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409 F.2d 1349

Docket No. 12246.

United States v. Ryder

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

Argued Jan. 9, 1969.

Decided April 29, 1969.

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals · decided 1969-04-29

Cited by 3 later decisions — most recently October 1970

3 federal appellate ·

2 counsel of record

Applies 18 U.S.C. § 2113

Relies on United States v. Levi

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Opinion by (per_curiam) · Decided 1969-04-29

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¶1Tommy P. Baer, Richmond, Va. (Court-appointed counsel) for appellant.

¶2Michael Morchower, Asst. U. S. Atty., (C. V. Spratley, Jr., U. S. Atty., on brief) for appellee.

¶3Before BOREMAN, BRYAN and CRAVEN, Circuit Judges.

¶4PER CURIAM:

¶5On the morning of September 19, •1967, the First and Merchants National Bank of Petersburg, Virginia, was robbed by a woman gun bearer of approximately $2,500. The robber escaped in a Chevrolet Impala driven, according to the jury verdict, by Virgil Franklin Ryder. Ryder appeals his conviction and sentence under 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a), contending that pretrial identification procedures were so unfair as to deny him due process and the right of counsel, and further that the district judge’s instructions to the jury on the question of identification were insufficient and erroneous.

¶6Despite an exceptionally able presentation by counsel appointed on appeal, we think this appeal is wholly without merit, and affirm the judgment of the district court. Two customers of the bank were at the drive-in teller window when the robbery occurred. Both saw the driver of the getaway car, and one of them wrote down the license tag of the vehicle. No “lineup” or viewing of any sort was arranged by the government prior to the actual identification testimony at the preliminary hearing. There is no evidence whatever that identification was procured by impermissible suggestive activity on the part of government agents or law enforcement officers. Moreover, at the preliminary hearing the defendant was represented by counsel who then and there extensively cross-examined the identifying witness Newsom. The other identifying witness did not testify until the trial.

¶7We have carefully examined the trial judge’s instructions to the jury on the question of identification. We *1350find them to be sufficient, although since the trial occurred we have suggested a more complete instruction. See United States v. Levi, 405 F.2d 380 (4th Cir. 1968).

¶8Affirmed.

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