Case Name: Commonwealth v. Coe
Court: Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia
Jurisdiction: Virginia
Decision Date: 1838-06
Citations: 9 Leigh 218
Docket Number: 
Parties: Commonwealth v. Coe.
Judges: 
Reporter: Virginia Reports
Volume: 36
Pages: 218–219

Head Matter:
Commonwealth v. Coe.
June, 1888.
Ardent Spirits — Sale without License — IndictmentSurplusage. — Where a defendant is indicted upon the statute of March 7, 1834 (Acts of 1833-4, ch. 3,) for retailing ardent spirits without license, the charge that the spirits were to he drunk at the place where sold, shews that the indictment is upon the 17th, not the 3d section of that statute, and such charge cannot he rejected as surplusage, hut must he proved.
The defendant Thomas J. Coe was indicted in the circuit superiour court of law and chancery for Wood county, for selling ardent spirits by retail, “to be drunk at the place where sold,” without having a license therefor. At the trial the commonwealth adduced evidence that the defendant had sold whiskey by retail at the place mentioned in the indictment, and within twelve months previous to the finding of the same ; but ^whether the whiskey was sold to be drunk at the place, or to be carried away by the purchaser, did not appear. The attorney for the commonwealth contended, that the words “to be drunk at the place where sold’’might be regarded as surplus-age, and the..defendant convicted under the 3d section of the act of the 7th March 1834, prohibiting the sale of ardent spirits, not to be drunk at or in the place where the same may be sold: but the court instructed the jury, that the defendant ought'not to be convicted under that indictment, without proof satisfying their minds, not only of the selling, but that the spirits were sold to be drunk in or at the place where the same were sold, or in some booth, arbour or stall appendant or contiguous thereto. To which opinion and instruction of the court, the attorney for the commonwealth excepted. The jury found a verdict for the defendant, and the court rendered judgment of acquittal.
And now the attorney general, on behalf of the commonwealth, petitioned this court for a writ of error to the judgment.
Ardent Spirits — Sale without License — Writ of Error lor Commonwealth. — See principal case cited in Com. v. Scott, 10 Gratt. 749, 764, and foot-note-, State v. Church, 4 W. Va. 746. See generally, monographic note on “Intoxicating Liquors” appended to Thon v. Com., 31 Gratt. 887.

Opinion:
FRY, J.,
delivered the opinion of the court. —According to Tefft v. Commonwealth, 8 Leigh 721, the present is a case in which a writ of error may he awarded to the commonwealth. The attorney general has asked for one; and the enquiry is, what error the record presents ?
The indictment alleges that the defendant, without having a license therefor according to law, did sell by retail wine, brandy &c. to be drunk at the place where sold, contrary to the form of the statute in such case made &c. It is evidently founded on the 17th section of the act passed March 7, 1834. That the spirits were to be drunk at the place where sold, is necessary to constitute the offence within that section. But failing to prove this, the attorney for the commqnwealth contended *that the words describing that part of the offence might be rejected as surplusage, and the defendant convicted under the 3d section of the act aforesaid. The court below decided otherwise ; and, we think, with good reason.
Without deciding what would be a good indictment under the 3d section, it is sufficient to say, that the offences described by the 3d and 17th sections are wholly different. Under the 17th section, an ordinary license and certificate are required ; under the 3d, a retail merchant's license and certificate. Under the 17th, the spirits must be sold to be drunk a.t the place of sale ; under the 3d, not to be drunk at such place. Under the 17th, the fine is 30 dollars ; while that under the 3d is twice the tax upon a retail merchant's license for the time.
The offences being thus different, to allow one to be described and the other proved, would be contrary to the plainest principles of j ustice, and opposed to the end of all pleading — that the defendant may have sufficient notice of the charge against him, and that a verdict and judgment upon it may be a bar to any future proceeding. To allow it, he might not only be entrapped, but twice harassed. Suppose, on the ground claimed by the commonwealth, the jury had found the defendant guilty ; what judgment could the court have rendered ? Manifestly, a judgment for 30 dollars fine, under the 17th section. The record could have warranted no other. Yet the verdict would have been founded upon evidence of an offence to which a different penalty is attached. And should the defendant be again charged with the latter offence, he could not (contrary to the very terms of the record) aver it to be the same for which he had already suffered.
We are all of opinion to deny the writ.