Franklin R. Masiello v. United States, 304 F.2d 399 (D.C. Cir. 1962). · Go Syfert
Franklin R. Masiello v. United States, 304 F.2d 399 (D.C. Cir. 1962). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
54 citation events (8 in the last 25 years) across 14 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: United States v. Akbar (armfor, 2015-08-19)
Treatment trajectory · 1962 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1962 1994 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 21 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Akbar
C.A.A.F. · 2015 · confidence medium
Although we conclude that there was no error, we do have reservations about the submission of joint affidavits by trial defense counsel when an appellant alleges ineffective assistance 33 There is authority that the use of joint affidavits is “undesirable.” Masiello v. United States, 304 F.2d 399, 402 (D.C.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Akbar (2×)
C.A.A.F. · 2015 · confidence medium
Although we conclude that there was no error, we do have reservations about the submission of joint affidavits by trial defense counsel when an appellant alleges ineffective assistance 33 There is authority that the use of joint affidavits is “undesirable.” Masiello v. United States, 304 F.2d 399, 402 (D.C.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Isaac Eugene Barlow
8th Cir. · 2002 · confidence medium
Cf. United States v. Longmire, 761 F.2d 411, 420-21 (7th Cir. 1985) ("Unless the district court is given an opportunity to correct the error, an appellate court cannot review evidence presented at trial which casts doubt upon a pre-trial suppression motion."); Masiello v. United States, 304 F.2d 399, 400-02 (D.C.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Isaac Eugene Barlow (2×)
8th Cir. · 2002 · confidence medium
Cf. United States v. Longmire, 761 F.2d 411, 420-21 (7th Cir.1985) ("Unless the district court is given an opportunity to correct the error, an appellate court cannot review evidence presented at trial which casts doubt upon a pre-trial suppression motion."); Masiello v. United States, 304 F.2d 399, 400-02 (D.C.Cir.1962) (vacating the judgment and remanding because the evidence that might support the trial judge's determination emerged after the conclusion of the suppression hearing (during the trial) and conflicted directly with testimony adduced at the pretrial hearing).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Lewis v. United States
D.C. · 1991 · confidence medium
See Rushing v. United States, 381 A.2d 252, 257 (D.C.1977); Masiello v. United States, 113 U.S.App.D.C. 32 , 34, 304 F.2d 399, 401 (1962), citing Carroll v. United States, 267 U.S. 132, 162 , 45 S.Ct. 280, 288 , 69 L.Ed. 543 (1925). 4 .
cited Cited as authority (rule) Martin v. United States
D.C. · 1989 · confidence medium
See Rushing v. United States, 381 A.2d 252, 257 (D.C.1977); Masiello v. United States, 113 U.S.App.D.C. 32 , 34, 304 F.2d 399, 401 (1962). 17 .
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Queen
cma · 1988 · confidence medium
Cf. United States v. Radlick, 581 F.2d 225, 228-29 (9th Cir.1978); United States v. Seay, 432 F.2d 395 , 402 (5th Cir.1970), cert. denied, 401 U.S. 942 , 91 S.Ct. 949 , 28 L.Ed.2d 223 (1971); Masiello v. United States, 304 F.2d 399, 401 (D.C.Cir.1962); Costello v. United States, 298 F.2d 99, 102 (9th Cir.1962). .
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Hammill v. United States
D.C. · 1985 · confidence medium
At oral argument, the government relied on Masiello v. United States, 113 U.S.App.D.C. 32 , 34, 304 F.2d 399, 401 (1962) (citing Carroll v. United States, 267 U.S. 132 , 45 S.Ct. 280 , 69 L.Ed. 543 (1925)) in support of its reference to the trial testimony.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Rushing v. United States (2×)
D.C. · 1977 · confidence medium
The unresolved conflict in testimony precludes our affirming the judgment as the Supreme Court did in Carroll . [ Masiello v. United States, supra at 34, 304 F.2d at 401 (emphasis changed).] The court held that in these circumstances, the judgment should be vacated and remanded for a new determination of the motion to suppress.
cited Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Able L. Aldrete
5th Cir. · 1969 · confidence medium
See also; Masiello v. United States, supra and Masiello v. United States, 113 U.S.App.D.C. 32 , 304 F.2d 399, 401 (1962).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Junius S. Washington v. United States
D.C. Cir. · 1968 · confidence medium
Masiello v. United States, 113 U.S.App.D.C. 32 , 33, 304 F.2d 399, 401 (1962).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Commonwealth v. Rossetti
Mass. · 1965 · confidence medium
