UNITED STATES
v.
MARTHINSON.
765
beyond the limits of this state, as the railway has no close connection at its terminus with the narrow-guage railway that conveys passengers into Georgia. The evidence referred to may be considered in connection with the declarations of defendant as to his former transportation of dynamite made in explanatiO'll and reply to the charges of the conductor as to the deception and falsehood of defendant in regard to the contents of the box transported. It is insisted by the counsel for the prosecution that the manifest design of the statute is to protect passengers in transit from one state to another, and that the interstate transportation of the dangerous substances is not required to constitute the offense; that the railway from Asheville to Murphy is a branch of the Western North Carolina Railway, and is included in a general railway connection and system of interstate transit of large extent, under the control Railway Company; and its cars are of the Richmond & employed in conveying passengers who are coming from and going to other states. In this case I will not give the statute such a broad construction, for the. reasons and the circumstances which I have already stated to yoo; and, moreover, such questions of law are not presented by the definite and specific charges contained in the indictment. The evidence shows that dynamite was transported from Atlanta to Murphy, in this state. and was received, carried off, and used by defendant. If this 'dynamite was transported on a passenger train, the person sending the same violated the statute, and the defendant, by receiving the article, became guilty of such offense. As there are no accessories in misdemeanors, all persons participating are regarded in law as principals. I will not repeat the evidence, as it has been so fully recapitulated and commented on in the argument of counsel. You may now take the case, and, with the aid of the instructions given you on questions of law by the court, determine whether or not the defendant is guilty in the manner and form charged in the indictment. "Guilty."
UNITED STATES v. MARTHINSON. (District Court, E. D. South Catolina. November 28, 1893.)
NAVIGABLE WATERS--OBSTRUCTIONs-CRnIINAL OFFENSE.
The provision of the river and harbor appropriation act of September 19, 1890, making it an offense to obstruct a navigable stream, is directed against casting into or constructing upon the beds thereof anything creating obstructions more or less permanent in character, and does not apply to the floating of logs or rafts which may temporarily obstruct the surfJI.ce of the stream.
At Law. Indictment of Charles 'Marthinson for obstructing a navigable stream. On motion to instruct the jury to find defend. ant not guilty. Granted. . W. Perry Murphy, U. S. Dist. Atty. W. J. Montgomery, for defendant.
766
'Fll:DERAL REPOR'fER,
vol. 58.
District/ Judge. This indictment is brought under the siXth section of the'act of congress ,approved September 19, 1890, entitled "An act making appropriations for the construction, repair, and preservation of certain public works on rivers and harbors," (1 Supp; Rev. Sf; 801.) The evidence in the case is that the defendant is a: dealer in timber on the Great Pedee river, in South Carolina, a n!ivigable water of the United States; that he made up his rafts in the upper part of the river, and floated them down the stream to market; that in several instances the rafts so made up were seen :floating down the stream with no hands on them, and with no means of governing or directing their movement; that in this navigable river there were often sailing craft and steam vessels, and that the presence of these unguarded rafts was very dangerous to navigation, especially at night, the rafts frequently having no lights. It is also in evidence that at times a raft would break up, and that its debris would lodge on the bank of the river, obstructing the current; and also that a part of a raft had lodged in the stream. and had made an obstruction. The only evidence as to the manner in which the rafts left the place at which they were up came from the defendant and his witnesses. They say that they were always provided with a crew, ropes, and oars. It w,as admitted, however. that on several occasions the crew had deserted rafts on their passage.' . The act of congress on which this indictment was framed is directed against the casting into or constructing upon the beds of navigable streams anything which may create obstructions more or less permanent in character, diminishing the navigable capacity of the streams. It is not directed against the floating of logs or rafts thereon, which may obstruct the surface of the streams, but which necessarily are temporary in their effect. Rafts are included in the general term "vessels." Navigable streams are as much dedicated to their use as to the use of other vessels. If this privilege of use be abused, the persons so abusing the use are liable civilly for damages they may occasion. This act of congress does not make them liable criminally. The jury will flnd the defendant not guilty. WOODRUFF v. UNITED STATES. (Circuit Court, D. Kansas. 1. 2. POST OFFICE-MONEY-ORDER FUNDS,
November 29, lima.)
Post-office money-order funds are· part of the publlo moneys of the United States.
TRIAL-INSTRUCTIONS-COMMENTS ON EVIDENCE.
A federal Judge is authorized, in criminal as well as civil cases, to express his opinion on the questions of fact which he submits to the jury. when he further tells them that they are the sole judges of the weight of the evidence and the credibility of the witnesses.
8.
CRIMINAL LAW-SENTENCE-EMBEZZLEMBNT Oll' POST-OFFICE FUNDS.
Under Rev. St. § 4046, declaring the embezzlement of post-office moneyorder funds a crime, and providing that one convicted thereof shall "be imprisoned * * * and fined in a sum equal to the amount embezzled," a sentence of imprisonment, without any fine, is invalid.