United States v. Gaskin - 320 U.S. 527 (1944)

U.S. Supreme Court

United States v. Gaskin, 320 U.S. 527 (1944)

United States v. Gaskin

No. 68

Argued December 7, 8, 1943

Decided January 3, 1944

320 U.S. 527

Syllabus

1. It is an offense under § 269 of the Criminal Code to arrest a person with intent to hold him in peonage. P. 320 U. S. 528.

That the person shall have rendered service in consequence of the arrest is not an element of the offense.

2. The rules requiring definiteness and strict construction of a criminal statute do not require distortion or nullification of its evident meaning and purpose. P. 320 U. S. 529.

50 F.Supp. 607 reversed.

Appeal under the Criminal Appeals Act from a judgment of the District Court sustaining a demurrer to an indictment.