People v. Appelbaum

Defendants appeal from a judgment of the County Court, Bangs County, convicting them of violating subdivision 6 of section 1423 of the Penal Law, in that they unlawfully and willfully did (a) read or copy, in an unauthorized manner, communications passing over a certain telephone line, and, as to defendants La Borde, (b) tap or make connection with a telephone line.

Subdivision 6 of section 1423 of the Penal Law, so far as pertinent, is ordinarily designed to protect the right of privacy of participants to a telephone conversation. (The Right to Privacy, Warren and Brandeis, 4 Harv. L. Rev.,…