Case Name: Lewis v. Commonwealth
Court: Kentucky Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Kentucky
Decision Date: 1925-10-16
Citations: 210 Ky. 610
Docket Number: 
Parties: Lewis v. Commonwealth.
Judges: 
Reporter: Kentucky Reports
Volume: 210
Pages: 610–611

Head Matter:
Lewis v. Commonwealth.
(Decided October 16, 1925.)
Appeal from Jefferson Circuit Court (Criminal Division).
1. Criminal Law — Admission of Evidence Found by Search Not Ground for Complaint, where Defendant did Not Object to its Introduction. — In liquor prosecution, admission of evidence found by search held not ground for complaint, where defendant offered no objection to its introduction.
2. Criminal Law- — Evidence of Unlawful Possession of Intoxicating Liquors Obtained on Search Under Valid Search Warrant Held Admissible. — -In liquor prosecution, evidence of unlawful possession of intoxicating liquor obtained on search of defendant’s premises under valid search warrant held admissible, though affidavit stated only that affiant knew that intoxicating liquor was possessed and sold on defendant’s premises, where there was nothing to show that affiant’s statement that, he knew that liquor was possessed at'defendant’s place was untrue.
3. Criminal Law — Officer’s Testimony that he Watched Defendant’s Place for Some Time Before Search for Intoxicating Liquors Held Not Ground for Complaint, where Stricken by Court. — In liquor prosecution, that officer was allowed to testify to having watched defendant’s place for some time before the search held not ground for complaint, where on defendant’s motion that part of officer’s evidence was stricken by court.
4. Intoxicating Liquors — Warrant to Search Defendant’s Place for Intoxicating Liquors Held Not a Federal Search Warrant. — Warrant to search defendant’s place for intoxicating liquors, issued by a state officer, held not to constitute a federal search warrant, because officer who made affidavit therefor had been furnished with information by a federal prohibition officer, and that such officer accompanied the officers when search was made.
J. L. RICHARDSON for appellant.
FRANK E. DAUGHERTY, Attorney General, and CHARLES F. CREAL, Assistant Attorney General, for appellee.

Opinion:
Opinion of the Court by
Drury, Commissioner
Affirming.
The appellant seeks to reverse a judgment imposing upon him a fine of $100.00 and a jail sentence of thirty days for illicit possession of intoxicating liquor. His residence was searched on March 31, 1924, and a half-gallon of colored liquor and a half-pint of white liquor was found. To reverse that judgment he insists that this was an illegal search, and the evidence obtained as a result thereof should not have been used against him. The affidavit upon which the search warrant was issued contained the following averment:
"Affiant states that he knows that intoxicating Jiquor is possessed and sold in and upon the above described premises, contrary to and in violation of the Kentucky prohibition law, this 31st day of March, 3924."
The police officer who made this affidavit admitted on cross-examination to having no knowledge of any sale of liquor being, made from this place, but the officer was not asked about knowledge of liquor being kept or possessed at this place. For this reason appellant insists that no evidence should have been admitted of what was found by the search. However, he did not object to the introduction of the evidence when it Avas offered, but if he had, it would not have availed him, for this court has said that evidence procured by a search, made under a valid séarch warrant, may be used although the affidavit states bn its face as a fact things of which the affiant only had information. See Bowen v. Commonwealth, 199 Ky. 400, 251 S. W. 625.
Further, there was nothing to shoAV that the officer's statement that he knew that liquor was possessed at this place in violation of the law, was untrue.
Appellant complains because police' officer Crabb was allowed to testify to haAdng watched the place for some time before the search; but that cannot avail him, because upon his motion that part of the officer's evidence Avas stricken by the court.
His next contention is that this was a federal search Avarrant and the only basis for that contention is that police officer Pierce, who made the affidavit for the search warrant, had been furnished with certain information by one Lee Eoberts, a federal prohibition officer, and that Lee Eoberts accompanied the officers at the time the search Avas made. That, however, does not make this a federal search warrant, and that was all that the prohibition officer had to do with the matter. He did not make the affidavit. The search warrant was not issued by a federal officer, but was issued and executed 'by a state officer.
As there was abundant eA'idence to support the verdict, and no prejudicial error is found in the record, the judgment is affirmed.