154
FEDERAl, ImpORTER, vol. 46.
for erpploymentof language of an insulting chl1.ractedt confines it.self to postal-cards and letters on the envelope of which this language apIn the act containing the amendment to section 3893, on which this indictment is framed, is a section declaring unmailable" matter upon the envelope or outside cover of which, or any postal-card upon which, are any delineation, epithets, terms, or language of an indecent, lewd, lascivious, obscene, libelous, .scurrilous, defamatory, or threatening character, or calculated, by the terms or manner or style of display, and obviously intended, to reflect injuriously upon the character or conduct of another." The letter of the defendant comes within tbis description, and, as he sealed the letter, he did noi violate the law. The jury will find the defendant not guilty.
BEACH v. UNITED S'fATES. (Circuit Court, N. D. California. June 9, 1890.) CRIMINAL LAW-REFUSAL OF WITNESS TO TESTIFy·-MISCONDUCT OF COUNSEL.
Where a witness called by the government refuses to answer certain questions on the ground that the answers may tend to criminate him, it is reversible error for the court to charge the jury that such refusal is a circumstance from Which it might be argued that the object of the witness was to shield the defendant rather than himse'lf, and to allow the district attorney to argue that such refusal was a. circumstance to be considered by the jury In making up their verdict.
On Writ of Error from District Court. S. M. Buck and A. P. Van Duzer, for plaintiff in error. John T. Carey, for the United States. Before FIELD, Justice, and SAWYER, Circuit Judge. FIELD, J ustice. We are clear that the court below erred in allowing the district attorney to argue to the jury that the refusal of Marks to answer certain questions on the ground that his answers might criminate himself, was a circumstance to be considered by them in making up their verdict; that they had a right to consider whether it was not his real object to protect the defendant, and not himself; and that, "if he was thus particular to protect the defendant," it must have been from a knowledge that his answers might criminate, not himself, but the defendant. It was also error in the while stating generally to the jury that the refusal of Marks to answer could not be considered as evidence against the defendant, to accompany the statement with the charge that it was a fact in the case from which the district attorney had a to argue that the refusal was not to save himself, but to save the defendant; that he had a right to argue from the character of the questions put, and the persistent refusals .of the witness to answer any of them. and from the fact that it wall not apparent to anyone how the answers to the ques,tions, or to same of. them, could criminate him, "that his real object was
UNITED STATES V. TRUMBULL.
755
to protect Mr. Beach, and not himself; and that, when he was so particular to protect Mr. Beach, it must have been from the knowledge that bis answers might criminate him;" that this was a question of inference and argument; and that the inference to be drawn from it, and how important it was in determining the main issue in the case, was for the jury to decide. The refusal of the witness to answer the questions, ifhe thought his answers would criminate himself, was his constitutional right, which the defendant could not control, and no inference should have been permitted to be drawn against the defendant because of the assertion by the witness of this right to protect himself. Marks was called by the government. If he had testified, his testimony might have been in favor of the defendant, though criminating himself. It might have entirely exonerated the defendant. To infer that the very opposite would have been or might have been the effect of his testimony, had it been given, was unwarranted. The intimation even that any such inference wasjustifiable, as plainly is to be drawn from the charge of the court, and its permission to allow the district attorney to argue to that effect to the jury, was calculated to work injustice to the defendant, and to lead the jury to yield to suggestions and suppositions rather than to the actual evidence in the case. It would, indeed, be strange doctrine that anyone could be found guilty, or even that his guilt could be seriously dcbated, because another party, caned as a witness, who had no relations and was not a conspirator with him, or charged in the same indictment, had refused to testify in order to protect himself. There is neither reason nor authority for any such doctrine. For these errors the judgment must be reverbed, and the cause remanded for a new trial.
UNI'l'ED STATES V. TRUMBUI,L.
(District Court, D. Washington, N. D. June 15,1891.,; CnINESIl-UNLAWl'UL
An indictment under Act Congo May 6, 1882, (22 St. p. 61,) making it unlawful for any person "to aid or abet the landing In the United States from any vessel of any Chinese person not lawfully entitled to enter the United States," must state facts sufficient to show that the Chinese person was one prohibited from landing. and that he was brought on the same vessel from which he landed on a voyage which terminated at the time of the landing. It is demurrable If It merely shows that he was a Chinese laborer, and alleges that he was not laWfully entitled to enter the United States, and that he landed from a certain vessel.
AND ABETTING-Il\DICTMENT.
At Law. Defendant was indicted for knowingly aiding and abetting the landin<T in the United States of Chinese persons, not lawfully entitled to ente; the United States. Some of the counts charged that defendant did "knowingly aid and abet the landing in the United States frOID the vessel City of Kingston of a certain Chinese person not lawfully entItled to enter the United States, to-wit, one * * *." Others charged that