COMMONWEALTH vs. JACK DOUGLAS & others.

CUTTER, J. Douglas, Frank Celeste, Alexander Celeste, and Arthur J. O'Neill were indicted for various offences. Douglas and O'Neill were each charged with threats to extort. Alexander Celeste was charged with being an accessory before the fact to such threats. Frank Celeste and Alexander Celeste were each indicted for violation of G. L. c. 140, Section 110, making it a crime for an unlicensed person to conduct a small loan business (see fn. 3). All four defendants were charged with conspiracy to extort. Frank Celeste was found not guilty on the conspiracy indictment, but the other three defendants were found guilty. Each defendant was found guilty of the other offences, listed above, with which he was charged. [Note 1] The cases are before us under G. L. c. 278, Sections 33A-33G, as amended. On somewhat conflicting evidence the facts set out below could have been found. The jury were not required to believe, or to regard as controlling, other evidence, which might tend to reflect adversely on the testimony and the behavior of the Commonwealth's principal witness, Melvin Sacks (as a partner in his insurance firm and as an employee of the Celestes from October, 1965, to August, 1966).

No defendant held a State license to make small loans. See G. L. c. 140, Section 96, as amended through St. 1962, c. 795, Section 1 (see later amendment by St. 1967, c. 190). In September, 1963, Alexander Celeste lent $500 to Sacks, an insurance

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broker. Interest was to be at the rate of $25 a week (equivalent to 260% per annum). Payments were to be made to one or the other of the Celestes. Some of about eight payments of $25 were made to Alexander Celeste. The other payments were made to Frank Celeste at Sacks's place of business. The payments were not applied to the principal of the loan. Early in November, 1963, Sacks paid Alexander the $500 principal.

In November, 1964, Alexander Celeste again lent Sacks $500 on the same terms. Frank Celeste appeared about once a week to collect $25, and thirty-nine payments of $25 were made between November, 1964, and August, 1965 (a total of $975). During the period, O'Neill began to accompany Frank Celeste when he made collections. No payments were made directly to Alexander Celeste. Sacks did not deduct on his 1965 Federal income tax return any interest payments on this loan.

After these thirty-nine payments had been made, at a time when four or five $25 payments were due, Frank Celeste told Sacks to credit the amount to Frank's insurance account with the insurance firm in which Sacks was a partner with Malcolm Post. This credit involved about $175 for insurance premiums due. Sacks made no interest payments on the loan thereafter, at least until September, 1966. Sacks closed or sold his insurance agency and for a time after late August, 1965, was unemployed. In October, 1965 (when Sacks, in accordance with his 1964 arrangement with Alexander Celeste, owed the $500 principal plus four or five interest payments), Sacks was told by Alexander Celeste in Frank Celeste's presence, that he could start working for the Celeste brothers at a used car lot ("New England Auto") in Dorchester. He said that they would "table" the loan, pending a later arrangement for paying it. Sacks worked for eight to ten months for New England Auto, was clerk of the corporation, did bookkeeping for it, and was a stock-holder in the concern. Sacks left New England Auto in August, 1966, although he worked to some extent on their books for two months thereafter. There was testimony

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indicating disputes between the Celestes and Sacks concerning the latter's sales activities.

On August 24, 1966, Douglas reported to Alexander Celeste by telephone in Sacks's presence that there had been a call from the district attorney's office concerning Sacks. Sacks, at Alexander Celeste's house, told Celeste that the call was about money Sacks had borrowed from another lender. Sacks's testimony was that Celeste then hit him in the face, and kicked him in the stomach. See, however, the verdict that Alexander Celeste was not guilty of assault and battery (fn. 1). On this occasion, Alexander told Sacks "it was a cardinal sin to borrow money from another loan shark while owing one." Alexander also told Sacks that if he "knew what was good for . . . [his] wife and kids," he had better not say anything to anyone from the district attorney's office. On an earlier visit Alexander had shown Sacks two sticks of dynamite, and on this occasion said that he would not "think twice about blowing up" Sacks's house. Sacks also testified that he saw various victims "take a beating" in back of the Celestes' garage.

Sacks in fact had borrowed from one Zine and owed money to one Carbone. The latter, when called as a witness in the absence of the jury, claimed his constitutional privilege not to testify.

