Case Name: PEOPLE v. WOODWARD
Court: Michigan Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1922-12-05
Citations: 220 Mich. 511
Docket Number: Docket No. 159
Parties: PEOPLE v. WOODWARD.
Judges: McDonald, Clark, and Steere, JJ., concurred with Sharpe, J. Moore, J., concurred in the result.
Reporter: Michigan Reports
Volume: 220
Pages: 511–527

Head Matter:
PEOPLE v. WOODWARD.
•1. Arbest — Warrant—Breach of the Peace — Right to Enter Dwelling and Make Arrest.
Where police officers heard noises in a house indicating that a breach of the peace was being committed, they had a right, without a warrant, to enter through an unfastened door and arrest the persons engaged therein in their presence.
2. Searches and Seizures — Intoxicating Liquor — Criminal Law —Search Warrant — Constitutional Law.
Officers who lawfully gained admission into defendant’s house to quell a disturbance of the peace had a right to arrest him for illegal possession of intoxicating liquor in their' presence, and seize a bottle of whisky standing on the table in front of him as evidence thereof, although they had no search warrant and no warrant for his arrest; their action not constituting a violation of the provisions of the Federal and State Constitutions forbidding unreasonable searches and seizures.
3. Intoxicating Liquor — Criminal Law — Illegal Possession— Evidence — Burden of Proof.
In a prosecution for illegal possession of intoxicating liquor, where defendant claims lawful possession in that he obtained it before the prohibition act became a law, the burden of proof is on him to show that his possession was lawful. •
4. Same — Illegal Possession in Home a Felony.
Defendant’s unlawful possession of intoxicating liquor in his home constituted a felony no less than if the illegal possession had been in any other place.
5. Same — Violator in Home Not Immune from Lawful Arrest.
Although the prohibition law forbids the search of a private dwelling unless some part of it is used for other purposes therein specified, it in no way renders the owner immune from arrest or punishment for its. violation therein if such arrest be lawfully made, nor does it render the evidence of the commission of the crime immune from seizure where no search is needed to discover it.
On liability of officer for making arrest for breach of the peace, without a warrant, see note in 51 L. R. A. 206.
On right of peace officer to enter dwelling to make arrest without a warrant, see note in 16 L. R. A. 500.
6. Same — No Property Right in Intoxicating Liquors — Where Possession Illegal Should Not be Returned by Order of Court.
In view of Act No. 336, Pub. Acts 1921, amending the prohibition law (Act No. 338, Pub. Acts 1917), providing that no property right shall exist in any intoxicating liquor unlawfully possessed, and making it the duty of police officers to arrest violators in their presence, the trial court should not make an order to restore possession. of liquor seized when the effect thereof would be to render the person in possession liable to arrest and conviction by reason of his possession of the liquor so restored.
Fellows, C. J., and Wiest and Bird, JJ., dissenting.
Exceptions before judgment from Ingham; Carr (Leland W.), J.
Submitted January 13, 1922.
(Docket No. 159.)
Decided December 5, 1922.
Frank Woodward was convicted of violating the liquor law.
Affirmed.
D. G. F. Warner and Frank L. Dodge (John F. Berry, of counsel), for appellant.
Merlin Wiley, Attorney General, /. A. Boice, Prosecuting Attorney, and W. S. Seelye, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for the people.

Opinion:
Sharpe, J.
The defendant was convicted of having intoxicating liquor in his possession in violation of section 2 of Act No. 338, Pub. Acts 1917, as amended by Act No. 53, Pub. Acts 1919. He was arrested in his own home. The officers who made the arrest were sent there by the lieutenant in charge of the police station. They were not permitted to disclose the information imparted to them. They arrived there about 2:30 a. m. We quote from the testimony of Officer John Rehm:
"Q. Upon arriving there, what did you discover? When you first got there, what did you do?
"A T TiAcn'f'ii'fpil
"Mr. Dodge: What's that word?
"Mr. Boiee: He says he hesitated.
"A. What's that?
"Q. Go ahead.
"A. Kind of took a survey of the land and found this boisterous talking and fighting and cussing and swearing.
"Q. Where did you hear that from?
"A. From the front of the first house before we got to 503.
"Q. Before you got to 503 you heard this wrangle?
"A. Yes.
"Q. What were they talking about?
"A. About fighting.
"Q. Were they threatening one another?
"A. Yes.
"Q. How long did this disturbance continue?
"A. Until we got inside of the house.
"Q. How long was it before you went in the house?
"A. About 3:40.
"Q. You remained there near the place listening?
"A. Yes.
