Court Opinion

ID: 3245350
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-05 16:17:41.833913+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:40:44.304237
License: Public Domain

The indictment contained two counts. The first count charged the defendant with the possession of a still, etc., and the second count with manufacturing prohibited liquors. The defendant was convicted under the second count.
It was error for the court ex mero motu to instruct the jury that, if they believed the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, they must find the defendant guilty. Section 5362 of the Code of 1907 provides that the court shall not charge upon the effect of the testimony unless required to do so by one of the parties. English v. McNair, 34 Ala. 40; Dennis v. State,112 Ala. 64, 20 So. 925. However, the error was cured by the court subsequently giving the same charge when requested in writing. Gambill v. Cargo, 151 Ala. 421, 43 So. 866, and cases cited; Gulf City Co. v. Boyles, 129 Ala. 192, 29 So. 800.
The court did not err in refusing, at the request of the defendant, the following charge:
"Unless you believe from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant hauled materials to the still as admitted by him and that this was done since January 1, 1921, you should find the defendant not guilty."
The evidence showed that the defendant assisted in hauling the materials to the still, and that he carried some sugar to the still on his shoulder from the point where it was left by his wagon. The defendant admitted that he carried certain material to the still to be used in the making of beer or alcoholic beverages from which liquor was made. On this point there was no conflict in the evidence. There was evidence that the defendant and others were hauling the material to the still. If the aided others in the hauling, he was a guilty as if he had done the hauling alone.
There is no error in the record.
The judgment of the circuit court is affirmed.
Affirmed.