Court Opinion

ID: 4935143
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-09-24 01:14:00.819399+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:14:38.845626
License: Public Domain

Libbey, J.
This case comes here for decision on report. By the report, it appears that the Boston and Maine Railroad was a common carrier of travelers and merchandise by rail, from Boston through New Hampshire to Portland, in this state. On the 28th of April, 1890, a box containing ten five-gallon kegs of whiskey was delivered to the Railroad to be carried to Old Orchard, in this state, and there delivered to the consignee. The train containing the package started from Boston, about 7 :30 P. M., of that day and arrived at Old Orchard, at 2 :55 A. M., of the 29th of April. The package remained in the cars, undelivered to the consignee, till 3 :30 A. M. of that day, when the car was opened by the officer and the liquors were seized. The complaint and warrant by virtue of which the seizure was made were issued at 8 P. M., April 28th. The train carrying the liquors did not enter this state till past twelve P. M., of that day, so that when the complaint was made and the warrant issued, the liquors were not kept and deposited at Old Orchard, nor were they in this state.
After the liquors were libelled, the defendant corporation duly filed its claim for their possession, claiming it had the legal possession of them as a common carrier for the purpose of delivery to the consignee.
We think the package was unlawfully seized, and that the *161claim for their possession must be sustained, for the following reasons :
1. Tt is a familiar and well-established rule of law in criminal procedure, that, to sustain a prosecution for crime, it must be shown that the crime had been committed when the prosecution was commenced. This rule is so familiar that no authorities need be cited. The facts reported show that the offense alleged in the complaint in this case had not been committed when it was made.
2. When the prosecution was commenced and the package of liquors was seized on the warrant, it was in the possession of the defendant corporation as a common carrier of merchandise, and in transit. from Massachusetts through New Hampshire to Maine for delivery to the consignee, and was commerce "among the several states,” and as such was under the exclusive jurisdiction of Congress. This state had no power over it. The package had not been broken, nor had it been delivered to the consignee. The state process for its seizure while in that condition ivas void. The question has,.so recently, been carefully considered and decided by our highest Federal Court, (Leisy v. Hardin, 135, U. S. 100,) and in this state, (State v. Burns, 82 Maine, 558), that no further discussion of principles or authorities can be useful.
But, it is claimed that the claimant as a common carrier has not sufficient title to the liquor under the statute, E. S., c. 27, § 42. We think this contention is not sound. A common carrier has a special title which gives a legal right to the custody of the liquors, before delivery to the consignee, as against one having no right.

Claim sustained. An order to issue from the court in York County for the return of the liquors seized, to the claimant.

Peters, C. J., Walton, Virgin, Haskell and Whiteiiouse, JJ., concurred.