Court Opinion

ID: 7147890
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 15:36:28.345622+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:15:02.763097
License: Public Domain

Opinion of the 'Court by
Judge MoCandless
Affirming.
T. C. McDaniel appeals from a judgment of tlxe Olay circuit court in which he was convicted for a violation of the liquor laws of this Commonwealth.
For reversal he urges (a) that the law prohibiting a gift of spirituous liquor is invalid, (b) that under the circumstances of this case a gift of such liquor is not unlawful.
Appellant is deputy sheriff of Clay county, and in a raid on an illicit still he confiscated some moonshine liquor and carried it back with him, presumably to be used as evidence against the offender. While returning he was joined by the prosecuting witness. It was a cold, *354drizzly afternoon, and appellant asked the witness if lie would like to have a dram, and upon Ms assenting thereto, handed him a bottle of liquor and witness took a drink.
In Com. v. Wells, 196 Ky. 262, the validity of section 2554a-l in providing a penalty for giving spirituous liquors to another not for medicinal, sacramental, mechanical or scientific purposes was upheld, and a conviction has been sustained under the same act for the same offense. Simpson v. Com., 196 Ky. 403.
It is argued that this case is to be distinguished from the others in this, that in the cases cited the posession of the liquor was unlawful, while in this case appellant acquired possession of the liquor in a legal manner, and was transporting it for a lawful purpose, and therefore had a right to give it away if he desired. This is a mistake; his custody of the liquor was for the purpose of preserving it for evidence, and it could not be disposed of in any other way than that provided in section 2554a-32, which authorizes a disposition by order of the court.
The only provision of the statutes permitting such use of liquor is that found in section 2554a-8 to the effect that a person may have such liquors in his residence for the use of himself and bona fide guests when lawfully obtained. That is certainly not applicable to the facts in tMs case. It is intimated that the witness had a cold and that appellant had a right to give him a drink for that purpose. This contention was elaborately discussed in the case of Ricketts v. Com., 197 Ky. 571, and decided adversely to appellant’s contention.
Perceiving no error, judgment is affirmed.