United States v. Goldman - 277 U.S. 229 (1928)

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U.S. Supreme Court

United States v. Goldman, 277 U.S. 229 (1928)

United States v. Goldman

No. 723

Argued April 10, 1928

Decided May 14, 1928

277 U.S. 229

Syllabus

1. A criminal contempt, committed by violation of an injunction decreed by a federal court, is an offense against the United States, and an information brought by the United States for the punishment of such a contempt is a "criminal case" within the meaning of the Criminal Appeals Act. P. 277 U. S. 236.

2. A motion to dismiss an information of criminal contempt raising the bar of the statute of limitations upon facts appearing upon the face of the information is equivalent to a special plea in bar setting up those facts, and a judgment sustaining the motion is reviewable under the Criminal Appeals Act as a judgment sustaining a special plea in bar. Id.

3. A person charged with criminal contempt is not put in jeopardy prior to the beginning of the trial by entry of a preliminary order to take testimony for use at the trial. P. 277 U. S. 237.

4. Prosecution of a criminal contempt committed by violating an injunction decree entered in a suit brought by the United States under the Anti-Trust Act is not barred in one year under § 25 of The Clayton Act, but in three years under § 1044 Rev.Stats. Id.

Reversed.

Error under the Criminal Appeals Act, to a judgment of the district court dismissing an information for contempt.

Page 277 U. S. 233