Gebardi v. United States

287 U.S. 112 (1932)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

The Mann Act prohibits interstate transportation of women for immoral purposes. Gerbardi (Ds), a man and a woman, not then husband and wife, were indicted in the District Court for Northern Illinois, for conspiring together, and with others not named, to transport the woman from one state to another for the purpose of engaging in sexual intercourse with the man. At the trial without a jury there was evidence from which the court could have found that the petitioners had engaged in illicit sexual relations in the course of each of the journeys alleged; that the man purchased the railway tickets for both petitioners for at least one journey; and that in each instance the woman, in advance of the purchase of the tickets, consented to go on the journey and did go on it voluntarily for the specified immoral purpose. There was no evidence supporting the allegation that any other person had conspired. The trial court overruled motions for a finding for the defendants, and in arrest of judgment, and gave judgment of conviction. The Seventh Circuit affirmed under United States v. Holte. The Act clearly leaves the woman's participation unpunished. Upon conviction for conspiracy, both appealed.