UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT DECISIONS ON-LINE
HAMMERSCHMIDT V. UNITED STATES, 265 U. S. 182 (1924)
265 U. S. 182U.S. Supreme Court
Hammerschmidt v. United States, 265 U.S. 182 (1924)
Hammerschmidt v. United States
No. 254
Argued April 29, 30, 1924
Decided May 26, 1924
265 U.S. 182
Syllabus
1. Section 37 of the Criminal Code (Rev.Stats., § 5440) punishing conspiracy " to defraud the United States in any manner or for any purpose," does not embrace a conspiracy to defeat the purpose of the Selective Draft Act by inducing persons to refuse to register under it. P. 265 U. S. 185.
2. To "defraud" the United States means to cheat the government out of property or money, or to interfere with or obstruct one of its lawful governmental functions by deceit, craft, or trickery, or at least by means that are dishonest. P. 265 U. S. 188.
3. But mere open defiance of the governmental purpose to enforce a law by urging those subject to it to disobey it is not a "fraud" in this sense. Id. Haas v. Henkel, 216 U. S. 462, explained; Horman v. United States, 116 F.3d 0, limited.
287 F.8d 7 reversed.
Certiorari to review a judgment of the circuit court of appeals affirming a conviction and sentence in a prosecution for conspiracy to defraud the United States by dissuading persons, by handbills, etc., from registering for military service clubjuris