Steele v. United States No. 1, 267 U.S. 498 (1925)

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Steele v. United States No. 1

No. 235

Argued March 11, 1925
Decided April 13, 1925
267 U.S. 498

APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

Syllabus

1. Description, in a search warrant, of a building as a garage used for business purposes, giving its street and one of its two house numbers, held sufficiently definite, under the circumstances, for search of the whole building, which had three street entrances, and means of access between its parts on the ground and upper floors, and was used in conducting an automobile garage and storage business. P. 502.

2. A search warrant sufficiently describes the place to be searched if it enables the officer, with reasonable effort, to identify it. P. 503.

3. A warrant authorizing search of a building used as a garage, and any building or rooms connected or used in connection with the garage, held to justify search of the upper rooms connected with the garage by elevator. P. 503.

4. Search of rooms in a building used by a business held not unlawful under Prohibition Act § 25 because one of the rooms, not searched and in which no liquor was found, was slept and cooked in by an employee of the business. P. 503.

5. Description of articles to be searched for a "cases of whiskey" held sufficient. P. 504.

6. Where an experienced prohibition agent saw cases labeled "whiskey," which looked to him like whiskey cases, being unloaded at a building which, as he ascertained, had no permit to store whiskey, there was probable cause for warrant and seizure. P. 504.

Affirmed.

Appeal from a judgment of the district court refusing to vacate a search warrant, under which the appellant’s premises were searched and quantities of whiskey, gin and alcohol were found and seized. See also the next case, post, p. 505.