United States v. Peoples Savings Bank
United States v. Peoples Savings Bank
Opinion of the Court
On April 2, 1951, the Grand Jury in the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island returned indictment numbered 6252.
Indictment No. 6252 charged defendants, “Peoples Savings Bank In Providence”, Raymond H. Blake, Assistant Treasurer, Ralph L. Smith, Assistant Secretary, Auburn Realty Company, Inc., Lawrence A. Paolino, President and Charles J. Riley in thirteen counts with violations of Title 18 U.S.C. §§ 80 and 88 (1946 ed.),
All the defendants were arraigned in this court and entered pleas of not guilty. The individual defendants were admitted to bail.
Motions were filed to dismiss the indictment on various grounds. The ground common to all the motions was the ground involving the statute of limitations.
Counsel for defendants, among other things, argued that since the offenses alleged occurred in 1947 and the indictment was not returned until April 2, 1951, prosecution was barred by the three year statute of limitations under Title 18 U.S.C. § 3282.
The government argued that by virtue of the Wartime Suspension of Limitations Act of 1942, Title 18 U.S.C. (1946 ed.) § 590a,
Because two cases involving the precise point were before the Supreme Court of the United States, decision on the question involved here was postponed.
On January 7, 1952, the United States Supreme Court rendered decisions in United States v. Smith (United States v. Dailey), 72 S.Ct. 260.
The Supreme Court ruled in those cases that the Wartime Suspension of Limitations Act of 1942 applied only to offenses committed prior to the date of the Presidential Proclamation, December 31, 1946, and not to offenses committed thereafter. The decision of the Supreme Court in those cases is controlling in the instant case, because the offenses here are alleged to have been committed after December 31, 1946. There the court held that the three year statute of limitations applied, and affirmed the dismissal of the indictments.
Accordingly, the motions to dismiss the indictment by each defendant are granted and indictment numbered 6252 is dismissed as to each and all defendants.
In view of this ruling, it-is not necessary to consider other grounds set forth in the motions to dismiss.
Counsel may submit appropriate orders in accordance with this opinion.
. See 1948 Revised Criminal Code, 18 U.S.C.A. §§ 287, 371, 1001.
. See 1948 Revised Criminal Code, 18 U.S.C.A. § 3287.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- UNITED STATES v. PEOPLES SAVINGS BANK IN PROVIDENCE
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published