Chan Chaun v. United States

Two indictments, each charging the concealment and the facilitation of the concealment of narcotics, were returned against appellant. The indictments were consolidated and appellant was convicted under both. The sole question raised on the appeal is the sufficiency of the evidence to support the verdicts.

1. The first indictment has to do with a large quantity of smoking opium found in tins in a suitcase which had been checked as baggage at Portland for transportation to San Francisco via a Greyhound bus. The opium was discovered en route in the course of a routine inspection conducted by California quarantine officers at the state line. Farther on, at Davis, the tins were removed from the suitcase by agents of the narcotic bureau. Upon arrival of the bus at San Francisco the suitcase was placed in the baggage room and several days later was called for by a truck driver who presented the requisite check. The driver then delivered the bag to a building on Grant Avenue occupied by appellant and others. Possession of the check was traced back to appellant, and it was shown on the trial that he had given directions to the transfer people to pick up the baggage. In explanation of his…