United States v. William L. Patterson

CLARK, Chief Judge.

Defendant, William L. Patterson, has been convicted of criminal contempt for his failure to produce certain records demanded by a subpoena duces tecum issued by a duly authorized grand jury. The defendant concedes that any records of the Civil .Rights Congress which presently exist are in his control as Executive Secretary of that organization. Elis main contention, also advanced below, but rejected by the district court, is that the government has not sustained its burden of proof that the records it demands are still in existence.

The present proceedings arise out of an…