Harris v. United States

In this narcotics case a two-count indictment charged petitioner with (1) the purchase of 224 grains of heroin from an unstamped package, in violation of 26 U. S. C. § 4704 (a); 1 and (2) receiving and concealing this same drug knowing it to have been unlawfully imported, in violation of 21 U. S. C. § 174. 2 The Government introduced into evidence the heroin itself, and testimony that petitioner had been in possession of it. On each count it relied, for proof of the elements of the offense, on the statutory presumptions provided by Congress. While petitioner took the stand, his defense was an…