Bold v. United States

VAN FLEET, District Judge. Bold was convicted of a violation of the Espionage Act (Comp. St. 1918, Comp. St. Ann. Supp. 1919, §§ 10212a-10212h), and brings error to review the judgment. The indictment was in seven counts. Counts 1 and 3 were eliminated on demurrer. A directed verdict of not guilty was had as to count 4, while counts 2, 5, 6, and 7 were submitted to the jury on the evidence, which returned a verdict’of not guilty as to counts 2 and 6 and guilty on counts 5 and 7. Several assignments are presented which will be noticed: [1] 1. It is claimed that the court erred in refusing a motion for an instructed verdict, interposed as to both counts 5 and 7, for want of sufficient evidence to warrant conviction, but we regard the claim as without merit. It will only be necessary to inquire as to one of the counts, since the sentence was general, and for a term less than [583] the maximum which might have been imposed under either, and therefore, if there is evidence to sustain a conviction under either count, any error as to the other becomes immaterial. Abrams et al. v. U. S., 250 U. S. 616, 40 Sup. Ct. 17, 63 L. Ed. 1173; Pierce et al. v. U. S. (March 8, 1920) 252 U. S. 239, 40 Sup. Ct. 205, 64 L. Ed. -. We will consider the objection as it affects count 7. That count, after stating the jurisdictional facts, alleges in substance that Bold, the defendant, then knowing of the existence of a state of war between this country and Germany, did, on August 24, 1918, at Bonanza, in the state of Oregon, willfully and knowingly by word and act support and favor the cause of the German government, and oppose the cause of the United States, by then and there stating to one Frank R. Morris that Morris— “was a damn fool for fighting a rich man’s war, * * * and for fighting for the rich man’s troubles; that this government could not pay 2 per cent, on the debt it was contracting; that the common people of this country did not know what was going on; that the War Department of the United States was deceiving and hoodwinking the people from start, to finish; that it was ail a bunch of graft; that the United States should have kept her ships at home, and there would have been no trouble and no war; and that the United States had no business to go into the war.” [2, 3] To support this count the government introduced the witness Morris, whose testimony, it is sufficient to say, without stating it in detail, tended substantially, if not literally, to ftdly sustain the truth of the matter alleged in the count, and to show that the defendant used the language charged, after learning that Morris was expecting to be called into the military service of the Uniled States. This was the only witness whose testimony related specifically to the matter charged in this count, and this f^ict is mainly the basis of the objection. It is not claimed that Morris’ evidence was in any wise wanting in character or competency to sustain the charge if sufficient in law, but the objection is that it was insufficient, because not supported or corroborated by any other witness, and further, if we understand counsel, because it was wholly refuted by the evidence for defendant. But the offense is not one requiring corroboration, the evidence of one witness, if competent, being sufficient for conviction; and, while it is true that the defendant made sweeping denial of the testimony of Morris, the question here is simply whether there was some competent and substantial evidence tending to sustain the verdict,-and not to weigh conflicting testimony. Abrams v. United States, supra. [4] It is said that “there was a total failure of wrongful intent shown on the part of the defendant.” But the intent may always be deduced from the circumstances, and the jury were fully justified, upon the evidence before them, in finding on that element of the offense. [5] It is further urged that the evidence of Morris did not fix the date of the purported declarations of the defendant in harmony with that charged in the indictment. But we think the record clearly refutes this claim. Moreover, the precise date alleged is not material, [584] ■so long as it is shown that the offense was committed before the finding of the indictment and within the period of the statute of limitations — conditions which were fully met here. United States v. Francis (D. C.) 144 Fed. 520; Hume v. United States, 118 Fed. 689, 696, 55 C. C. A. 407. [6] 2. The court admitted, over the objection of the defendant, testimony of a number of witnesses tending to show utterances tgf defendant of similar import to those charged, made to different persons, at dates and times other than those set out in the indictment, some made prior to our entry into the war, and some subsequently, but before the indictment, which was permitted to go before the jury as bearing on the defendant’s state of mind and his intent in the particular utterances charged. This is assigned as error. The court below in its charge very carefully, clearly, and correctly explained to the jury the purpose for which such evidence was admitted, confining it solely to the question of intent and to be considered for no other purpose. Such evidence, within the limitations stated by the court, is entirely proper in cases of this character. Equi v. United States; 261 Fed. 53, - C. C. A. -; Rhuberg v. United States, 255 Fed. 865, 167 C. C. A. 185; Debs v. United States, 249 U. S. 211, 39 Sup. Ct. 252, 63 L. Ed. 566. [7] It is objected that the court should have stated and limited the purpose for which such evidence was admitted, while the witness giving it was upon the stand. But there is no such requirement. While that course is perhaps commendable, for greater protection against misapprehension on the part of the jury, the rule is 'satisfied by the course adopted by the learned judge of the court below. 58] 3. The evidence of the witness Shaughnessy, specially objected to as not being admissible under count 4, as to which it was offered, was nevertheless admissible as to intent under the rule above ■ stated; and the refusal of the court to strike it out, because not relating to the date charged in the particular count, was without error, notwithstanding a directed verdict on that count for want of specific evidence to sustain it. These are the only assignments requiring notice. There is no error disclosed in the record, and the judgment should be affirmed. It is so ordered.