United States v. Hobbs

The accused challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support his conviction for wrongful possession of heroin and he contends that the trial judge’s conduct deprived him of a fair trial. We decide both contentions against him.

On November 27,1975, a German customs inspector, aboard a train that had entered the Federal Republic of Germany from the Netherlands, saw the accused sitting by himself. Accused’s seat was next to a window, in a section of a car described as an “opened carriage” type. The seats of the section were so arranged, that the area could accommodate four persons. As the…