Case Name: PEOPLE v. KING
Court: Michigan Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1925-10-01
Citations: 232 Mich. 443
Docket Number: Docket No. 86
Parties: PEOPLE v. KING.
Judges: McDonald, C. J., and Sharpe, Moore, Steere, Fellows, and Wiest, JJ., concurred with Clark, J.
Reporter: Michigan Reports
Volume: 232
Pages: 443–446

Head Matter:
PEOPLE v. KING.
1. Criminal Law — Sufficiency of Evidence Befobe Magistrate May Not be'Raised Fob First Time on The Tbial.
In a prosecution for the unlawful sale of intoxicating liquors, where the sworn complaint properly gave the date as October 17, 1923, defendant may not raise the question for the first time in the circuit court that there . was no evidence before the committing magistrate of when the sale was made, because a witness, testifying as to the date of purchase as October 17th, failed to state the year.
2. Same — Evidence—Sufficiency—Inferences.
Where, on the trial, in March, 1924, a witness testified that he had known defendant since October 1, 1923, and that he purchased liquor from her on October 17th, said evidence was sufficient to support a conviction of illegal sale on October 17, 1923; said testimony, if not 'directly to the point, being reasonably capable of inference that the sale was made on said date.
Bird, J., dissenting.
Exceptions before judgment from Ottawa; Cross (Orien S.), J.
Submitted June 11, 1925.
(Docket No. 86.)
Decided October 1, 1925.
Henrietta King was convicted of violating the liquor law.
Affirmed.
Charles E. Misner, for appellant.
Andrew B. Dougherty, Attorney General, and Fred T. Miles, Prosecuting Attorney, for the people.
Indictments and Informations, 31 C. J. § 379;
Criminal Law, 16 C. J. § 1560.

Opinion:
Clark, J.
Complaint on oath was made on October 30, 1923. It charged defendant with a sale of spirituous and intoxicating liquor on October 17, 1923. Examination was on November 1, 1923. Defendant was committed for trial. Information was filed November 5, 1923. Before a jury was sworn, and on March 20, 1924, defendant filed a motion to quash, the denial of which presents the main question, which is, that there was no evidence before the committing magistrate of when the sale was made and that, therefore, he had no right to commit.
A witness at the examination testified of purchasing the liquor on October 17th, but did not state the year. The record does not show that this matter was called to the attention of the magistrate by motion to dismiss, request, objection, or otherwise. The question was raised for the first time by the motion in the circuit court. Technical nicety would have been served by evidence of the date in full. But defendant was not misled. The sworn complaint gave the date. She was prejudiced in none of her rights. Justice requires that defendant should not be permitted to raise this question first in the circuit court. People v. Hare, 57 Mich. 505; People v. Dowd, 44 Mich. 488; People v. Brott, 163 Mich. 150, including separate opinion of Mr. Justice Blair.
We do not follow counsel in urging that there is the same infirmity of evidence at the trial. The principal witness testified at the trial on August 12, 1924:
"I knew the respondent from about the first of October, 1923. She lived in the city of Grand Haven on the north side of Washington street west of Second street above a millinery store.
"Q. Were you at her place in October?
"A. Yes, about the 17th of October.
(Objection.)
(Witness continuing): "I was at respondent's home just shortly before dinner. I purchased a pint of moonshine whisky."
If this testimony is not directly to the point that the sale was on October 17, 1923, it is capable, reasonably, of that inference. The witness knew defendant from about October 1, 1923. No other October intervened between that time and the trial. Clearly the witness when he said "October 17th" meant October 17, 1923. See People v. Perry, ante, 483.
The verdict is supported sufficiently by evidence.
Affirmed. Remanded for judgment.
McDonald, C. J., and Sharpe, Moore, Steere, Fellows, and Wiest, JJ., concurred with Clark, J.