Cina v. United States
Cina v. United States
Opinion of the Court
"Judgment was entered in this case, convi ct- ° ing eight defendants, and a writ of error on behalf of five of them has been heretofore considered. The present writ is on behalf of Palermo, Ciña, and Giglio, who were all represented at the trial by Mr. Byrne.
“Mr. Byrne: X think it would help the speed of the trial if what exceptions are taken by the leading counsel are considered to apply to my clients, without my arising from my placo.
“Mr. Barra: Will that also apply as to my client?
“The Court: All objections will apply to all, and each will have the benefit of the exception.”
Of course, this did not prevent the other attorneys, when they wished to do so, from taking special exceptions, or cross-examining on behalf of their clients:
The exception which is now relied upon by all three defendants .'trises out of the following colloquy between the court and counsel :
“Cross-Examination by Mr. Byrne.
“Q. You have testified that you printed that S2 bill (showing).
“The Court: Never mind about that. What is your question?
“Mr. Byrne: That is the basis of the. question. If your honor will bear with me, I propose as quickly as possible to frame it.
“The Court: If you desire to ask any question, ask a question, and do not recite the testimony. If you cannot comply with that order, take your seat. Now go on. .
“Mr. Byrne: I take an exception to your honor’s remark.
“The Court: Now you may take your seat right now.
“Mr. Towns: Would your honor—
“The Court: Take your seat. Now, Mr. District Attorney, do you desire to ask this witness any further questions?”
We held in our former opinion that counsel should have been allowed to put his question and continue his cross-examination; hut we did not think that any of the defendants then before the court were prejudiced by what took place. Neither do we think that any of the defendants now objecting were prejudiced. The exception which Mr. Byrne look was to the remark of the court, while Mr. Towns took no exception to what was subsequently said to him. Both Mr. Byrne and Mr. Towns had a right to further cross-examine the witness. Mr. Towns did recross-exaniine him. If there had been anything in the minds of counsel which they wished to bring out, we cannot doubt that they would have said so, and that they would have been permitted to do so. The question seems principally one of propriety. It is a pity
The judgment is affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- CINA v. UNITED STATES PALERMO v. SAME
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. Criminal Law (§ 1170%*) — Appeal and Error — Review — Harmless Error. ' Remarks made by the trial judge to counsel for defendants in a criminal case, and his refusal to permit counsel to continue the cross-examination of a witness, held, while error, to have been without prejudice, where the same witness was again on the stand, and there was a further opportunity for cross-examination. . [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 3129-3135; Dec. Dig. § 1170%.*] . 2. Criminal Law (§ 741*) — Evidence—Sufficiency. Evidence against one of several defendants in a prosecution for counterfeiting considered, and held sufficient to warrant the submission of the case against him to the jury. [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 1705-1728; Dec. Dig. §.741.*]