See Ker v. California, 374 U. S. 23, 37-41, 44-46, 47 . 9 See also Miller v. United States, 357 U. S. 301, 306-310; Masiello v. United States, 304 F. 2d 399, 401 (Ct. App. D.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Ramona Cipres and Juan Montes Deoca v. United States
9th Cir. · 1965 · confidence medium
See Martinez v. United States, 85 S.Ct. 953 (March 15, 1965); Rios v. United States, 364 U.S. 253, 260-262 , 80 S.Ct. 1431 , 4 L.Ed.2d 1688 (1960); Masiello v. United States, 113 U.S.App.D.C. 32 , 304 F.2d 399, 401 (1962); United States v. Page, 302 F.2d 81, 86 (9th Cir. 1962). 9 .
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Lewis L. Wayne v. United States
D.C. Cir. · 1963 · confidence medium
Miller v. United States, supra; Accarino v. United States, 85 U.S.App.D.C. 394 , 179 F.2d 456 (1949); Masiello v. United States, 113 U.S.App.D.C. 32 , 33-34, 304 F.2d 399, 400-401 (1962); Hair v. United States, 110 U.S.App.D.C. 153 , 155, 289 F.2d 894, 896 (1961) I know of no case which requires the occupants to ask the police purpose, as Judge Burger suggests they should have done. 6 Cf. the concurring opinion of Circuit Judge Wright in Killough v. United States, 114 U.S.App.D.C. 305 , 315 F.2d 241, 252 (1962)
discussed Cited "see" United States v. Joseph Bonner, United States of America v. James Turner (2×)
D.C. Cir. · 1989 · signal: see · confidence high
See 304 F.2d 399 400-02 (D.C.Cir. 1962). 29 Nor need we search beyond the facts that this record clearly establishes.
discussed Cited "see" Roland J. White v. United States (2×)
D.C. Cir. · 1965 · signal: see · confidence high
See Masiello v. United States, 113 U.S.App.D.C. 32 , 33, 304 F.2d 399, 400 , and the appeal after remand, 115 U.S.App.D.C. 57 , 58, 317 F.2d 121, 122 ; Munoz v. United States, 325 F.2d 23, 26 (9th Cir.); United States v. Poppitt, 227 F.Supp. 73, 80 (D.Del.); United States v. Barrow, 212 F.Supp. 837, 846 (E.D.Pa.). .
cited Cited "see" United States v. Poppitt
D. Del. · 1964 · signal: see · confidence high
See Masiello v. United States, 113 U.S.App.D.C. 32 , 304 F.2d 399, 400 (C.A.D.C.1962), where the Court of Appeals found it unnecessary to pass upon the District Court’s ruling.
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Mayo v. United States
D.C. · 2024 · signal: see also · confidence medium
See supra Part I.B. 17 As we explained in Germany, our court is “not limited to considering the facts the [trial] court found at the conclusion of the suppression hearing” and may instead “tak[e] into account [the defendant’s] undisputed testimony at the suppression hearing in determining whether [the] trial court erred in denying [the] motion to suppress.” 984 A.2d at 1221 (internal quotation marks omitted); see also Masiello v. United States, 304 F.2d 399, 400-01 (D.C.
discussed Cited "see, e.g." United States v. Watson
D.D.C. · 2005 · signal: see also · confidence medium
See also, Masiello v. United States, 304 F.2d 399, 401 (D.C.Cir.1962) (finding that the district court erred when it denied defendant’s request for reconsideration of a motion to suppress where conflicting evidence emerged at trial).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." West v. United States
D.C. · 1992 · signal: see also · confidence medium
We have previously noted that the "Supreme Court ‘has consistently made clear that it is the duty of a reviewing court to consider the trial record as a whole and to ignore errors that are harmless, including most constitutional violations.' ” Davis v. United States, 564 A.2d 31, 39 (D.C.1989) (citations omitted and emphasis in original) (en banc); see also Masiello v. United States, 113 U.S.App.D.C. 32 , 34, 304 F.2d 399, 401 (1962) (the entire record, including evidence from the pretrial hearing and the trial, may be considered in deciding whether an error is prejudicial). 7 .
cited Cited "see, e.g." Jimmie D. Bryson v. United States
D.C. Cir. · 1969 · signal: see also · confidence low
See also Masiello v. United States, 113 U.S.App.D.C. 32 , 304 F.2d 399 (1962); Hair v. United States, 110 U.S.App.D.C. 153 , 289 F.2d 894 (1961). .
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
Franklin R. MASIELLO, Appellant,
v.
UNITED STATES of America, Appellee
16657_1.
Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
Jun 8, 1962.
304 F.2d 399
Mr. David F. Smith, Washington, D. C., for appellant., Mr. Daniel A. Rezneck, Asst. U. S. Atty., with whom Messrs. David C. Acheson, U. S. Atty., Nathan J. Paulson, and Thomas A. Flannery, Asst. U. S. Attys., were on the brief, for appellee. Mr. Arnold T. Aikens, Asst. U. S. Atty., also entered an appearance for appellee.
Edgerton, Bazelon, Burger.
Cited by 47 opinions  |  Published
Reporter's Syllabus editorial summary, not part of the Court's opinion

