Court Opinion

ID: 8510351
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-23 08:37:15.657381+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:51:04.644242
License: Public Domain

This proceeding in error is prosecuted to reverse the judgment of the mayor of the city of Delaware, finding the plaintiff in error guilty of a misdemeanor, and adjudging him to pay a fine.
The first contention is, that the affidavit filed with the mayor in this case is defective and does not state a crime under the laws of Ohio.
It is contended that if the prosecution is under Section 6942 of the Revised Statutes of Ohio, that the affidavit should state the dates from which and to which the defendant was keeping a place where intoxicating liquors were then and there sold in violation of law.
We are of the opinion that this prosecution is under Section 6942 of the Revised Statutes of Ohio, as amended, 99 Ohio Laws, 1908, and as that section now reads the gravamen of the offense is keeping such a place. And if on or about the 12th day of December, A. D. 1908, the defendant was then and there the keeper of a place where intoxicating liquors were sold, furnished or given away in violation of law, he was guilty of the offense under this section of the statute, and the affidavit is sufficient.
It is further contended that the mere showing of one unlawful sale is not sufficient evidence to warrant the mayor in finding the defendant guilty. We think that question has been disposed of corrreetly in the case of Volk v. Village of Westerville, 3 N. P.—N. S., 241, and particularly at 244.
It appears that the Circuit Court of Franklin County, in unother ease of the same title, held that the proof of a single sale was sufficient, without proving a series of sales.
*333Iii the case of Village of Belle Center v. Levi Welsh, it was also held by the court, to which an application was made for leave, to file a petition in error (24th Bulletin, page 176), that under the section as it then read, that a single sale was sufficient to warrant a conviction.
It is also contended by plaintiff in error that an attempt is made here to prosecute for a violation of the Rose local option law, and for that reason neither the affidavit nor the proof is sufficient.
It is not important what law is violated in.the sale of- intoxicating liquors under a charge of this character. It is sufficient for the affidavit to state the sale was unlawful, and then in the hearing of the case proof can be offered that the sales were made on Sunday, to a minor, or person in the habit of becoming intoxicated, or in territory where the sale of intoxicating liquor is prohibited, or any other reason that renders- the sale unlawful. So that, when the state came to offer this evidence in this prosecution it could show that under the provision of the Rose local option law the sale of intoxicating liquors was prohibited in Delaware county.
It is conceded, however, that the proofs failed to show, that the sale of intoxicating liquor-s were prohibited in that co.unty by reason of -an election held under the provisions of the Rose local option law. And looking to the evidence offered by the state it would seem as if there were a defect in that behalf. True, it is provided in the Rose local option law that a copy certified by the clerk of the court of common pleas- showing the result of such election, provided such a result shows a majority of votes against the sale of intoxicating liquor as a beverage, shall be sufficient evidence to make a prima facie case; but we take it that this is not exclusive, and that any other competent evidence may be offered.
In this whole record, the question of whether the sale of intoxicating liquors were prohibited in Delaware county under the provisions of this -act does not seem to be mooted. Time, the plea of not guilty puts in issue every material allegation of the affidavit, but in the trial of this case questions were asked by counsel for the state, as well as by counsel for the defend*334ant, indicating that the sale of intoxicating liquor as a beverage was at the time of the alleged offense prohibited and unlawful, and, in fact, some of the answers fixed the exact date when the provisions of that law came into operation in that county.
It is true that some of this evidence would have been incompetent had objections been made thereto; but no such objection was made, and, therefore, the admission was not prejudicial error. And particularly is this time in the evidence of the defendant himself. lie testifies that he has sold no whisky to anybody since the local option law went into effect in Delaware and on page 14 of the bill of exceptions it appears from- his evidence that local option went into effect in that county the ‘last of October or the first of' November of that year. So that, we think the evidence was sufficient for the mayor to find that the sale of intoxicating liquors in Delaware county was at the. time charged in this affidavit prohibited and unlawful, and that' this sale, if he found such a sale had been made, was an unlawful- sale, and that the defendant by reason thereof was guilty as charged in the affidavit.
Some objection is made to the testimony of the chief of police, and particularly-to that portion where he undertakes to tell what officer Vining told him; but it appears that what the officer said to him was not repeated by the chief of police, but that he merely says that the officer told him where he got it, but he does not say what the officer told him, or from whom the officer said he received the half pint of whisky that was offered in evidence. AVc think there was no error in the admission of that evidence, or in the refusal of the court to strike it out.
Ending no error apparent in the record of this .ease prejudicial to plaintiff in error, the judgment of the mayor is affirmed, with costs. The cause is remanded for execution. Exceptions of plaintiff in error are noted.