United States v. Roland Francis Poitra

Defendant Roland Francis Poitra, an Indian, was found guilty of taking $269.00 by force and violence from the person of Wilmer Charles St. Claire, an Indian. The alleged crime took place in Indian country, in the District of North Dakota. These acts were in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1153 and § 2111.

Defendant complains of the following errors: (a) insufficiency of the evidence; (b) the refusal of the trial court to enjoin the prosecution from inquiring into the defendant’s past criminal record which, it is claimed, deterred the defendant from taking the stand; (c) the admission of hearsay…