Court Opinion

ID: 6514216
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-19 18:25:07.00278+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:54:58.370601
License: Public Domain

McGLELLAN, J.
Appellant was convicted under an indictment which charged him with selling vinous, spirituous or malt liquors without a license and contrary to law. The evidence was that of one witness to the effect that he had often, within twelve months before the finding of the indictment, bought a quart of beer from the defendant at the latter’s place of business in Anniston, and drank it on the premises; that he could not recall any particular time that he made such a purchase, or who was present, though he usually went there with a friend, but that he had made such purchases during, every month in the year, and did not remember about any particular sale, and that he did not and had not testified to any particular sale, but he remembered that he had so bought beer which he drank on the premises at some one time within twelve months before the finding of the indictment. At defendant’s *65request the court charged the jury that “ .... if the evidence is so uncertain that the jury can not find beyond a reasonable doubt, a particular sale by the defendant, they must acquit the defendant.” Having given this charge, the court further told the jury, by way of explanation; that: “If they believe from the evidence that the defendant sold beer within twelve months before the finding oí the indictment, this would be such a particular sale as would authorize a verdict of guilty.” A reference of this charge to the evidence cures its infirmity resulting from its omission to confine the sale to a quantity less than one quart, or to liquor drank on the premises. The charge is otherwise correct in itself. Whiie the evidence is not limited to any one sale, yet if believed by the jury, it showed at least one sale within the year; and the statute provides that, under this indictment, “any act of retailing in violation of law may be proved.” — Code, § 4037; and the charge was not objectionable on the score of being in explanation of the instruction given at defendant’s request. — Barnard v. State, 88 Ala. 111.
The other charge requested by the defendant would have led the jury to the conclusion that no conviction could be had unless a particular sale was so identified as to time, place and circumstances as that, upon another indictment, it could be shown, under a plea of former conviction, to be identical with that here charged. This is not essential. If a sale within the time of the statute was proved, it is of no consequence, that it is not so identified on this trial as that on another, by the mere reproduction of the evidence adduced here, it would be shown to be the same transaction, or even that the specification of the act here should be such as to ádmit of identity being shown by evidence aliunde on another indictment. The charge was properly refused as misleading and confusing. If defendant should be again indicted, no conviction could be had on evidence that he sold a quart of beer to this witness, the same being drunk on the premises, at any time within a year before the finding of the present indictment. This is the broadest protection to him; and demonstrates the fallacy of the charge requested. — State v. Sterrenberg, 69 Iowa, 544; State v. Nunnelly, 43 Ark. 68.
Affirmed.