On August 25 or 26, 1966, Sacks was told by Douglas that he knew Sacks was leaving the employment of New England Auto, that Sacks "still owed some money, and that . . . [he would] have to make arrangements to pay it." Sacks had a similar talk with Frank Celeste and with Alexander Celeste. He also had a telephoned inquiry from Douglas who "asked . . . what . . . [Sacks] was doing about getting some money" and said, "You better have it. . . . [Y]ou should pay it, if you don't want any trouble." On September 1, Douglas called again and demanded money by the next weekend. On September 8, 1966, Sacks spoke by telephone with O'Neill and Douglas. O'Neill said, "If you don't want to get hurt, you'd better get some money . . . real fast." Douglas said, "[Y]ou are almost at the end of

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the road." On September 14, O'Neill told Sacks, "You'd better have some money or you could be put in the hospital for four or five weeks." That day Sacks gave O'Neill $300.

On September 19, Sacks's father withdrew $1,000 from a savings bank and gave Sacks a check for $1,000. Sacks cashed this and paid the proceeds to Douglas. Douglas reported to Sacks that he paid these proceeds to Alexander Celeste. Two days later Douglas asked for the balance. When Sacks replied that he could not get $1,000 "just like that," Douglas said, "When you feel that cold barrel [of a gun] to your head, you'd be surprised how many ways you can think of of coming up with some money." He added, "[Y]our kid must have a long walk . . . from school, and you wouldn't want anything to happen to her knee caps on the way home, would you?" From early in September, Sacks received numerous telephone calls from Douglas substantially every day pressing for payment. Some of these calls were to Sacks's house, but many went to Sacks's new place of employment in Quincy.

In September and early October, Sacks consulted an attorney, Mr. Jordan Ring, a neighbor. Mr. Ring then represented a client who had made an attachment on Sacks's house. Sacks wished to get this attachment removed so that he "could raise the money to pay Al Celeste." It was brought out in part on cross-examination, and expanded in redirect examination, that Sacks told Mr. Ring the story of the threats. He informed Mr. Ring that he had told a detective from the district attorney's office nothing, because he did not "want any harm to come to . . . [his] family and" himself. He informed Mr. Ring that he (Sacks) "would rather pay the money" than go to the district attorney's office in view of the risks. Mr. Ring "insisted that . . . [Sacks] go to the District Attorney's office."

On October 11 or 12, 1966, Douglas went to Sacks's place of employment and renewed his demands. Sacks told Douglas he had no money for him. Douglas replied, "I should bust you right in the face right now, but I am not

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going to. I'm going to see what I can do for you but you'd better have some money in the next day or so."

Sacks called Mr. Ring. Two detectives from the district attorney's office visited him on October 11, 12, and 15. With Detective McLean listening on an extension telephone, Sacks "called . . . Douglas back," apparently in response to a message left with Mrs. Sacks by Douglas. Douglas said, "I can get you a few more days. . . . I should have busted you this morning. You're a no-good . . .." He also told Sacks that he had "better come up with the money." [Note 2]

Sacks gave the police permission to install a tape recorder on his telephone line. On October 17, there was recorded one of many telephone conversations between Sacks and Douglas during this period. In this conversation Douglas made demands for payment. Mr. Ring, Sacks's attorney, heard the conversation, which originated with a call by Sacks, with the aid of a speaker attached to the recorder on which one "can hear what is being taped." He verified the accuracy of the tape, which was received in evidence, after an extended voir dire. Douglas admitted that the recorded voice was his. The machine "was not telephone equipment." It was installed without the participation or consent of the telephone company, without any judicial authorization, and without Douglas's knowledge. The tape recorder gave off no "beeps" which would inform a person on the line that it was operating. The first machine did not work and it was replaced prior to October 17. This, so the detective who installed it testified, was not a "wire tap," because

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the machine was installed with the permission of Sacks, the telephone subscriber.

On October 17, Sacks paid to Douglas five $10 marked bills. Sacks was then wearing an electronic device. No tape was procured, however, because the device did not function. On that day the Celeste brothers, O'Neill, and Douglas were arrested.

1. The Celeste brothers contend that G. L. c. 140, Section 110, as amended through St. 1962, c. 795, Section 2 [Note 3] (see later amendment, St. 1967, c. 196, increasing the penalties), is void for vagueness and that the two indictments, charging them with violations of Section 110, should have been dismissed because they failed to inform them with sufficient clarity of the offence charged. We perceive no such infirmity in the section or in the indictments.

