Ullman that he had spoken to Goldberg and that he (Spatt) thought that Ullman intended to meet with the big fellows and sell his business to them. A meeting between Ullman, Spatt and Radnitz was held thereafter, at which negotiations for the sale of Ullman’s business were commenced. At this point defense counsel moved to strike the testimony “on the ground that the alleged agency by Mr. Goldberg may not be proved by the statements of a witness of what the alleged agent told him.” The trial court, however, ruled that Goldberg’s agency had been sufficiently spelled out by Ullman’s testimony “with respect to the statements attributed to any one of several of the defendants and by any number of surrounding facts and circumstances to which he has also testified.” He, therefore, held that Goldberg’s agency was not based upon “unsupported declarations of agency.” 252(a).
It is axiomatic that agency cannot be proved solely by declarations of the alleged agent, but must be established by independent proof. Schauffler v. Highway Truck Drivers & Helpers, 3 Cir., 1956, 230 F.2d 7, 10; McWhorter v. United States, 6 Cir., 1922, 281 F. 119; 4 Wigmore, Evidence, § 1078 (3rd Ed., 1940).
The independent proof may be circumstantial, but it must be “substantial,” Ong Way Jong v. United States, 9 Cir., 1957, 245 F.2d 392, 395, and not “too slight.” United States v. Stromberg, 2 Cir., 1959, 268 F.2d 256, 267.
The trial court found that Goldberg “was used by them” (defendants Gordon, Spatt, Maslow and Radnitz) as an intermediary and agent in their contacts with Paul Ullman (Finding #47) and that Ullman’s decision to sell New Sanitary was made only after being told by Goldberg “who is acting as agent for the said defendants” and that “he thought it advisable for Ullman either to ‘straighten out with the big fellows or sell out to them’” (Finding #52).
No restatement need be made of the reasons for the hearsay exclusion rule. It is based upon the common experience that the most trustworthy evidence usually comes from the original source undiluted by hearsay repetition. Upon any new trial these precepts should be kept in mind. Goldberg may well have been an “intermediary” but his conversations with Ullman are admissible against the defendants, only if it be established that he was acting for and representing them. The other facts and circumstances may be sufficient to establish agency even though Goldberg’s own declarations of his status to Ullman would not qualify under the law as establishing this status or Goldberg himself may testify. Because at this time there is no way of knowing what proof may be adduced upon any new trial, no guide other than the generalities set forth can be or should be set forth.
The judgments of conviction and sentence are reversed and the cause is remanded for further proceedings in conformity with the foregoing opinion.
On Petition for Rehearing.
PER CURIAM.
The United States of America, plaintiff-appellee herein, has petitioned for a rehearing in order to clarify our opinion filed May 31, 1961. The issue as to which clarification is sought is the applicability of the second sentence of Rule 33 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, 18 U.S.C.A. to the new trial ordered by this court.1
The case was tried to the court without a jury and all defendants were convicted. Fines aggregating a large sum were imposed and four individual defendants were given short prison sentences. Each defendant corporation and each individual defendant duly appealed from
1
The first two sentences of Rule 33 read as follows: “The court may grant a new trial to a defendant if required in the interest of justice. If trial was by the court without a jury the court may vacate the judgment if entered, take additional testimony and direct the entry of a new judgment.”