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United States v. Symonette

Circuit Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
Apr 13, 1932
57 F.2d 863 (5th Cir. 1932)

Opinion

Nos. 6479, 6480.

April 13, 1932.

Appeals from the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of Florida; Halsted L. Ritter, Judge.

Arthur Symonette pleaded guilty to violations of the National Prohibition Act, and the Customs Laws, and Foy Kirkland was convicted of violations of the National Prohibition Act. From judgments amending sentences and placing the defendants on probation, the United States appeals.

Both judgments reversed, and cases remanded, with directions.

W.P. Hughes, U.S. Atty., of Jacksonville, Fla., and B.R. Cisco, Asst. U.S. Atty., of Miami, Fla.

Bart A. Riley, of Miami, Fla., for appellee Symonette.

Before BRYAN, FOSTER, and SIBLEY, Circuit Judges.


These two cases present an identical question, and may be disposed of in one opinion.

Arthur Symonette pleaded guilty in the Miami Division of the Southern District of Florida to violations of the National Prohibition Act and the Customs Laws, and on April 22, 1931, was sentenced to serve six months in the Palm Beach county jail. On July 24, 1931, he was brought into court, and his sentence was modified to three months and two days, and he was placed on probation for a period of two years.

Foy Kirkland was convicted of violations of the National Prohibition Act in the same court and division, and on April 16, 1931, was sentenced to serve six months in the Dade county jail. On July 15, 1931, he was brought into court, and his sentence was suspended for a period of one year, and he was paroled to the probation officer.

There is but one term of court a year in the Southern District of Florida. The term at Miami begins on the fourth Monday in April and ends with the beginning of the succeeding term. Section 76, Judicial Code (28 USCA § 149). In 1931 the fourth Monday of April was the 27th. It is apparent that both the above sentences were imposed in the 1930 term and that after the defendants had been committed to jail and begun to serve them they were amended and the prisoners put on probation in the succeeding term. The court was without jurisdiction to thus amend the sentences. U.S. v. Murray, 275 U.S. 347, 48 S. Ct. 146, 72 L. Ed. 309; U.S. v. Cook (C.C.A.) 19 F.2d 826.

It follows that the judgments amending the sentences and placing the defendants upon probation must be annulled and set aside. In both cases the judgments appealed from are reversed and the cases remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.


Summaries of

United States v. Symonette

Circuit Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
Apr 13, 1932
57 F.2d 863 (5th Cir. 1932)
Case details for

United States v. Symonette

Case Details

Full title:UNITED STATES v. SYMONETTE. SAME v. KIRKLAND

Court:Circuit Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit

Date published: Apr 13, 1932

Citations

57 F.2d 863 (5th Cir. 1932)

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