Brinkley v. State

125 Tenn. 371

• Court: Tennessee Supreme Court
• Decided: December 15, 1911
• Status: Published

Opinion

Mr. Justice Lansden

delivered the opinion of the Court.

The plaintiff in error was indicted in the circuit court of Warren county at its May term, 1911, for the unlawful sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage within four miles of a schoolhouse where school is kept. The defendant filed a plea of former acquittal, and, upon the determination of the issues raised by this plea against him by the trial judge without the intervention of a jury, he entered his plea of not guilty. A trial was had by the court and jury, which resulted in a verdict of guilty, and a judgment of fine and imprisonment, from which he has appealed and assigned errors. On the trial before the jury, the State offered in evidence a copy of the record in the office of the internal revenue collector of the United States for the district of Tennessee, showing that the plaintiff in error had paid the internal revenue special tax as a retail malt liquor dealer on Main street, McMinnville, Tennessee, from September 1, 1910, to June 30,1911. This record, together with proof that the place of business of the plaintiff in error was within four miles of a schoolhouse where school is kept, is all the proof that was offered in behalf of the State. Plaintiff in error did not testify in his own behalf, but introduced the county court clerk, who testified that he issued a distress warrant against the plaintiff in error, which was placed in the hands of the sheriff, and the plaintiff in error’s place of business was closed by the sheriff on Saturday, November 5, 1910, and the sheriff locked up the house, and on the following Monday, November 7th, the witness and others invoiced the stock of goods of the plaintiff in error found in his place of business. There was a stock of beerette, coca-cola, soda fount, ice box, glasses, counter or bar, whch looked like an old saloon bar, a mirror, two pool tables, and a screen in front of the door. The counter was up towards the front door, and the poolroom in the rear of the house. No intoxicating liquors were found. Two or three empty whisky bottles were found upstairs in plaintiff in error’s house, where there was a bed. The beerette looked and tasted like beer, according to tlie evidenc of plaintiff in error’s witnesses; bnt there is no proof that it was intoxicating.

Chapter 355, acts of 1903, provides in the first section thereof as follows:

“That in all prosecutions for a violation of the law prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors within four miles of a school house, commonly known as the “four mile law,” the fact that defendant has paid the internal revenue special tax, as a retail liquor dealer or is in possession of an internal revenue tax stamp as a retail liquor dealer, shall be prima ,facde evidence of sales of intoxicating liquors within the meaning of the four mile law, during the time for which he has paid the internal revenue special tax, or that is covered by the internal revenue special tax stamp possessed by him: Provided, revenue license in this act shall not be construed to mean license for use of manufacturers and druggists or others in manufacturing or compounding or otherwise than for use in sale at retail under State law.”

Chapter 384 of the Acts of 1909 provides in the first section thereof as follows:

“That in all prosecutions for violation of the laws of this State prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors, copies of the records in the office of the internal revenue collector of the United States for the district of Tennessee, showing that the defendant has paid the internal revenue special tax as a liquor dealer, or showing the issuance to the defendant of an internal revenue special tax stamp, shall be admitted as competent evi-deuce, -when such copies are certified to be full, true aud complete by the district internal revenue collector.”

Copy of the record from the office of the internal revenue collector, introduced by the State and relied upon as making a prima facie case of guilt, is as follows:

“Name, Brinkley, J. W. Business, retail malt liquor dealer. Place, McMinnville, Tenn., Main street. From what time, September 1 — 10. Amount of tax, $16.67. Date of payment or issue of certificate, Sept. 30 — 10. Serial number of stamp, 12504.”

“I, W. A. Dunlap, collector of internal revenue for the district of Tennessee, hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, true, and complete copy of entries on record 10 in my office, showing the payment by special tax payers in Warren county of special tax of liquor dealers for the period from July, 1910, to June 30, 1911.

“Witness my hand and seal of office, at office in the city of Nashville, Tennessee, this 5th day of August, 1911'.

“W. A. Dunlap,

“Collector of Internal Revenue, Disk of Tenn.,

“By E. S. Priest, Chief Clerk.”

The learned trial judge gave the following instructions to the jury:

“The State has introduced and read to you a certified transcript of the record of the issuance of federal’liquor license or tax stamp in Warren county, Tenn., and I instruct you that this transcript is competent evidence, and that it shows that the defendant on September 30, 1910, paid $16.67 for, and received, a certificate from the United States government authorizing him to engage in the business of a retail malt liquor dealer on Main street, in McMinnville, Tenn., from September 1, 1910, to June 30, 1911.

