Boyd v. United States
- Decided
- February 1, 1886
- Docket
- 983
- Status
- Published
- Jurisdiction
- Federal
Cited 3,820 timesOverruled (verified)Overruled (verified) · Block v. People
What later courts said
- holding that production of a defendant's private papers violated the Fifth Amendment just prior to the adoption of the Washington State Constitution — State v. Curran (1991)
- holding that the Fifth Amendment protected a suspect against the compelled production of books and papers — State v. DiStefano (2000)
- holding that because of its quasi-criminal nature, forfeiture proceeding was subject to the fifth amendment's prohibition against self-incrimination — (untitled) (1987)
Each line is a later court’s own words about this case, not a summary. Read the opinion before relying on it.
How the opinion begins
Mr. Justice Bradley delivered the opinion of the court.
This was an information filed by the District Attorney, of the United States in the District Court for the Southern District of New York, in July, 1884, in a cause of seizure and’forfeiture of property, against thirty-five cases of plate glass, seized by the collector as forfeited to the United States, under.§ 12 of the “ Act to amend the customs revenue laws, and to repeal moieties,” passed June 22, 1874; 18 Stat. 186.
It is declared by that section that any owner, importer, con-signee, &c., who shall, with intent to defraud the revenue, make, or attempt to make, any entry of imported merchandise,. by means of any fraudulent or false invoice, affidavit, letter or paper, or by means of any false' statement, written or verbal, or who shall be guilty of any wilful act or omission by means •whereof the United States shall be deprived of the lawful duties, or any portion thereof, accruing upon the merchandise, or any portion thereof, embraced or referred to in such invoice, affidavit, letter, paper, or statement, or affected by such act or omission, shall for each offence be fined in any sum not exceeding $5000 nor less than $50, or be imprisoned for any time not exceeding two years, or both; and, in addition to such fine, such merchandise shall be forfeited.
Cite this
Boyd v. United States, 116 U.S. 616 (1886)Read the full opinion
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