United States v. Kelleher
Opinion of the Court
One Kelleher was on February 9, 1931, arrested for violation of the National Prohibition Act (27 USCA), and on February 10th was held to answer, and filed a recognizance for his appearance in the District Court-, in which the Greater City Surety & Indemnity
In England (King v. Tomb, 10 Mod. 278; In re Pellow, 13 Price 299), and in the state courts (State v. Saunders, 8 N. J. Law, 177; State ex rel. Lewis v. Speck, 20 lnd. 211; State v. Hamill, 6 La. Ann. 257; People v. Madden, 16 Daly, 63, 8 N. Y. S. 531; Commonwealth v. Johnson, 3 Cush. [Mass.] 454), it has been the practice to remit an estreat when tlie prisoner surrenders and is tried, at least if the bail have not shared the default. This has at times depended on a statute, hut in one way or another it is the uniform result, so far as we can find. The same was true in federal courts before the act of 1839 (United States v. Feely [1813] Fed. Cas. 15,082), and indeed thereafter until comparatively recently (United States v. Santos [1862] Fed. Cas. 16,222; United States v. Duncan [1863] Fed. Cas. 15,004; United States v. Traynor [D. C.] 173 F. 114; Griffin v. U. S. [D. C.] 270 F. 263; United States v. O’Leary [D. C.] 275 F. 202). But the Fourth Circuit held otherwise in 1908 (United States v. Robinson [C. C. A.] 158 F. 410); and although the decisions are not even yet uniform [United States v. Slaimen [D. C.] 6 F.(2d) 464], there has been entire unanimity in cases decided by Circuit Courts of Appeal, and in the District of Columbia. Henry v. U. S., 288 F. 843, 32 A. L. R. 257 (C. C. A. 7); United States v. Walter, 43 App. D. C. 469; Fidelity & Deposit Co. v. U. S., 293 F. 575 (C. C. A. 5); Skolnik v. U. S., 4 F.(2d) 797 (C. C. A. 7); Weber v. U. S., 32 F.(2d) 110 (C. C. A. 8); United States v. American Bonding Co., 39 F.(2d) 428 (C. C. A. 9); Fidelity & Deposit Co. v. U. S., 47 F.(2d) 222 (C. C. A. 9); United States v. Costello, 47 F.(2d) 684 (C. C. A. 6), semble. See, also, United States v. Fabata (D. C.) 253 F. 586; United States v. Smoller (D. C.) 275 F. 1011.
The result seems to us unnecessarily harsh, and not required by the language of Rev. St. § 1020 (18 ITSCA § 601). ^he situation presupposes that the trial can be had, and for this reason United States v. Costello (C. C. A.) 47 F.(2d) 684, is not strictly in point. When it can, the primary purpose of tho recognizance has been fulfilled, for it is not to “enrich the Treasury,” as Marshall, C. J., observed in United States v. Feely, Fed. Cas. 15,082, “Public justice” does not require a penalty to be imposed upon the bail who has produced his principal, unless the prosecution has been prejudiced by the delay; why he should be vicariously east for a default which he does not share we cannot understand. Of course he must respond as indemnitor for any pecuniary loss thrown upon the eognizee, but on ordinary principles applicable to penalties the remainder would he remitted. The change of the word “parties” to “party,” in Rev. St. § 1020, appeal's to us a broken reed on which to support the- opposite construction, though it has been its main reliance. We read tho later form distributively, in accordance with pre-existing law, and think that while the principal should not he relieved when he is the “party” seeking remission, the bail should, when he is. But we also think that we should yield to the opinion of six other circuits and the District of Columbia, there being no dissont, and that my decision in United States v. O’Leary (D. C.) 275 F. 202, must be overruled until the Supreme Court sees fit to declare otherwise, if it ever should.
Order reversed, and judgment directed for the face of the recognizance.
MANTON, Circuit Judge, concurs in separate opinion.
Concurring Opinion
(concurring).
The statute in question (title 18, U. S. Code, § 601; Rev. St. 1020 [18 USCA § 601]) provides that where any! recognizance in a criminal cause has been taken and there has been a forfeiture by breach of the eondi
“Willful default” of the party means willful default of principal, or the defendant, and not the surety. This has been uniformly held by the Circuit Courts of Appeals and the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia. The reasons which are stated in such opinions sufficiently express my views. They are right in principle and in the construction of the statute. The judgment should be reversed on these authorities. United States v. Costello, 47 F.(2d) 684 (C. C. A. 6); United States v. Amer. Bonding Co., 39 F.(2d) 423 (C. C. A. 9); Weber v. United States, 32 F.(2d) 110 (C. C. A. 8); Skolnik v. United States, 4 F.(2d) 797 (C. C. A. 7); Fidelity & Deposit Co. v. United States, 293 F. 575 (C. C. A. 5); Henry v. United States, 288 F. 843, 32 A. L. R. 257 (C. C. A. 7); United States v. Robinson, 158 F. 410 (C. C. A. 4); United States v. Walter, 43 App. D. C. 468; United States v. Allen, 39 App. D. C. 383; United States v. Von Jenny, 39 App. D. C. 377.
I therefore concur in the result.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- UNITED STATES v. KELLEHER Et Al.
- Cited By
- 19 cases
- Status
- Published