The Legislature may prohibit and make criminal the unlicensed granting of small loans. It may recognize "the danger that such a business . . . [may] be conducted oppressively" and the desirability of furnishing a "degree of protection to [small] borrowers." Dewey v. Richardson, 206 Mass. 430, 432. Goodowsky v. Rubenstein, 225 Mass. 448, 450-451 ("The statute [as it stood prior to St. 1913, c. 347, Section 2] does not prohibit all such loans except by licensed persons," but "forbids the making of such loans as a business unless one is licensed. The making of a single loan might be sufficient . . . [in] appropriate circumstances to warrant a finding that the one making the loan was carrying

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on the business. But it does not require such a finding"). See Commonwealth v. Silverman, 220 Mass. 552, 554-555. The section, taken with other sections to which it refers, is adequate "to convey to a person of ordinary understanding . . . [a] description of the prohibited act." See Jaquith v. Commonwealth, 331 Mass. 439, 442. All rational presumptions are to be made in favor of its validity. See Commonwealth v. Finnigan, 326 Mass. 378, 379. There is in Section 110 no such vagueness as was considered in Alegata v. Commonwealth, 353 Mass. 287, 296-297, 299-301, but see pp. 303-304. The final sentence of Section 110 (see fn. 3, at point [A]) in specific terms defines what is sufficient to create a prima facie case of violation by apt reference to at least one set of facts having a rational tendency to show the conduct of a business. Provisions of this type are valid. See Meunier's Case. 319 Mass. 421, 425-426. See also Commonwealth v. Williams, 6 Gray, 1, 4-8; Commonwealth v. Spindel, 351 Mass. 673, 676-678. Proof of two small loans within a reasonable period of time, at a rate of more than twelve per cent per annum, supports the conclusion that the lender was in the business of making such loans. Loans made to friends, or as a matter of charity, are not often effected upon such terms or in such circumstances.

2. The defendants argue various exceptions concerning the evidence received of telephone conversations between Sacks and Douglas. Detective McLean, on an extension line in Sacks's house, listened to one or more such conversations. Mr. Ring (with the aid of a speaker attached to a tape recorder) listened to another. This latter talk, with Sacks's permission, was recorded on a tape. There was no violation of G. L. c. 272, Section 99 (as amended by St. 1959, c. 449, Section 1), [Note 4] which creates the crime of eavesdropping.

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Section 99 is supplemented by Section 101. Each conversation was overheard with the consent of Sacks, "a sender or receiver" within Section 99 (fn. 4). Section 101 (as amended by St. 1956, c. 48, Section 4), [Note 5] merely makes certain conduct prima facie evidence of violation of Section 99, but there is no violation where a sender or receiver has given consent to that conduct. The case thus is unlike Commonwealth v. Spindel, 351 Mass. 673, 675, where "[t]here was no evidence that . . . [any person participating in the conversation] consented to . . . monitoring." We need not consider whether the tape recorder was a "device" which Sacks, as owner of his house and "on premises under his exclusive control" (see Section 101, fn. 5), could install and use in any event. See the Spindel case, 351 Mass. 673, 677.

In Rathbun v. United States, 355 U.S. 107, 109-111, there was found no interception of the type then and now forbidden by 47 U. S. C. Section 605 (1964). The court approved the admission in evidence of conversations overheard by police on a regularly used extension telephone with the consent of the telephone subscriber, a party to the conversation. A defendant who speaks incriminating words over the telephone runs the risk that the person with whom he talks may be an informer (see Hoffa v. United States, 385 U.S. 293, 302-303) or that the conversation (as in the Rathbun case) may be overheard on an extension telephone. In the interests of sound law enforcement, in these days when telephone talks often supplant face to face encounters, he also should be held to take the risk that his words may be

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recorded by his listener. See Lopez v. United States, 373 U.S. 427, 437-440 (tape admissible of a personal interview during which a bribe was attempted). In the present case there was, of course, no such prior judicial authorization of the use of a recording device as in fact took place in Osborn v. United States, 385 U.S. 323, 327-331. There was no occasion in the Osborn case for the Supreme Court of the United States to consider again the broad issue presented and decided in favor of admissibility in the Lopez decision, 373 U.S. 427, 437-440. There was no reason for such prior approval. The present case was not one of surreptitious placing of a recording device in another's office (see Berger v. New York, 388 U.S. 41, 44-45), or in a position enabling third persons to overhear, without the consent of any party to the telephone conversation, a private call made from a public telephone booth. See Katz v. United States, 389 U.S. 347, 354-359.

