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From: dave@lsuc.UUCP (David Sherman)
Newsgroups: net.taxes
Subject: Re: Update on Schiff / IRS tape
Message-ID: <1052@lsuc.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 22-Jan-86 08:28:39 EST
Article-I.D.: lsuc.1052
Posted: Wed Jan 22 08:28:39 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 22-Jan-86 09:11:09 EST
References: <544@decwrl.DEC.COM>
Reply-To: dave@lsuc.UUCP (David Sherman)
Organization: Law Society of Upper Canada, Toronto
Lines: 35
Summary: more details, please

In article <544@decwrl.DEC.COM> alpert@chovax.DEC writes:
>
>		Schiff has recently been convicted (actually
>"railroaded" would be more accurate) of "fraud" and other charges.
>Before the tax lawyers start jumping all over me, I'll add that according
>to Schiff's attorney the government did not once contest or address Schiff's 
>contentions regarding the tax code and illegality of the IRS's actions.  An
>appeal is, of course, in the works.  (Who says we don't have political
>prisoners in the U.S.?)  If there is sufficient interest on the net, I will
>obtain and post further details on the trial.  Irwin Schiff is guilty of no
>crime other than standing up for his rights.

Well, as a tax lawyer (albeit Canadian) I think I *will* jump all
over you.   I would like to see more details before I am prepared to
believe your assertions about "political prisoners" and "guilty of no
crime other than...".

The U.S. and Canadian justice systems require proof beyond a reasonable
doubt before a criminal conviction can be obtained. Schiff no doubt had
the right to a jury trial; did he have one? Were 12 jurors unanimously
convinced of his guilt? Or did he opt for trial by judge, and if so why?

If Schiff was represented by a lawyer, as you say he was, I find it
hard to believe that he was "railroaded" or that the conviction for
fraud merits the quotation marks you gave it.  The justice system in
your country is not supposed to permit such things.  More details,
including an explanation of why, in Schiff's opinion, the judge or
jury deemed him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, would be helpful.

Dave Sherman
(not speaking for...)
The Law Society of Upper Canada
Toronto
-- 
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