Case Name: Commonwealth vs. Andrew F. Hanley
Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
Decision Date: 1886-01-07
Citations: 140 Mass. 457
Docket Number: 
Parties: Commonwealth vs. Andrew F. Hanley.
Judges: 
Reporter: Massachusetts Reports
Volume: 140
Pages: 457–458

Head Matter:
Commonwealth vs. Andrew F. Hanley.
Norfolk.
Nov. 23, 1885.
Jan. 7, 1886.
Devens & Gardner, JJ., absent.
At the trial of a complaint for keeping intoxicating liquors with intent unlawfully to sell the same, there was evidence that the defendant had been acquitted on a charge of keeping and maintaining a tenement used for the illegal sale and illegal keeping of intoxicating liquors, upon the same evidence as that produced at the present trial. The judge ruled that such judgment of acquittal was evidence competent to be considered by the jury in the defendant’s favor, but was not conclusive. Held, that the defendant had no ground of exception.
No inference either for or against the defendant in a criminal case can be drawn from his omission to testify as a witness.
Complaint to the District Court of East Norfolk, alleging the keeping, at Weymouth, on January 10, 1885, of certain intoxicating liquors, with intent unlawfully to sell the same in this Commonwealth. Trial in the Superior Court, before Knowlton, J,, who allowed a bill of exceptions, in substance as follows:
The government offered evidence tending to show that the defendant, on and before January 13,1885, kept a certain saloon in Weymouth; that, on said January 13, three officers, who were witnesses, visited the saloon, which then contained a bar, bottles, jugs, glasses, and a barrel of cider on tap, and, under a search-warrant, seized the cider. These officers also testified that, at the time, there were four glasses and a number of bottles and jugs, all of which smelt of whiskey, in the saloon. The defendant then stated that he had the cider there for sale.
There was also evidence that, on two prior occasions, certain intoxicated persons were seen upon the premises.
The defendant put in evidence the record of said District Court, of a complaint made therein against the defendant, charging him with keeping and maintaining a certain tenement at said Weymouth on October 1, 1884, and on divers days between that day and April 1, 1885, for the illegal sale and illegal keeping of intoxicating liquors; also the record of the trial of the defendant on said complaint, and of his acquittal upon the merits thereon.
The defendant also introduped evidence tending to show that the same witnesses testified at the trial of that complaint, with reference to the same saloon, the same visit and seizure of said January 13, the finding and seizure of the cider, and the presence of the glasses, bottles, and jugs smelling of whiskey, in said saloon, and the proprietorship of the defendant; also to the same statements of the defendant.
The defendant did not testify as a witness at the present trial.
The defendant asked the judge to instruct the jury, that the judgment of not guilty was a conclusive adjudication that the cider and the whiskey, on said January 13, were not kept for illegal sale by the defendant; and that they should not consider the evidence as to said day, place, and contents. But the judge refused to give this instruction, and instructed the jury that said judgment was evidence competent for their consideration in favor of the defendant upon that question, but was not conclusive.
The defendant’s counsel argued to the jury, that the defendant might be able to explain the keeping of the cider, and the presence of the bottles, jugs, and glasses which smelt of whiskey, in some satisfactory way, and consistent with his innocence; and that the jury might draw such inferences, and might infer that the defendant could and would have, if he had become a witness in his own behalf, given some such satisfactory explanation consistent with his innocence.
But the judge instructed the jury that, under the statute, a defendant in a criminal case might testify in his own behalf if he desired; but, if he did not see fit so to do, no inference for him or against him could be drawn from that fact.
The jury returned a verdict of guilty; and the defendant alleged exceptions.
J. L. Eldridge, for the defendant.
H. N. Shepard, Assistant Attorney General, (A. J. Sherman, Attorney General, with him,) for the Commonwealth.

Opinion:
C. Allen, J.
The first point taken by the defendant is settled by the decision in Commonwealth v. Fontain, 127 Mass. 452, and the second by that in Commonwealth v. Scott, 123 Mass. 239.
Exceptions overruled.