In the case at bar, there was at most a recording of telephoned threats, themselves constituting the commission of a crime, made to the victim of the crime and of continued unlawful harassment. The victim, himself a participant in the conversation, consented to the recording. He was sitting in his own house, at his own telephone, with his own attorney listening to the conversation. If it be relevant (see Lewis v. United States, 385 U.S. 206, 210-212), Sacks was not an informer committing a breach of confidence, and could be found to have been a victim of extortion. See Dryden v. United States, 391 F. 2d 214 (5th Cir. -- recorder on extension telephone). Cf. United States v. White, 36 U. S. L. Week 2613 (7th Cir. -- electronic device on informer), [Note Star] a case which seems inconsistent with the Supreme Court decisions already cited.

No illegal search or other violation of any constitutional or statutory provision made the recording inadmissible. See Glacy v. United States, 361 F. 2d 31, 35-36 (1st Cir.), cert.

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den. 385 U.S. 831; Harris v. United States, 367 F. 2d 633, 635 (1st. Cir.), cert. den. 386 U.S. 915. Any other conclusion, we think, would give members of the underworld carte blanche to intimidate (or otherwise to engage in criminal conduct injurious to) innocent members of the public over the telephone, without risk that their words could be overheard or recorded (even with the consent of the victims) in a manner which would be used against the offenders in a court. See Schwartz v. Texas, 344 U.S. 199, 203; Pugach v. Dollinger, 277 F. 2d 739 (2d Cir.) affd. 365 U.S. 458; United States ex rel Griffin v. Hendrick, 360 F. 2d 614 (3d Cir.). Cf. Nardone v. United States, 302 U.S. 379, 382-385; 308 U.S. 338, 340-341; United States v. Dote, 371 F. 2d 176, 180-181 (7th Cir.).

3. There is no merit in the defendants' contention that the judge improperly received evidence of (a) a September, 1963, conversation [Note 6] between Sacks and Alexander Celeste occurring prior to the period (October 15, 1963 to October 18, 1965) mentioned in the indictment as explained by particulars, and (b) a loan transaction which took place in part before that period.

As to Alexander Celeste, the conversation in September, 1963, related to a loan transaction the execution of which, by the collection and payments of interest and principal, continued well into the period covered by the indictment, and shed light on Celeste's activities during the period, including payments on the 1963 loan and the making and collection of the later loan. The evidence was relevant. See Commonwealth v. Stasiun, 349 Mass. 38, 46-47. Cf. Commonwealth v. Runge, 231 Mass. 598, 600.

The somewhat ambiguous evidence of Edwin Small concerning a 1966 loan to him by Alexander Celeste, at most

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tended to explain other activities of Alexander Celeste within the indictment period, if, indeed, the evidence was sufficiently definite or comprehensible to have any probative effect whatsoever. There was ample indication that Small was a hostile witness. It was not error to permit the prosecution (which had called him) to ask him leading questions. Commonwealth v. Monahan, 349 Mass. 139, 162-163. Commonwealth v. Soroko, 353 Mass. 254, 260.

4. Similarly without merit is the contention that Sacks was not competent to testify concerning what was done (in crediting payments to principal or interest) with the payments made on the 1963 loan. Sacks, as the debtor under that arrangement, could reasonably conclude (where weekly payments remained constant at $25 a week, and were followed by a single payment of the $500 amount of the original loan) that the earlier payments had been applied as interest. Sacks's conclusions were consistent with the terms of the agreement imposed on him by Alexander Celeste.

5. The judge did not abuse his discretion when he refused to permit Sacks to be cross-examined concerning a conversation with Orlando J. Carbone, a witness later called by Douglas. The conversation had taken place in January, 1967, during the trial of these cases. The judge, as the evidence then stood, reasonably regarded this inquiry as irrelevant to the issues raised in the indictments. At a bench conference, the judge excluded the line of questions until such time as some other evidence showed the inquiry to be relevant. [Note 7] The assistant district attorney stated that he would produce Sacks for further cross-examination on a day's notice, if evidence later showed the inquiry to be relevant, and not merely to relate to a collateral matter.

When Carbone later took the stand, it was represented to the judge that the witness would claim his privilege not to testify because of the possibility of self-incrimination.

