Interesting Criminal Case Fact of the Day
Though apropos of absolutely nothing for January 13, 2010, I recently came across an interesting fact in my research of some Consititutional issues. The case in question is Mapp v. Ohio, 367 U.S. 643 (1961), which applied the exclusionary rule to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment. The fascinating fact of note is that the investigation and unlawful search of the residence of Dollree Mapp, of Cleveland, Ohio, began as a result of a tip from now famous boxing promoter, Don King, who had been the victim of a fire-bombing and his cooperation against a local member of the numbers racket caused the search of Ms. Mapp's residence. Of course, no evidence of any bombing was found in Ms. Mapp’s residence, rather she was prosecuted for possession of obscene material. See State v. Mapp, 166 N.E. 2d 427 (1960).
Of course, Don King went on to wealth and fame as a boxing promoter and was twice acquitted in federal criminal trials, and coined the famous phrase, “Only in America,” following his first acquittal.
