Case Name: Simons v. The State
Court: Supreme Court of Indiana
Jurisdiction: Indiana
Decision Date: 1865-11
Citations: 25 Ind. 331
Docket Number: 
Parties: Simons v. The State.
Judges: 
Reporter: Indiana Reports
Volume: 25
Pages: 331–333

Head Matter:
Simons v. The State.
Ihmctmehs. — Liquor Law. — -Indictment charging that A did, on, &o., “sell and give away certain intoxicating liquors, at and for the sum of ten cents, ” to a minor. The evidence showed that the liquor had been given away.
Held, that the giving away of intoxicating liquor to a minor is an indictable offense under the statute.
Held, also, that the charge was double, and the indictment probajjiy bad, on motion to quash, but the fault in the pleading could not be reached by a motion for a new trial.
APPEAL from the Jennings Circuit Court,

Opinion:
Frazer, C. J.
This was an indictment, against the appellant, charging that he "did," &c., sell and give away certain intoxicating liquors, at and for the sum of ten cents," to a person under the age of twenty-one years. A plea of not guilty was entered, and a trial had, which resulted in a verdict of guilty. A motion for a new trial was overruled, and this is the only error assigned which need be noticed, inasmuch as its determination necessarily settles every other question.
The evidence established the charge of giving to an infant, but not of selling, and the appellant contends that such giving, without other facts, does not constitute an offense. It seems to us that the statute is plainly against this proposition. It expressly enacts that, "if any person shall sell, barter or give away any intoxicating liquors to any person under the age of twenty-one years, &c., the person so offending shall be fined," &c.
The judgment is affirmed, with costs.