Lillian Jo McEwen AKA Lillian Jo Ramus, AKA Lillian Jo Paeper v. United States

Appellant was indicted, tried by a jury and convicted of forcibly assaulting a federal officer engaged in the performance of his official duties in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111 and 18 U.S.C. § 1114 . The district court had jurisdiction of an offense against the laws of the United States under 18 U.S.C. § 3231 ; our jurisdiction on appeal is based on 28 U.S.C. § 1291 . We affirm.

On July 9, 1966, some months after her escape from custody in Spokane, Washington where she was being held in connection with forgery charges, appellant was captured at a motel in Post Falls, Idaho by federal, state and local authorities acting on information as to her whereabouts supplied by an informant.

While motel guests were being evacuated from the premises near appellant’s room, her brother was seen to leave the area. Appellant’s brother was stopped by the F.B.I. some distance from the motel; he confirmed appellant’s room number at the motel and agreed to return to the motel. The area in front of the single door to appellant’s room was blocked with automobiles.

The presence of the officers was announced and directed to appellant over an electrically operated megaphone, she was told the area was…