William Lander Bell v. United States

Appellant was charged by indictment with having unlawfully transported a stolen motor vehicle in interstate commerce. 18 U.S.C. § 2312 . He appeals after having been convicted in a jury trial and committed under the provisions of the Federal -Youth Corrections Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 5005-5026 . Insofar as they are material to the issues presented here, the facts are as follows:

The Police Department of Las Vegas, Nevada, had been informed that a fugitive suspected of robbery in California would be driving a 1966 Chevrolet Corvette automobile, yellow in color and bearing California license plates. The particular model of the vehicle was identified as a “Stingray.” Thereafter, at 2:10 o’clock in the early morning of September 17, 1966, at a street intersection in Las Vegas, Nevada, a vehicle of the above description was observed by Officer Goetzke of the Las Vegas Police Department. The officer stopped the vehicle and, after questioning appellant, took him into custody and caused the automobile to be impounded. The appellant remained in the custody of the Las Vegas police for about two and one-half days and was then interviewed by Agent Howerton of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.…