“I further instruct you, in the language of the statute', chapter 855 of the Acts of 1903, that in all prosecutions for a violation of the law prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors within four miles of a schoolhouse, commonly known as the four mile law, the fact that defendant has paid the internal revenue special tax as a retail liquor dealer, or is in possession of an internal revenue tax stamp as a retail liquor dealer, shall be prima, facie evidence of sales of intoxicating'liquor within the meaning of the four mile law, during the time for which he has paid the internal revenue special tax, or that is covered by the internal revenue special tax stamp, possessed by him.

“I further instruct you that the term liquor,’ used in said statute, is a general term, comprehending and including the different kinds of intoxicating liquors, Avhich are classed and designated as spirituous, vinous, and malt intoxicating liquors, as charged in the indictment in this cause. What is meant by ‘spirituous liquors’ is distilled liquor, such as whisky and brandy; what is meant by ‘vinous liquors’ is liquor made from the grape, etc., such as wine; and what is meant by ‘malt liquors’ is liquor made from malt, such as beer, malt, etc.

“Consequently you are instructed that the federal internal revenue special tax stamp shown to have been issued'to defendant merely authorized him to sell malt liquor; and, while the possession of such a license is prima facie evidence of sales of malt intoxicating liquors during the time he possessed such federal license, yet it is not prima facie evidence of sales of spirituous or vinous liquors, or that he exercised the privilege of a dealer in spirituous or vinous intoxicating liquors.

“However, you are instructed that such presumption arising from the possession of federal license or internal revenue special tax stamp may be rebutted by such proof as satisfies you that the defendant did not make any sales of malt intoxicating liquor on the date- charged in the indictment, or by such proof as raises in your minds a reasonable doubt as to whether he made such sales on the date stated.

“Applying the law to the facts in this case, you are instructed that if you find'from the proof, and believe beyond a reasonable doubt, that the defendant retailed or sold malt intoxicating liquors on the date charged in the indictment, and in Warren county, Tenn., and within four miles of a sclioolhouse where a school was kept, then he would be guilty as charged, and you should so find.

“On the other hand, if there is a reasonable doubt in your minds as to defendant’s guilt as charged, you should acquit him.”

The assignments in the court, which will be considered in this opinion, are that chapter 355, Acts of 1903, is unconstitutional, because it violated section 16 of article 1 of the constitution of this State, forbidding excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel or unusual imnishments. For this reason, it is said that a person may be convicted, and imprisoned for life by such evidence for a series of small misdemeanors, providing for a jail sentence of six months, if he should have such license issued to him for six months or more, because an indictment would lie, and a conviction could be had, upon the evidence of the license for each day during the period the license had to run, and also because the legislature has no power by legislative act to declare the possession of such a license to be prima facie evidence of guilt, as this would, in effect, be declaring a thing to be that which in truth and in fact it is not.

It is also said this legislation is unconstitutional as class legislation, because it excepts from its provisions druggists and others who handle it and manufacturers who make intoxicating liquors;

1. This court has never declared void an act of the legislature under the sixteenth section of the Bill of Rights, forbidding excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishments, in any reported case known to us. In State v. Lasater, 9 Baxt., 587, the power of the court to do so in any case was doubted, but not determined. In Parks v. Railroad Co., 13 Lea, 8, 49 Am. Rep., 655, the power of the court to declare such a statute void was assumed in the opinion of Cooper, J., but not decided. However, we think that the profession generally understands, and the clear weight of modern authority is, that the courts have such power under section 16 of the Bill of Rights, and in a proper case presenting the question, it Avould lie tlieir undoubted duty to do so. Loeb v. Jennings, 133 Ga., 796, 67 S. E., 101; 18 Am. & Eng. Ann. Cas., 376. Still, under all of the authorities, it cannot be doubted that the act assailed in this case does not fall within the prohibition of this section of the constitution.

