Sam Blassingame v. United States

Appellant (Sam Blassingame) and Patricia Lewis were indicted in the District Court, were arraigned, pleaded not guilty, had a jury trial and were found guilty. Thereupon a judgment was entered sentencing appellant to be imprisoned for four years. This appeal is from that judgment.

The question presented is whether the indictment charged an oifense against the United States. It alleged:

“That on or about January 5, 1953, at or near Portland, Oregon, [appellant] and Patricia Lewis, alias Pat Lewis, did conspire and agree together, and with each other, to commit an oifense against the United States, that is, to knowingly and unlawfully, and in violation of [ 18 U.S.C.A. § 2422 ], cause the said Patricia Lewis, alias Pat Lewis, to go in interstate commerce from Portland, Oregon, to Seattle, Washington, with the intent and purpose on the part of [appellant] and Patricia Lewis that the said Patricia Lewis should engage in the practice of prostitution and that said defendants did knowingly cause said Patricia Lewis to go and be carried as a passenger upon the line of a common carrier, to-wit, United Airlines, in the said interstate commerce.

“It was further a part of said conspiracy…