People v. Mancuso

The only two substantial issues raised by defendants on these appeals from convictions of conspiracy as a felony (Penal Law, § 580-a), attempted extortion (Penal Law, § 850) and attempted grand larceny, first degree (Penal Law, §§ 1290, 1290-a and 1294) are in respect of the insufficiency of pleading and proof as to the larceny count and the procedure as to challenges in selecting the jury. The activities of defendants in the policy or numbers racket formed the background for the indictments. The short-form indictment charging an attempt to commit the crime of grand larceny, first degree, was…