UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT DECISIONS ON-LINE

A bill of particulars supplementing an indictment is no part of the record for the purpose of deciding a demurrer.

An indictment alleged a scheme to defraud divers persons, through use of the mails, by representing that certain land could be purchased by them under the Timber & Stone Act for less than its value, and that defendants would secure it for them in return for fees part payable in advance, and would refund such advance payments in case of nonsuccess, whereas the defendants well knew they could not carry out the agreement, but intended to secure the advance payments and to appropriate them to their own use.

Held:

(1) That a decision sustaining a demurrer was based upon a construction clubjuris

Page 248 U. S. 350

of § 215 of the Criminal Code, and was reviewable under the Criminal Appeal Act.

(2) That the indictment charged a "scheme or artifice to defraud," etc., within the meaning of said § 215.

Reversed.

The case is stated in the opinion.