heen decided adversely to the plaintiff in error by the Supreme Court, in United States v. One Ford Coupé Automobile, 47 S. Ct. 154, 71 L. Ed. -, and Port Gardner Investment Co. v. United States (decided November 23, 1926) 47 S. Ct. 165, 71 L. Ed.-. Where a seizure is made on land, the claimant is entitled to a trial by jury, if he appears and files an answer denying the facts set forth in the Ebel. Garnhart v. United States, 16 Wall. 162, 21 L. Ed. 275; Shawnee National Bank v. United States (C. C. A.) 249 F. 583. There was a waiver of a jury in this ease, but, so far as the record discloses, the waiver was not by stipulation in writing, as required by section 649 of the Revised Statutes (Comp. St. § 1587), and in the absence of such waiver the rule is weE settled that we cannot review the testimony, or consider the seeond objection urged by the plaintiff in error. The judgment is therefore affirmed.