Plaintiff in error, in taking out the federal license au-. thorizing him to retail malt liquor, was not seeking to redress any wrong done him in his person or property, nor was it in furtherance of his right to pursue an occupation guaranteed him under the law. The license Avas taken with full knowledge upon his part that the act of paying the fees, or being possession of.the stamp, would raise a presumption sufficient to support a conviction of crime under the laws of this State. While the license would protect him against the federal government in the pursuit of the occupation authorized by it under the laAvs of that government, it at the same time brought him into direct conflict with the laws of this State, and created a presumption that he was violating the law. against the sale of intoxicants. The mere fact that he might be indicted, fined, and punished for each day that he Avas in possession of the license does not make the fines excessive, or the punishment cruel and unusual. The conditions which produce the fines and punishments are created by his act alone. A fine and imprisonment for a single offense under this statute is not claimed to be excessive, or cruel and unusual. Whether there should be other fines and imprisonments is wholly within the power of plaintiff in error. Therefore, if the con-tinned violation of this law should result in excessive fines and cruel and unusual punishments, it is not the act of the government, but is the voluntary act of plaintiff in error. ' The license could be surrendered at any time and the penalties of the law avoided.

2. This act is not vicious class legislation, because oi the exception in favor of druggists and others who handle intoxicating liquors and manufacturers who make them. It is not unlawful for druggists to sell for other than beverage purposes, or to compound medicines with intoxicating liquors, and, at the date of the passage of this act, it was not unlawful for manufacturers to malee them. Instead of vitiating the act, the exception saves it. The legislature could not have made the possession of a license from the federal government prima facie evidence of guilt, when the thing authorized by the federal government was likewise authorized by the State government. There was no law to violate, and no crime to commit, by druggists and manufacturers, by the mere fact of handling and compounding by the one and manufacturing intoxicating liquors by the other. Kelly v. State, 123 Tenn., 544, 132 S. W., 193; Lindsley v. National Carbonic Gas Co., 220 U. S., 78, 31 Sup. Ct., 337, 55 L. Ed., 377, and authorities there cited.

3. It is not beyond the power of the legislature to declare the possession of federal internal revenue license by one engaged in business within four miles of a schoolhouse where school is kept prima facie evidence of guilt under an indictment for violating the four-mile law. A similar statute was held valid by this court in Diamond v. State, 123 Tenn., 348, 131 S. W., 666. Tlie general power of the legislature to prescribe rules of evidence and methods of proof can no longer be doubted under modern authority. That this power has its constitutional limitations was stated in Diamond v. State, supra. Such a law, having for its effect a denial of the party charged of the right to rebut and overcome the presumption created by it, would be void. So would a law which made an act prima facie evidence of crime over which the party charged had no control, and with which he had no connection; or which made an act prima facie evidence of crime which had no relation to a criminal act, and no tendency of itself to prove the ultimate fact of guilt. But so long as such a law leaves the party charged fair opportunity to make his defense, and to submit all the facts to the court and jury, to be weighed by them upon all evidence within his control legitimately bearing upon them, and so long as the fact from which guilt is to be inferred has a direct and open connection with the ultimate fact of guilt, it is not vio-lative of any constitutional right of the accused. Meadowcroft v. People, 163 Ill., 56, 45 N. E., 991, 35 L. R. A., 176, 54 Am. St. Rep., 447; Auburn Excise Com’rs v. Merchant, 103 N. Y., 143, 8 N. E., 484, 57 A. M. Rep., 705; People v. Cannon, 139 N. Y., 32, 34 N. E., 759, 36 Am. St. Rep., 668; Adams v. N. Y., 192 U. S., 585, 24 Sup. Ct., 372, 48 L. Ed., 575; Horne v. Memphis & O. R. Co., 1 Cold., 72; State v. Thomas, 144 Ala., 77, 40 South., 271, 2 L. R. A. (N. S.), 1011, 113 Am. St. Rep., 17, 6 Am. & Eng. Ann. Cas., 744; M., J. & K. C. R. Co. v. Tur-nipsced, 219 U. S., 42, 31 Sup. Ct., 137, 55 L. Ed., 80, 32 L. R. A. (N. S.), 226.

In the last case cited, Mr. Justice Lurton, speaking for the court, stated the rule thus:

“The law of evidence is full of presumptions either of fact or law. The former are, of course, disputable, and the strength of any inference of one fact from proof of another depends upon the generality of the experience upon which it is founded. . . .

“Legislation providing that proof of one fact shall constitute prima facie- evidence of the main fact in issue is hut to enact a rule of evidence, and quite within the general power of government. Statutes, national and State, dealing with such methods of proof in both civil and criminal cases, abound, and the decisions upholding them are numerous.”

