United States v. Costello

PALMIERI, District Judge.

I am called upon to decide whether the Government may call the defendant as a witness against himself in an action to denaturalize him.

The defendant was naturalized by an order of this court on September 10, 1925. On October 22, 1952, the United States Attorney filed a petition to cancel his naturalization on the ground of illegality and fraud in its procurement in violation of the Nationality Act of 1906, June 29, 1906, c. 3592, § 4, 34 Stat. 596.

The trial of this action began before me on September 25, 1956. Almost at the outset of the trial, Government counsel…