Houston v. United States
Houston v. United States
Opinion of the Court
This is a prosecution under section 8 of the Harrison Narcotic Law, 38 Stat. 789 (Comp. St. § 6287n). The indictment charges that the defendant, Lucille Houston, being a person who deals in opium and its derivatives, and as such being required to register and pay the special tax imposed by law, unlawfully had in her possession 60 grains of morphine, to which appropriate tax-paid stamps were not
[J] The government contends that error cannot be assigned on a motion in arrest-of judgment, and cites Street Railroad Co. v. Hart, 114 U. S. 654, 5 S. Ct. 1127, 29 L. Ed. 226, and Andrews v. United States, 224 F. 418, 139 C. C. A. 646. The Supreme Court decision only held that the motion in arrest in the ease then before it amounted to no more than a motion for' a new trial. It was not there decided that a motion in arrest of judgment could not be assigned as error for defects apparent on the face of the record, although that seems to be the view in the Andrews Case. A motion in arrest has long been in use and is well recognized as a proper method of attacking void or defective verdicts or other errors apparent on the face of the record. 2 Bishop’s New Criminal Procedure, ch. 87. In Blitz v. United States, 153 U. S. 308, 14 S. Ct. 924, 38 L. Ed. 725, the Supreme Court sustained an assignment of error based on such a motion. See, also, Rosen v. United States, 161 U. S. 29, 16 S. Ct. 434, 480, 40 L. Ed. 606. There is no other way by which error based upon a defective or void verdict can be reviewed.
The persons punishable for possession under section 8 are not all persons, but only those who are required by section 1 (section 6287g) to register and pay the special tax. United States v. Jin Fuey Moy, 241 U. S. 394, 36 S. Ct. 658, 60 L. Ed. 1061, Ann. Cas. 1917D, 854. Therefore the allegations in the indictment that the defendant belonged to the class of persons required to register and pay the special tax were essen-tial allegations, without which the averment of possession would not have stated an offense under the act. As it was necessary to allege in the indictment, so it was necessary to show by the evidence, that the defendant sold or dealt in opium or its derivatives. But the verdict of the jury leaves this disputed question undetermined, whereas it would have to be decided in the affirmative in order to authorize the jury to find the defendant guilty of unlawful .possession. A verdict which finds the defendant guilty of only a part of the charge included in the indictment is well described as a partial one. 2 Bishop’s New Criminal Procedure, § 1009. A partial verdict is good if it finds anything upon which judgment can be entered. Id. §§ 1005a, 1011; 1 Bishop on Criminal Law, § 1006; O’Neal v. State, 54 Fla. 96, 44' So. 940. We are of opinion that it is impossible to determine from the entire record, including the evidence, whether the jury intended to find that the defendant was one who sold or dealt in opium or its derivatives, and that therefore the verdict is a nullity.
It is proper to say in this connection that, in our opinion, the defendant cannot plead former jeopardy, but may be tried again. 1 Bishop on Criminal Law, § 998(3).
The judgment is reverséd, and the cause remanded for a new trial. - .
Reference
- Full Case Name
- HOUSTON v. UNITED STATES
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