There is a direct and open connection between the possession of a federal license authorizing the retail sale of intoxicating liquors and the ultimate fact of such sale. The interests of men are such, and experience teaches, that they do not ordinarily incur the expense and trouble of procuring license to engage in the sale of intoxicants, unless they intend to do so. Apart from the statute making the possession of such license prima facie evidence of the fact of a sale, the inference might well be drawn, in the- absence of all rebutting proof, that one who pays the fees and possesses himself of such license is engaged in the sale of intoxicants,

4. The sale laid in the presentment is of date October 20, 1910. It was objected at the trial below that the certificate of the collector of internal revenue could not be considered as part of the record authorized by chapter 384, Acts of 190’9'j as evidence that plaintiff in error had paid the internal revenue special tax as a liquor dealer, and that the copy of the record to which the certificate is attached fails to show that the tax had been paid for the time covering the date alleged in the presentment. This exception is immaterial. The record produced, to which there is no exception, shows that the beginning of plaintiff in error’s license was September 10, 1910, and the amount paid was $16.67, which, under the law, would indisputably extend the time beyond October 20th, the date laid in the indictment. In addition, the trial judge charged the jury, without exception, that the transcript of the record showing the issuance of the federal liquor license, or tax stamp, to plaintiff in error “shows that the defendant on September 10, 1910, paid $16.67 for, and received, a certificate from the United States government, authorizing him to engage in the business of a retail malt liquor dealer,” etc., and there is no assignment of error to this part of the charge in this court. But, as stated, we think the trial judge correctly construed the meaning of the record.

5. We have fully set out in this opinion the charge of the learned circuit judge construing chapter 855, Acts of 1903, because it is a plain, clear, accurate statement of the meaning of that statute as applied to the facts of this case. The meaning of the statute is so obvious, and is so clearly stated in the charge of his honor, that nothing can be added to strengthen it.

6. It is earnestly insisted that the. evidence stated in this opinion rebuts the prima facie- case made against the plaintiff in error by the introduction of the record showing the payment of the stamp tax to the federal government. All of the testimony offered by plaintiff in error amounts to nothing more than a failure to show that a sale was made. The fact that five or six witnesses say that they have patronized him, and never purchased intoxicants from him; the fact that he had no intoxicating liquors in-stock at the time his house was closed under the distress warrant; the fact that he was in possession of nonintoxicating beverages — all of these facts do not prove, and can hardly be said to tend to prove, that he had not sold intoxicating liquors within four miles of a schoolhouse. The inquiry in this court is not whether he is guilty, but whether he is innocent. The burden of showing this is cast upon him, not only by the verdict of the jury, approved by the circuit judge, but also by the statute' which expressly makes the possession of the retail liquor dealer’s license, or the payment of the stamp tax, prima, facie evidence of guilt. It is not even shown that plaintiff in error is a man of good character, and therefore his character cannot be a witness for him to rebut the case made by the State. He does not testify himself, nor does any one testify who had charge of the business and conducted all of the sales made by and for him.

7. It appears that plaintiff in error was indicted prior to the return of the presentment in this case for the same offense, and that, upon the trial before the circuit judge without the intervention of a jury, the State offered as evidence the record hereinbefore set out, w3 fch-out producing any evidence that plaintiff in error’s place of business was within four miles of a schoolhouse. The circuit judge acquitted the defendant upon the ground that it was not shown that his place of business was within four miles of a schoolhouse. This judgment was pleaded in this case in bar of this prosecution. The trial judge overruled the plea, and in this he was correct. As insisted by counsel for plaintiff in error under another assignment, he is guilty of an offense for every day of the time covered by the payment of the special stamp tax; and each day that he claims the privilege granted and the immunities guaranteed by the payment of this tax is prima facie evidence of a separate offense. The first jn’esentment charged that the defendant was guilty of violating the four-mile law on the-day of September, 1910, and the presentment in the case in hand charged that he was guilty of the same offense on the 20th day of October, '1910. This is a continuing offense, and the determination that he was not guilty on one day is not a bar to a prosecution for the same offense alleged to have been committed upon another and different day. This is conceded by counsel, in effect, when it‘is urged here that the act of 1903 violates section 16 of the Bill of Rights, because plaintiff in error may be comdcted of an offense for every day covered by the period of time for Avhich he paid the special stamp tax. A mere statement of the proposition is its OAvn answer.

There is no error in the record, and the case is affirmed.