Case ID: tex-ct-app_19/html/0435-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      Willson, Judge.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

[No. 2060.]
    J. F. Merritt v. The State.
    Unlawful Sale of Intoxicating Liquors — Indictment.— To engage in or pursue the occupation of selling intoxicating liquors is taxable under the laws of this State, and to do so without having first paid the tax due thereon is a penal offense. But a mere sale of intoxicating liquors without engaging in or pursuing the occupation of selling is not an offense. Indictment, therefore, which charges merely a sale of intoxicating liquors without license charges no offense against the laws of this State.
    Appeal from the County Court of Eusk. Tried below before the Hon. J. H. Turner, County Judge.
    The conviction in this case was had under an indictment (transferred from the district court) charging the appellant with selling intoxicating liquors without license. A fine of $300 was the penalty imposed by the jury.
    No brief for the appellant.
    
      J. H. Burts, Assistant Attorney-General, for the State.
   Willson, Judge.

To engage in or pursue the occupation of selling intoxicating liquors is taxable under the laws of this State (Gen’l Laws 17th Leg., p. 112), and it is an offense against the penal laws of this State to engage in or pursue such occupation without first paying the tax due thereon. (Penal Code, art. 110.) But a sale of such liquors without engaging in or pursuing the occupation of selling is not an act taxable by law, and it is not a violation of the penal law to make such a sale without first having obtained a license therefor.

It is the occupation and not the act of selling which is taxable. There may be one or more sales, and yet no occupation of selling, or there may be the occupation of selling without even a single sale. (Halfin v. The State, 18 Texas Ct. App., 410; Wells v. The State, id., 417; Mansfield v. The State, 17 Texas Ct. App., 468; Standford v. The State, 16 Texas Ct. App., 331; La Norris v. The State, 13 Texas Ct. App., 33.) There are certain enumerated acts taxed by law, such as exhibiting a theater, dramatic performance, circus, sleight of hand performance, etc., etc. These acts are made taxable whether engaged in as an occupation or not, and to commit them without first paying the tax is a penal offense. But, as before stated, a sale of intoxicating liquors is not per se an act taxable by law.

As the indictment in this case does not charge the defendant with engaging in or pursuing the occupation of selling intoxicating liquors without first obtaining license, but only charges him with selling such liquors without license, it fails to charge an offense against the law, and therefore the judgment is reversed and the prosecution is dismissed.

-Reversed and dismissed.

[Opinion delivered November 25, 1885.]