Case Name: C. V. Thibaut, Sheriff, vs. Dr. N. M. Hebert
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1893-05
Citations: 45 La. Ann. 838
Docket Number: No. 11,195
Parties: C. V. Thibaut, Sheriff, vs. Dr. N. M. Hebert.
Judges: 
Reporter: Louisiana Annual Reports
Volume: 45
Pages: 838–839

Head Matter:
No. 11,195.
C. V. Thibaut, Sheriff, vs. Dr. N. M. Hebert.
The “business of slaughter houses,” as used in the license law of 1890, means the business of slaughtering animals for sale. It does not matter whether it is carried on in a house or in a shed, on his own property or on rented property; whether he slaughters his own animals or those of others — if the slaughtering is followed as a business, and is for public sale of the animals slaughtered, it is subject to the license.
APPEAL from the Third Justice of the Peace of Parish of Plaque-mines. Barry, J.
Gauthreaux & Lory for Plaintiff and Appellee.
James Wilkinson for Defendant and Appellant.

Opinion:
The opinion of the court was delivered by
Eenner, J.
A license is claimed from defendant under Section 9 of the license act of 1890, for " carrying on the business of slaughter house." The case was submitted on the following agreed statement of facts:
"Defendant kills one or two beeves a week, which are raised or pastured on his Bohemia plantation; said beeves are killed under a shed, and afterward sold in his plantation store, for which he pays a license as retail merchant and liquor dealer on the public road. Most of these beeves are purchased originally in New Orleans."
From a judgment enforcing the license claimed the defendant appeals.
We think defendant pursues the " business of a slaughter house." The statement of facts shows that he slaughters animals regularly and continuously, and that he slaughters them for sale. Worcester defines slaughter house " a house where beasts are slaughtered for market," therefore the business of a slaughter house is the slaughtering of beasts for market or sale. This, we think, is the natural and common acceptation of the words and conveys the legislative meaning. A reference to the act establishing the slaughter house company, No. 118, of 1869, shows that the Legislature considered the "slaughter house business" to mean the slaughtering of animals " the meat whereof is destined for sale." The facts that the business is conducted in a shed instead of a house, that the animals slaughtered belong to the party, and that the meat is sold in a public store carried on by him, do not seem to affect the case.
The Section 9 of the license act of 1890 embraced in the same paragraph various other businesses besides that of ' ' slaughter house, ', such as the business of "cotton ginnery," and of "refining sugar and molasses," but it took pains especially to exempt " planters and farmers grinding and refining their own sugar and molasses, or ginning their own cotton or that of their tenants." It extended no such exemptions to persons who conduct the business of a slaughter house, thus making no distinction in favor of those who slaughter their own animals for sale. We can make no distinction where the law makes none.
Judgment affirmed.
Rehearing refused.