Mr. David F. Smith, Washington, D.C., for appellant.

Mr. Daniel A. Rezneck, Asst. U. S. Atty., with whom Messrs. David C. Acheson, U. S. Atty., Nathan J. Paulson, and Thomas A. Flannery, Asst. U. S. Attys., were on the brief, for appellee. Mr. Arnold T. Aikens, Asst. U. S. Atty., also entered an appearance for appellee.

Before EDGERTON, BAZELON and BURGER, Circuit Judges.

BAZELON, Circuit Judge.

Lead Opinion

BAZELON, Circuit Judge.

Appellant was convicted on all three counts of an indictment charging gambling violations.[1] He seeks reversal on the ground, among others, that the District Court erroneously denied his 'pretrial motion, under Rule 41(e) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure,[2] to suppress certain evidence.

His motion alleged that this evidence— which included a revolver, books, and pieces of paper — had been seized in a search of his premises pursuant to a warrant which was executed in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 3109. That section authorizes an officer to break open a door in order to execute a search warrant only after he has given notice of “his authority and purpose” and after he has been refused admittance.[3]

The Government failed to call any witnesses at the pre-trial hearing. Appellant testified that he heard a knock on his apartment door and the announcement, “police”; that within ten seconds thereafter, during which interval he had said, “Just a minute,” and had been about to open the door, the police broke open his door; that prior to breaking in they did not announce they had a search warrant.

It would appear that the court overlooked the statutory requirement that the officers state their purpose and hence it failed to consider appellant’s testimony that no such announcement was made. For the express ruling upon which the court rested denial of the motion to suppress dealt only with § 3109's requirement that the officer must be “refused admittance” before he may “break open [a] door.” The court held that requirement satisfied because “in a numbers operation, a wait of ten seconds doesn’t seem to me to be too soon.” Since the officers' failure to announce their purpose established non-compliance with § 3109, we need not consider appellant's contention that a ten-second delay could not properly be interpreted as a refusal to admit the officers within the meaning of that section. •

