Olmstead V. United States (1928) Essay -- essays research papers

Olmstead v. United States (1928)Opinion delivered by Chief Justice TaftVote 5-4Case reached Supreme Court by judicial writ of certiorari.Facts     The evidence in the records discloses a conspiracy of amazing magnitudeto import, possess, and sell liquor unlawfully. Involved were not less thanfifty employees, two sea-going vessels for transportation of the goods toBritish Columbia, a ranch beyond the city limits of Seattle with a largeunderground cache to store the liquor, and many separate caches around the area ofSeattle, a kept up(p) city office with executives, secretaries, salesmen,deliverymen, dispatchers, bookkeepers, collectors, scouts, and an attorney.Olmstead was the leading conspirator and manager of the business. His investedcapital brought him 50 percent of the total income of the company (said to beover 2 million/year), and the other 50 percent went to 11 other investors.     In the main office building there were three differen t telephones withseparate lines for each. Telephone communication was make throughout the city,the homes of the investors, customers, Vancouver, to and from the officebuilding and ranch. Times were fixed for the delivery of the "stuff" to placesalong the Puget Sound and from there was transported to the various caches.     The information leading to the arrests was made in general by fourFederal prohibition officers. The officers placed sma...