"Q. Why did you go in the house?
"A. In order to stop this argument; they was threatening to kill each other.
"Q. Were you fearful they would?
"Mr. Dodge: Wait a moment; that's not proper.
"Q. What caused you to think there was danger there of their killing one another?
"A. When they talked.
"Q. Were they threatening one another?
"A. Yes.
"Q. How did you get in?
"A. At the rear door.
"Q. Was there conversation — did it continue loud enough to be heard around the neighborhood as it was when you first went there?
"A. Yes.
"Q. When you got in there what did you find?
"A. We found four men in the dining room, one lying in a pool of blood.
"Q. Near what—
"A. Lying on the floor in a pool of blood.
"Q. Who was that?
"A. Harris — William Harris. William Cheek was sitting at the table, Frank Woodward was sitting at the table, and Tom McNamara was standing up.
"Q. What did you do with Tom McNamara and William Harris ?
"A. I brought them to the station.
"Q. Did you bring a charge against them?
"A. Drunk and disorderly. .
"Q. Do you know what became of that?
"Mr. Dodge: That is immaterial.
"The Court: Strike it out.
"Q. What did you do with Mr. Woodward?
"A. Brought him to the station, also.
"Q. I ask you if you recognize that bottle (pointing to bottle on table) ?
"Mr. Dodge: At this time I want to interpose an objection to the introduction of the liquor in question.
"The Court: The objection will be overruled.
"Exception for defendant.
"Q. What is that bottle?
"A. Whisky.
"Q. Well, it is a bottle of whisky and where did you first see it?
"A. I found it on the table in front of Mr. Woodward.
"Q. When you went in?
"A. Yes.
"Q. Where was Mr. Woodward sitting?
"A. On the south side of the table.
"Q. Where did you say Woodward was when you went in there?
"A. Sitting at the south side of the table.
"Q. This bottle was in front of him?
"A. Yes."
He further testified that it was an "Imperial whisky bottle, only partly full of Gugenheim & Wurts." His testimony was fully corroborated by Officers Berger and Elliot. The officers placed two of the men in the house under arrest on a charge of being drunk and disorderly. They were not permitted to testify to the result of these arrests. They also arrested the defendant. The reason therefor is not fully disclosed, but the complaint afterwards made against him justifies the conclusion that his arrest was for illegally having intoxicating liquor in his possession. After arraignment and plea of not guilty, defendant's counsel moved for a return of the liquor for the reason that its possession had been secured by an illegal search and seizure. This motion was denied, as was also a motion to quash, based on substantially similar grounds. On the trial, the bottle was received in evidence. Defendant here reviews his conviction on exceptions before sentence. The assignments all relate to the action of the court in refusing to order the liquor returned to defendant and in admitting it in evidence.
While counsel refer to the search whereby other bottles of liquor were found in the basement of the house, it will be observed, from the testimony quoted, that no reference was made to them by the prosecuting attorney but the facts relating to such search were brought out on the cross-examination of the officers by defendant's counsel. Only the bottle found on the table was introduced in evidence.
The questions presented are, Were the officers justified in entering defendant's home? Had the officer the right to arrest the defendant and take possession of the bottle of whisky? Was it properly received in evidence on the trial?
Counsel for defendant do not seem to seriously contend that the officers were not justified in entering defendant's residence for the purpose of quelling the disturbance therein. Their neglect to have done so, under the circumstances, would have rendered them recreant to their duty as conservators of the peace. In Commonwealth v. Tobin, 108 Mass. 426 (11 Am. Rep. 375), it was held (we quote from the syllabus):
"A constable has a right, by virtue of his office, without a warrant, to enter, through an unfastened door, a house in which there is a noise amounting to a disturbance of the peace, and arrest any person disturbing the peace there in his presence."
See, also, 5 C. J. p. 427, and cases cited; Tiffany's Criminal Law (5th Ed.), p. 97.
The conditions existing when they entered show clearly that the conclusion they had arrived at from what they had heard outside that a breach of the peace was being committed was well founded.