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The judge conducted a voir dire, in the absence of the jury, and, except in answering questions concerning his name, address, and employment, Carbone claimed his privilege. Douglas's counsel then said, "I submit that there would be no further purpose in inquiring of the witness." An exception claimed prior to the voir dire (to the judge's statement that he would not let the witness identify himself and claim his privilege in the presence of the jury until he heard the voir dire) was not renewed by the defendants after the voir dire. It was within the judge's discretion to hold a voir dire to ascertain whether inquiry in the presence of the jury would be prejudicial to the defendants or productive of relevant testimony. No objection or exception to what the judge did intelligibly raised the issue (see Commonwealth v. Baker, 348 Mass. 60, 63; cf. Murphy v. Commonwealth, ante, 81, 83-84) whether the witness was being afforded too broad a protection based upon his privilege.

6. Sacks's testimony on redirect examination about what he told his attorney, Mr. Ring, was with respect to a matter opened up on cross-examination by inquiry about (a) what Sacks had told the attorney, and (b) what he had or had not told to the district attorney and to certain police officers when he had opportunity to talk to them. There may have been some indication that the defendants were claiming Sacks's story to be recently contrived. See Commonwealth v. Heffernan, 350 Mass. 48, 51-52. In any event, this testimony on redirect examination was reasonably permitted by the trial judge, as matter of discretion, in explanation of Sacks's testimony on cross-examination about (a) his failure to make more prompt reports concerning the threats to the district attorney and to the police, and (b) his conversation with Mr. Ring. See Commonwealth v. Galvin, 310 Mass. 733, 747. See also Commonwealth v. Binkiewicz, 342 Mass. 740, 758; Commonwealth v. Gardner, 350 Mass. 664, 668-669.

It is irrelevant that this testimony incidentally tended to show that the defendants may have committed other offences, e.g. by intimidating other persons. The testimony was pertinent in that it tended to explain fears which led to Sacks's

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failure to report to the authorities the threats made to him and his delay in letting Mr. Ring do so. All this became of significance because of matters brought out on cross-examination. See Commonwealth v. Feci, 235 Mass. 562, 567; Commonwealth v. Gettigan, 252 Mass. 450, 459-460. Similar principles apply to cross-examination (permitted within the judge's discretion) of a witness (Post) concerning an assault upon him by O'Neill, in an effort to test Post's credibility by showing that he feared O'Neill. This was not a case where the prosecution sought to introduce, through a witness called by it, evidence of other crimes to prove commission of the particular crimes charged. Cf. Commonwealth v. Stone, 321 Mass. 471, 473; Commonwealth v. Welcome, 348 Mass. 68, 70-71.

7. The defendants contend that testimony by Sacks concerning certain telephone conversations was admitted without prior proof that Sacks was able to identify the voice of the speaker. Objections were made and exceptions saved but without pointing out to the trial judge that the identification of the voice was the ground of any exception. There was no specific objection (see Irving v. Goodimate Co. 320 Mass. 454, 460) based on the issues discussed in Bond Pharmacy, Inc. v. Cambridge, 338 Mass. 488, 490-491, and Chartrand v. Registrar of Motor Vehicles, 345 Mass. 321, 325. Sacks testified that he had received a call from Douglas. This reasonably implied that he recognized the latter's voice.

The conversations were relevant. There was also sufficient proof of cooperation by all the defendants in pressure on Sacks concerning the collection of the loans to him to warrant the judge's preliminary conclusion that there was a prima facie case of conspiracy permitting evidence of the acts and declarations of one conspirator in pursuance of the common object to be admitted against the others. See Commonwealth v. Stasiun, 349 Mass. 38, 50-51, and the cases there reviewed.

8. There was ample evidence from which it could be found that the Celestes made, or acted with respect to, two loans in violation of G. L. c. 140, Section 110, which were either made

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or paid within the period mentioned in the indictments and particulars. The evidence, as a whole, showed that the second loan to Sacks in November, 1964, was not a friendly or charitable act, but entered into for profit. Taken with the earlier loan, on the same terms, which was not paid until November, 1963, and with the testimony of widespread harassment and coercion to effect collection of the second loan, the evidence warranted the jury in concluding that (as to Sacks, at least) the Celestes were in the business of making such loans.

There was direct evidence of Douglas's and O'Neill's threats made to Sacks to enforce payment of the unconscionable and illegal 1964 loan. It could be reasonably inferred that the threats were made at the behest of Alexander Celeste, by his employees and in his interest. The evidence already summarized permitted the jury to conclude that, in exerting the pressures upon Sacks, all the defendants were acting in concert as conspirators to extort.

There was no error in refusing to direct verdicts for the defendants.

9. Other assignments of error already have been covered adequately or do not merit discussion.

Judgments affirmed.