Case ID: fla_44/html/0418-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Carter, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Mack Dardem, Plaintiff in Error, vs. The State of Florida, Defendant in Error.
    1. The provisions of section. 2644, Revised Statutes, prescribing a penalty against one who. "has, keeps, exercises 05 maintains gaming implements or apparatus for the purpose of gaming or gambling” were not repealed by the provisions of section 3, Chapter 4373 laws, approved May 28, 1895, which prescribes' a penalty against one who “sets up, promotes or plays at any game of chance by lot, or with dice, cards, numbers, hazard or any other gambling device whatever for, or for the disposal of, money or other thing of value,” &c.
    Writ of Error to the Criminal Court of Record for Hillsborough County.
    The facts in the case are stated in the opinion of the Court.
    
      Geo. G. Clough, for Plaintiff in Error.
    
      William B. Lamar, Attorney-General, for the State.
   Carter, J.

On September 18th, 1001, an information was duly filed in the Criminal Court of Record of Hillsborough count}7, charging that plaintiff in error on the 80th day of June, A. D. 1901, in the county of Hillsborough in this State “did then and there unlawfully:, willfully and feloniously have, keep and maintain a gaming apparatus commonly called a slot machine, for this purpose of gamling and gambling, against the form of ¡the statute,” &c. At the same term of the court defendant was arraigned, plead guilty, and was sentenced to pay a fine of one hundred and fifty dollars and costs. From the judg-i ment so entered writ iof error was taken returnable to the present term of this court.

The Information was manifestly framed under section 2644, Rev. Stats, which, so far as applicable to the present ease, prescribes a'punishment by imprisonment in the State prison not exceeding three years, or fine not exceeding five thousand dollars, against one- who “has, keeps, exercises or maintains gaming impliments or apparatus for the purpose of gaming or gambling,” and the fine imposed does not exceed that prescribed by the section quoted. It is contended' in .this court that the quoted section of the Revised Statutes was repealed by section 3, Chapter 4373, laws approved May 28, 1895, which reads as follows: “Whoever sets up, promotes or plays at any game of chance by lot, or with dice, cards, numbers, hazzard or any other gambling device whatever for, or for the disposal of, money or other thing of value, or under the pretext of a ■sale, gift or delivery thereof, or for any right, share or interest therein, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not exceeding $100, or be imprisoned in the county jail not exceeding three months, or. be punished by both such fine and imprisonment,” that the information must be construed as charging an offense under the latter act, and that therefore the fine dlmjposed upon plaintiff in error in the court below was unauthorized, because dt exceeds the maximum prescribed thereby. This question is properly raised by the assignments ¡of error, andl is the only question presented by the briefs for our consideration.

The act of 1895 does not in terms repeal section 2644. Rev. Stats., but by section 5 it does repeal “all laws oil parts' of laws in conflict with or inconsistent” with its provisions. Unless there is in a latter ¡statute something in ¡conflict or inconsistent with an earlier.one no repeal of the iatter is effected. Properly construed, there is no in-dcnsistency between these statutes, for each punishes different and distinct acts. The Revised Statutes is directed against having, exercising or maintaining gaming implements or apparatus for the purpose of gaming, while the act of 1895 is directed against the setting np or promoting ¡of any game of chance with dice, cards’ * * * or any other gambling device whatever for, or- for the disposal of money, &c. The latter act does nor punish one who sets up or promotes a gambling device, contended by plaintiff in error, but punishes the setting up or promoting of any game of chance conducted by means of any gambling device.

The contention made in this court can not be sustained, and the judgment will, therefore, be affirmed.