On lawfully entering, the officers quelled the disturbance by arresting the men causing the same. They then discovered the bottle of whisky standing on the table in front of the defendant, who sat in a chair. It was labeled "Imperial Whisky," "Gugenheim & Wurts." The cause of the disturbance and the condition of the men arrested also clearly indicated the nature of its contents. The duty of the officers with these facts before them is plainly pointed out by the statute. As several of the provisions of the prohibition act (Act No. 338, Pub. Acts 1917, as amended by Act No. 336, Pub. Acts 1921), are pertinent to the consideration of this question, we quote from section 31 at some length:
"No property right of any kind shall exist in any intoxicating liquors had, kept, transported or possessed contrary to law or in or to any receptacle or container of any kind whatever in which said liquors may be found and all such are hereby declared forfeited to the State and shall be seized. Any person or persons in charge of said liquors or aiding in any manner in such violation shall forthwith be arrested and as soon as convenient taken before a magistrate having jurisdiction whereupon the officer making such arrest shall make and file a complaint for such violation of the law as the evidence justifies. Any officer making an arrest for any violation of this act, may seize all evidence of the commission of such violation, including any wagon, buggy, automobile, water or aircraft, or other vehicle or conveyance in which such liquors are had, kept, transported or possessed contrary to law. Any claimant of liquors, receptacles or containers seized under this act, in order to release the same from the operation of this act, may, at any time before final disposition thereof by the court as herein provided, file a petition in the court having jurisdiction of the matter for the return of said property and if said claimant shall prove to the satisfaction of said court that he is lawfully entitled to possession thereof, the same shall be returned to him."
The officer did just what the statute permits, if not commands, him to do. Being lawfully in defendant's dwelling, he found the defendant violating the law in his presence by having this bottle of whisky in his possession. He arrested the defendant and, as further permitted by the statute, he took possession of (seized) the bottle as evidence of the "commission of such violation." The defendant made no claim that he was lawfully in possession of the liquor. Had he claimed that he had obtained possession of it before the prohibition act became a law, the burden was on him to make good such claim. People v. Grabiec, 210 Mich. 559.
It is insisted that as section 30 of the act, as amended, prohibits the issue of a search warrant to search a private dwelling, the officers were not justified in what they did; that their action was in effect the search of defendant's home and a violation of this section and of the provisions of both the Federal and State Constitutions forbidding unreasonable searches and seizures
The unlawful possession of this bottle of whisky by the defendant was a felony under the statute. It was conceded by his counsel that it belonged to him. Can it be said that its possession by him in his home relieved such possession of its criminality? If a man has intoxicating liquor in his possession unlawfully in his dwelling house, is he any less a violator of the law than if such possession be had in a soft drink parlor, in his store or in his club? Morally, there is no distinction in his culpability.
From time immemorial a man's dwelling house has been deemed sacred. It is the ene spot from which he may exclude all persons whom he does not wish to enter. They may not lawfully do so unless armed with legal process or unless there be such a disturbance therein as amounts to a breach of the peace. When these officers entered defendant's home and quelled the disturbance, the existence of which justified their entry, might they not use their eyes and observe what was to be seen? Had they found the defendant making counterfeit money, or committing a rape on a female child, or engaged in an act of gross indecency, or committing or attempting to commit any other felony, would they have been required to secure a warrant before making an arrest? Clearly not. As conservators of the peace, the duty to arrest would have been plain. They discovered the defendant committing a felony. No search was needed to establish the fact. The bottle and the surroundings were evidence thereof. They took him into custody. Were they then required to secure a search warrant before they could take possession of the bottle of whisky, the mute witness of his criminality? No search was needed to discover it. The bottle stood in plain view. No examination or inspection was needed to ascertain its contents. Had they discovered him making counterfeit money or preparing explosives, it seems clear to me that after' making the arrest it would have been their duty to have taken possession of all articles or objects then present and in their immediate view which tended to establish the violation of the law on which the arrest was predicated. I can see no distinction in respect of the right claimed between vio lators of the prohibition statute and any other statutory law. If a man has liquor in his private residence and has the right to have it there, he need have no fear of an invasion of his personal or constitutional rights by officers lawfully entering therein. As was said in Adams v. New York, 192 U. S. 585 (24 Sup. Ct. 372):
"Innocent persons would have no trouble in explaining the possession of these tickets (lottery)."
But, if his possession be unlawful, he must, to secure unto himself the protection against search and seizure afforded him by law, keep such liquor in a place in the house where it will not disclose to officers lawfully therein that he is violating a criminal statute. The prohibition law imposes a duty on officers to arrest any person violating its provisions in their presence and if they obtain lawful entrance into the home they should be commended for performing such duty. In its wisdom the legislature has forbidden the search of a private dwelling unless some part of it is used for other purposes therein specified. The statute goes no further. It in no way renders the owner while therein immune from arrest or punishment for a violation of the statute if such arrest be lawfully made. Nor does it render the evidence of the commission of the crime immune from seizure where no search is needed to discover it.
