Case Name: CATES v. THE STATE
Court: Court of Appeals of Georgia
Jurisdiction: Georgia
Decision Date: 1922-03-07
Citations: 28 Ga. App. 347
Docket Number: 13177
Parties: CATES v. THE STATE.
Judges: Broyles, C. J., and Bloodworth, J., concur.
Reporter: Georgia Appeals Reports
Volume: 28
Pages: 347–347

Head Matter:
13177.
CATES v. THE STATE.
The evidence as to the defendant’s presence at a still which was in operation was not sufficient to authorize his conviction of participating in the manufacture of liquor.
Decided March 7, 1922.
Indictment for making intoxicating liquor; from Walker superior court — Judge Wright. December 3, 1921.
Henry & Jackson, for plaintiff in error.
E. S. Taylor, solicitor-general, contra.

Opinion:
Luke, J.
The defendant was convicted of the unlawful manufacture of liquor. His conviction was dependent upon the circumstance that he was present with several other men at a still which was in operation. At that time he stated to the officer who discovered the still that he had no connection with it, that he was present merely because he saw the smoke rising and thought the woods were on fire and went to see about it. The other persons present at the still testified positively that he had no ownership in the still and no connection with it, and that he walked to where it was in operation some time after they had begun to operate the still. The testimony is" not sufficient to authorize this defendant's conviction of participating in the unlawful manufacture of liquor as alleged in the indictment. It was error to overrule the motion for a new trial.
Judgment reversed.
Broyles, C. J., and Bloodworth, J., concur.