People v. Levy

In Todd v. United States (158 U. S. 278), Mr. Justice Bee web for the court held (p. 282): “ It is axiomatic that statutes creating and defining crimes cannot be extended by intendment, and that no act, however wrongful, can be punished under such a statute unless clearly within its terms. ‘ There can be no constructive offences, and before a man can be punished, his case must be plainly and unmistakably within the statute. ’ United States v. Lacher, 134 U. S. 624; Endlich on the Interpretation of Statutes, sec. 329, 2d ed.; Pomeroy’s Sedgwick on Statutory and Constitutional Construction,…