The subject of illegal searches and seizures is discussed at length in People v. Case, ante, 379, and in People v. DeCesare, ante, 417. What is said to be the leading case on the subject is Boyd v. United States, 116 U. S. 616 (6 Sup. Ct. 524). The quotation therefrom by Mr. Justice Steere in People v. Case, supra, may be here read with profit. The holding in that case is commented on by Mr. Justice Day in the later case of Adams v. New York, supra. We quote therefrom:
"But the contention is that, if in the search for the instruments of crime, other papers are taken, the same may not be given in evidence. As an illustration, if a search warrant is issued for stolen property and burglars' tools be discovered and seized, they are to be excluded from testimony by force of these amendments. (Those relating to search and seizure.) We think they were never intended to have that effect, but are rather designed to protect against compulsory testimony from a defendant against himself in a criminal trial."
He cites and quotes approvingly from Commonwealth v. Tibbetts, 157 Mass. 519 (32 N. E. 910). In that case, while'acting under a warrant to search for intoxicating liquors, the officers found and took possession of certain instruments adapted to procure abortion. These the prosecution sought to introduce as evidence. The court said:
"But two points have been argued. The first is that the criminatory articles and letters found by the officer in the defendant's possession were not admissible in evidence, because the officer had no warrant to search for them, and his only authority was under a warrant to search her husband's premises for intoxicating liquors. The defendant contends that under, such circumstances the finding of criminatory articles or papers can only be proved when by express provision of statute the possession of them is itself made criminal. This ground of distinction is untenable. Evidence which is pertinent to the issue is admissible, although it may have been procured in an irregular or even in an illegal manner. A trespasser may testify to pertinent facts observed by him, or may put in evidence pertinent articles or papers found by him while trespassing. For the trespass he may be held responsible civilly, and perhaps criminally; but his testimony is not thereby rendered incompetent."
A number of authorities are cited to sustain the holding. See, also, Commonwealth v. Acton, 165 Mass. 11 (42 N. E. 329) ; Commonwealth v. Smith, 166 Mass. 370 (44 N. E. 503). In State v. Barr, 78 Vt. 97, 101 (62 Atl. 43), it was said:
"It is contended that the several searches of the respondent's premises were illegal, and that therefore it was error to allow the officers to testify to what they saw there while making them, as that was compelling the respondents to furnish evidence against themselves. But this question was ruled the other way in State v. Krinski, 78 Vt. 162 (62 Atl. 37). The same thing is held in Commonwealth v. Hurley, 158 Mass. 159 (33 N. E. 342)."
I find no authority which denies to officers lawfully making an arrest the right to take possession of things in plain sight, belonging to the person arrested, which are in themselves evidence of the commission of the crime for which the arrest is made.
It will be noticed that in the Tibbetts Case defendant's counsel apparently conceded that the articles should be received in evidence if by statute the possession of them is itself made criminal. Our statute as above quoted so provides and the claim here made will, we think, be considered novel by students of criminal procedure.
Taylor v. Isabella Circuit Judge, 209 Mich. 97, is relied on to sustain the motion made for the return of the liquor. In that case it is said:
"It is conceded that plaintiff purchased the liquor before the act in question took effect."
Before the motion for its return had been made, the defendant) had been acquitted of the charge of violating the law preferred against him. It was further said:
"When the prosecutions were ended and the people had failed to secure a conviction, and no new complaint was filed within 24 hours, it was the plain duty of defendant to order it returned to plaintiff."
Following this decision, the amendatory act of 1921, from which we have quoted, was enacted.
It will be seen that "no property right of any kind shall exist in any intoxicating liquors" possessed contrary to the provisions of the act. The language of the latter part of the quotation is also suggestive, if not conclusive, of defendant's right to a return of the liquor seized. To entitle him thereto he must "prove to the satisfaction of said court that he is lawfully entitled to possession thereof." While it may be urged that this provision applies only to liquor lawfully seized and motion made for return after the trial, it indicates the intention of the legislature that when no property right exists in intoxicating liquor, owing to its being unlawfully possessed, a defendant seeking its return must show a lawful right to its possession. Had it been so returned, as soon as it was in the possession of the defendant he could have been arrested; in fact, if such return were made in the presence of the sheriff or other peace officer, it would have been his duty to forthwith arrest the defendant for a violation of the act. In the Taylor Case it appeared that the defendant was lawfully entitled to the possession of the liquor. In my opinion, the court should not make an order to restore possession of liquor when the effect thereof would render the person in possession liable to arrest and conviction by reason of his possession of the property restored.
The judgment is affirmed.
McDonald, Clark, and Steere, JJ., concurred with Sharpe, J. Moore, J., concurred in the result.