Appellant’s testimony made a prima facie showing that the police fail[*401] ed to announce their purpose to execute a search warrant, as required by § 3109. This testimony, not inherently implausible, was uncontradicted.[4] On such a record the officers’ entry and the ensuing search should have been held unlawful under § 3109. See Miller v. United States, 357 U.S. 301, 306, 308, 78 S.Ct. 1190, 2 L.Ed.2d 1332 (1958); Hair v. United States, 110 U.S.App.D.C. 153, 155, 289 F.2d 894, 896 (1961); Accarino v. United States, 85 U.S.App.D.C. 394, 403, 179 F.2d 456, 465 (1949). It follows that the court below erred in denying the pre-trial m.otion to suppress.

The Government points out, however, that at trial the police officers testified that they did announce their purpose to execute a search warrant before breaking open the door. It urges that such testimony must be considered in determining the issue of compliance with § 3109. We agree that the entire record, which includes evidence adduced at both the pre-trial hearing and the trial, may be considered in deciding whether the error was prejudicial. Carroll v. United States, 267 U.S. 132, 162, 45 S.Ct. 280, 69 L.Ed. 543 (1925).

In Carroll the Supreme Court refused to set aside a conviction on the ground that a pre-trial motion for the return of evidence may have been erroneously denied. Petitioner claimed that the pretrial hearing failed to establish probable cause for the search during which the evidence was seized. The Supreme Court held it immaterial whether the pre-trial motion was improperly denied since additional testimony establishing probable cause was subsequently presented at trial and considered by the trial court in holding the evidence admissible.

In the present case, it does not appear that the trial court considered the officers’ testimony at trial since it expressly refused to reconsider its pre-trial ruling. We should not speculate on how the trial court would have resolved the conflict in testimony between appellant and the officers, and how it would have applied a correct view of the law. In Carroll there was no conflict in testimony to be resolved, but a lack of evidence of probable cause at the pre-trial hearing which was supplied at trial.

The unresolved conflict in testimony precludes our affirming the judgment as the Supreme Court did in Carroll. We think it appropriate in these circumstances to vacate the judgment and remand the case for a determination of the motion to suppress confined to the issue whether the search warrant was executed in violation of § 3109.[5] The District Court should make findings of fact and conclusions of law on the issue. For this purpose, the court may consider the evidence at the pre-trial hearing, at the trial and at any further hearings deemed advisable upon remand. If appellant’s motion to suppress is denied, a new final judgment should be entered. Any appeal therefrom would be restricted to questions related to the determination which we now require. If, on the other hand, the motion to suppress is granted, a new trial should be ordered.

The only other point raised by appellant which merits discussion relates to the sufficiency of the police officers’ affidavit for the issuance of the arrest[*402] and search warrants.[6] Appellant contends that the affidavit, sworn to jointly by two police officers, was drawn in a “narrative, third person form in which it was impossible to tell what was sworn to on personal knowledge, or what was sworn to on belief.” The Government counters that “the affidavit clearly indicates which components of probable cause consisted of information obtained by other persons, which were derived from the personal observations of the officers, and whose personal observations these were.”

We think that the truth lies somewhere between these two interpretations of the affidavit. Appellant implies that the affidavit recounts certain aspects of his conduct without indicating who observed it. But the affidavit clearly states that Private Henson, one of the affiants, observed all the conduct in question. Therefore, from the face of the affidavit it was possible to tell what was sworn to as the personal knowledge of at least one of the affiants. The purpose of Rule 41(c)’s requirement that the name of the affiant be given was accomplished since appellant was able to, and did in fact, “probe and challenge the legality of the warrant.” [7]

We think, however, that the Government overstated the case when it said that the affidavit clearly indicates who made the observations. It is clear that Private Henson observed the conduct in question, because the affidavit so states. But the affidavit was also sworn to by Private Perkins. We think that the form in which the affidavit was drawn ambiguously implies that Private Perkins either observed the conduct also, or else that he observed the observer. Apparently he did neither.[8] We think the United States Commissioner would have been well advised to require clarification. Since needless difficulties may result from the use of joint affidavits in support of applications for warrants, the practice is undesirable. In this case, however, the affidavit of Private Henson alone would have been sufficient, and it is possible to identify the information to which he swore. We therefore conclude that the defect in the affidavit does not warrant reversal.

