Court Opinion

ID: 3288859
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-05 17:04:11.02953+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:19:02.964799
License: Public Domain

It appears from the application of petitioner that he is deprived of his liberty under a commitment issued upon a conviction of an alleged misdemeanor. This conviction is shown to have been based upon an affidavit filed before a magistrate which charged the defendant with willfully, unlawfully, intentionally and knowingly encouraging, aiding and abetting in the violation of a certain ordinance, by then and there purchasing, receiving and accepting malt and intoxicating liquor, to wit, beer, and furnishing, selling, distributing, delivering and giving away the same to other persons unknown. The ordinance, No. 2, referred to in the affidavit, makes it unlawful for any person, firm or corporation within the county and outside of municipalities therein contained, to sell, furnish, distribute, divide, or give away intoxicating drinks in any quantity, except for certain specified purposes. By section 4 of the ordinance, it is made unlawful for any person to furnish, receive, accept, or otherwise obtain any intoxicating drinks, or in any manner to encourage, aid, abet, or assist in the violation of the ordinance.
The contention of petitioner upon this application is that it is not charged that any misdemeanor was committed by anyone in the commission of which petitioner could aid, abet or assist. As we read the affidavit of complaint, it charges the petitioner with willfully and unlawfully purchasing, receiving and accepting a certain kind of intoxicating drink, and of furnishing, selling and distributing the same to other persons unknown. It is true that the affidavit does allege *Page 756 
that in doing this he was aiding, assisting and abetting others, but inasmuch as a substantive offense, that of selling, furnishing and giving away, etc., is alleged as against him, it would be immaterial in determining his guilt whether the act committed was individual or in the aid and assistance of others connected therewith. The selling or giving away of intoxicating drinks is made an offense under the ordinance, as well as to aid and assist others in the commission of such offense. We think a fair and reasonable construction of the language employed in the affidavit leads to the conclusion that the charge in the affidavit is sufficiently explicit to apprise the defendant of the offense charged and to permit evidence to be received in connection therewith establishing the commission of such acts.
Writ denied.