United States v. Mitchell

Under each of two indictments for housebreaking and larceny, the defendant Mitchell was separately tried and convicted, but his convictions were reversed by the Court of Appeals, 138 F. 2d 426, solely on the ground that the admission of testimony of Mitchell’s oral confessions and of stolen property secured from his home through his consent was barred by our decision in McNabb v. United *66States, 318 U. S. 332. In view of the importance to federal criminal justice of proper application of the McNabb doctrine, we brought the case here.

Practically the whole body of the law of evidence governing…