The case is remanded to the District Court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

So ordered.

1

D.C.Code, §§ 22-1501, 1502 and 1505.

2

That rule provides:

“A person aggrieved by an unlawful search and seizure may move the district court for the district in which the property was seized for the return of the property and to suppress for the use as evidence anything so obtained on the ground that (1) the property was illegally seized without warrant, or (2) the warrant is insufficient on its face, or (3) the property seized is not that described in the warrant, or (4) there was not probable cause for believing the existence of the grounds on which the warrant was issued, or (5) the warrant was illegally executed. The judge shall receive evidence on any issue of fact necessary to the decision of the motion. If the motion is granted the property shall be restored unless otherwise subject to lawful detention and it shall not be admissible in evidence at any hearing or trial. The motion to suppress evidence may also be made in the district where the trial is to be had. The motion shall be made before trial or hearing unless opportunity therefor did not exist or the defendant was not aware of the grounds for the motion, but the court in its discretion may entertain the motion at the trial or hearing.” Fed.R.Crim.P. 41(e), 18 U.S.C.
3

That section reads: '

“The officer may break open any outer or inner door or window of a house, or any part of a house, or anything therein, to execute a search warrant, if, after notice of his authority and purpose, he is refused admittance or when necessary to liberate himself or a person aiding him in the execution of the warrant.” 18 U.S.C. § 3109.
4

Cf. United States v. Skeeters, 122 F.Supp. 52, 57 (S.D.Cal.1954); United States v. Warrington, 17 F.R.D. 25, 29 (N.D.Cal.1955).

5

See Rios v. United States, 364 U.S. 253, 260-262, 80 S.Ct. 1431, 4 L.Ed.2d 1688 (1960). Cf. Killian v. United States, 368 U.S. 231, 244, 82 S.Ct. 302, 7 L.Ed.2d 256 (1961). We do not imply that the Government may with impunity fail to produce its witnesses at the pre-trial determination of the motion to suppress* Had the pre-trial judge granted the motion, Rule 41(e) would have prevented the Government from introducing the suppressed evidence at trial. See United States v. Stephenson, 96 U.S.App.D.C. 44, 45, 223 F.2d 336, 337 (1955) (dictum). Cf. United States v. Koenig, 290 F.2d 166, 173-174 (5th Cir. 1961), affirmed, DiBella v. United States, 369 U.S. 121, 82 S.Ct. 654, 7 L.Ed.2d 614 (1962) (dictum: “exceptional circumstances" might require trial court to admit evidence previously suppressed).

6

The fourth amendment to the United States Constitution provides that “no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation * * Rule 41(c) requires that the warrant “shall state the grounds or probable cause for its issuance and the names of the persons whose affidavits have been taken in support thereof.” Fed.R.Crim. P. 41(c), 18U.S.C.

7

See King v. United States, 282 F.2d 398, 400 (4th Cir. 1960).

8

Private Perkins testified at the pre-trial hearing that he learned about some of Private Henson’s observations when the latter recounted them to him in the evening; as to other conduct, "I may have been in the area, may have been sitting outside but X did not make the observations of Private Henson inside the building.”

Concurrence

BURGER, Circuit Judge,

concurring.

I concur in the remand in this form because it provides a self-executing mechanism in the event the District Court finds, on the entire record, that § 3109 was not violated. It should be clear that while time lapse between the police announcement and a break-in cannot be rigidly defined, the law plainly requires that police identify themselves as such and that they state their warrant authority before breaking in. Inevitably an accused found with incriminating materials will deny police assertions of compliance with the statute. The conflict in testimony must then be resolved by the fact trier. Appellate review of such findings is narrow and limited but they are reviewable.