Case ID: ala_90/html/0644-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "OLOPTON, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Downey v. The State.
    
      Indictment for' Gaming.
    
    1. “Out-house where people resort.” — A conviction may be had for playing cards at an “out-house where people resort” (Code, § 4052), on proof that persons resorted to it occasionally, or more than once, for the purpose of playing cards; and it is not necessary to show that they resorted to it “frequently or habitually” for that purpose.
    From the Circuit Court of Jackson.
    Tried before the Hon. John B. Tally.
    The indictment in this case charged, in the' general words of the statute, that the defendant played at a game with cards, at a public house, public place, &c., “or at an out-house where people resort.” The defendant pleaded not guilty, without objection to the indictment, and issue was joined on that plea. On the trial, as the bill of exceptions states, a witness for the prosecution testified, that on a particular day, within the time covered by the indictment, on approaching an old dilapidated mill-house, he found the defendant and two other persons there holding cards in their hands, evidently engaged in a game which was interrupted by his approach, his own son running away as he came up. Another witness for the State, one Chapman, testified that on one occasion he had seen several persons at the old house with cards in their hands, and “often saw people going in that direction;” that he “did not know what they went to the house for, but knew what he went there for.” It was proved, also, that the house “was situated about a quarter of a mile from the town of Holywood, near a small woodland, and near the railroad; that the machinery had been removed from it several months before, and it was not used for any purpose at the time of the alleged offense.”
    On this evidence, the defendant asked the following charges in writing, and duly excepted to their refusal: (1.) An outhouse where people resort, is an out-house where persons frequently or habitually resort, and not a place where persons go once, or only occasonally; and the jury must believe, beyond a reasonable doubt, that such was the character of the house, before they can convict under that clause of the statute.” (3.) “The fact that persons had resorted to the place twice, would not constitute it an out-house where people resort, unless the jury believe from the evidence, beyond a reasonable doubt, that there were more such visits.” The refusal of these charges is the only point reserved.
    Yirgil Bouudin, for appellant,
    cited Swalloio v. State, 20 Ala. 30; Bythwoocl v. State, 20 Ala. 47; McDaniel v. State, 35 Ala. 390; Gain v. State, 30 Ala. 534.
    War. L. Martin, Attorney-General, for the State,
    cited State v. Norwood, 19 Texas, 102; Wheeloelt v. State, 15 Texas, 260.
   OLOPTON, J.

The charges asked by defendant, and refused by the court, raise the question, what circumstances are requisite to constitute “ an out-house where people resort,” in the meaning of section 4052 of the Code. The first instruction affirms, that an out-house where people resort, as used in the statute, “ is an out-house where persons frequently or habitually resort, not a place where persons go once, or only occasionally.” The case of Swallow v. State, 20 Ala. 30, by the use of the word habitually, apparently lends support, to the proposition Cf the charge, but does not really, when it is observed that the question before the court was, whether a vacant store-house in a town, which was commonly kept locked, was an out-house, not its character as a house of resort. This is shown by comparing with the evidence the charge to the jury — “ if they believe the evidence, said house was an out-house, and that if they believe peoifie resorted there for the purpose of playing cards, they must find the defendant guilty.” This charge, on appeal, was held to be correct, and the question properly submitted to the jury, the only evidence in this regard being that persons had been seen playing cards in the house once or twice,and that one of the times was when the accused played.

It is difficult, if not impracticable, to lay down any fixed and definite rule as to when, and under what circumstances, an out-house becomes one where people resort. The evil to the suppression of which the statute is directed, is playing any game with cards or dice, or any device or substitute therefor, at places where unwary persons might, or probably would be, enticed or tempted to engage in the alluring and pernicious practice of gaming. The legislature, having in view the protection of the public morals, not only prohibited gaming at several specified houses, public in themselves, but, to more effectually restrain the evil example, superadded, “ or in any public house, highway, or in any other public place, or any out-house where people resort.” Such construction should be given the terms employed as will effect the legislative purpose and policy. The phrase, “ any out-house where people resort,” was evidently used and intended to designate a house or place not included in any of the preceding terms; a house or place not strictly public, nor made public temporarily. However, to bring it within the mischief which the statute proposes to suppress, it must partake of publicity to some extent, a publicity defined by the qualifying words, “ where people resort.”

The only definite rule established by our decisions is, that parties going once to an out-house, for the purpose of playing cards, does not, in the absence of proof that they or other persons had gone before, for such or any other purpose, constitute such house an out-house where people resort, within the meaning of the statute.—Cain v. State, 30 Ala. 534. There is no decision in this State, attempting to fix the number or frequency of the occasions, or the sufficiency of one occasion, if there are persons present other than the participants in the game. In Texas there is a similar statute, in which the same terms are employed. Construing the statute, the Supreme Court, holding, as in Cain v. State, supra, that once going, no one being present but the parties themselves, is insufficient, also held, that if the parties go on more than one occasion, or if more persons are present on one occasion than those who go lor the purpose of playing, this is sufficient to bring the outhouse within the statutory description of an out-house “ where people resort.” It is said : “But, as it is impossible to say with precision how many more occasions than one, or persons than those who go for the purpose of playing on one occasion, shall be sufficient, if it might be fairly inferred from the evidence that the house had been resorted to for such a purpose on any other occasion, or that on the particular occasion there had been one person present besides the parties concerned, it might well be held, that the evidence was sufficient to warrant the verdict, and make the conviction right.”

Tho purposes of this case do not require us to declare any rule in respect to the sufficiency of one occasion, when there are present others than those participating in playing, or the number who must be present. Unless there can be found in the statute itself some reason for restraining or qualifying the general words, they must receive a general construction, and are not to be restrained by judicial addition or curtailment. The construction that, in order to bring an out-house within the statutory description, the resort must be frequent or habitual, requires the interj)olation of qualifying or modifying adjectives not used, and for which' no reason exists in the statute. On the contrary, a construction, that a resort by the same or different parties to an out-house, for the purpose of playing cards, on more than one occasion, may constitute it “ an out-house where people resort,” within the meaning of the statute, will more effectually subserve the suppression of the evil example proposed by the statute. An out-house to which people may and do resort at pleasure, for the purpose of gaming, though it may be only occasionally, comes within the statutory prohibition.

Affirmed.