Case ID: iowa_53/html/0261-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      Seevers,-J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

The State v. Mohr.
    1. Criminal Law: information: sufficiency of. An information charging a defendant with keeping intoxicating liquors “for the purpose of sale," is equivalent to one charging him with keeping “ with intent to sell," the offense defined by statute, and is sufficient.
    
      Appeal from Iowa District Gowrt.
    
    "Wednesday, April 7.
    The following information against the defendant was filed before a justice of tbe peace:
    “State or Iowa 1 “Henry Mohr. )
    “ The defendant is accused of tbe crime of keeping intoxicating liquors witb intent to sell.
    “Eor that tbe defendant, on tbe 26th day of July, A. D. 1879, at tbe town of Victor, Hartford township, Iowa county, Iowa, did bare in bis possession certain kegs, bottles and barrels of intoxicating liquors for tbe purpose of sale in his saloon building in Victor, Iowa. Said packages taken by virtue of a search warrant from tbe said Henry Mohr from Ids premises.
    “ Contrary to tbe statute in such cases made and provided, and against tbe peace and dignity of tbe State of Iowa.”
    To said information the defendant demurred, on tbe ground it did not charge that tbe defendant kept said liquors “witb intent to sell tbe same in violation of tbe laws of tbe State.”
    Tbe demurrer was overruled by tbe justice, and tbe defendant was tried and convicted. He appealed to tbe District Court, where tbe demurrer was sustained, and tbe defendant discharged. Tbe State appeals. . .
    
      I. F. McJwnhm, Attorney General, and M. P. Smith,' District Attorney, for tbe State.
    ' No appearance for defendant.
   Seevers,-J.

The language of the statute is' that “No person shall own, or keep * * any intoxicating liquor *utent to se^ saine in this state.” ' If any person so does he is deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. Code, §1542. The information charges the liquors were “ kept for the purpose of sale,” instead of “with intent to sell the same,” as provided in the statute.

Words' used in a statute to define a public offense need not be strictly pursued in an indictment, but other words having the same meaning may be used. Code, § 4304. This is, also, true as to an information. Code, § 4663. There is no difference in the meaning between the words used in the information and the corresponding words in the statute; kept for the “ purpose of sale,” has the same meaning as kept “ with intent to sell,” and the defendant must have been so advised and so understood. See The State v. Collins, 11 Iowa, 141; The State v. Freeman, 27 Id., 333.

Neversed.