Burnstein v. United States

55 F.2d 599, 1932 U.S. App. LEXIS 3770
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
DecidedJanuary 18, 1932
DocketNo. 6441
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 55 F.2d 599 (Burnstein v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Burnstein v. United States, 55 F.2d 599, 1932 U.S. App. LEXIS 3770 (9th Cir. 1932).

Opinion

WILBUR, Circuit Judge.

The appellants were convicted of a violation of the National Prohibition Aet by selling, for beverage purposes, nine drinks of a medicinal preparation containing more than •one-half of one per cent, of alcohol. The evidence showed that the particular preparation involved was known as Amargo Bitters, containing about 47 per cent, alcohol by volume. The label on the bottles stated 47 per cent, and the government chemist testified that he found 46 and a fraction per cent. The chemist also testified that the bitters contained emodin, which is a derivative of rhubarb, cascara, and senna, and also contained cascara, senna, rhubarb, and that although he made no attempt to identify the aromatics •contained therein he judged they consisted of ginger, cloves, and other aromatics. Emodin, he testified, was a cathartic. The bottle containing the bitters states:

“These exquisite Bitters prepared on application of Angostura Bark, distinguished by exceptionally pleasant flavour and taste, have been approved by the public in every country, where they have been sent, on account of their'excellent quality and purity and do not need any particular recommendation.

“These famous Bitters are known all over the world for use in all eases, in which aromatic Bitters are wanted.

“Guaranteed to contain no harmful drugs, only the most wholesome vegetable ingredients.

“Manufactured since 1877 in Hamburg. None Genuine without signature and cork-brand. Reg. U. S. A. Pat. Off. Egon Braun Amargo Bitters. Net contents 8 El. Oz. Contains 47% alcohol by volume. Made in Germany.”

The proceedings wore instituted by the filing of an information by the district attorney for a misdemeanor under the provisions of Criminal Code, § 335, as amended December 16,1930, e. 15, 46 Stat. 1029 (18 USCA § 54.1). The information alleges that the appellants: “* * * did knowingly, wilfully, and unlawfully sell for beverage purposes to S. W. Brooks, a medicinal preparation, towit, nine (9) drinks of bitters, containing alcohol in excess of one-half of one per cent by volume, at and for the agreed price of two and 25/100 dollars ($2.25); in violation of section 4, title II of the National Prohibition Act of October 2:8, 1919, as amended.”

It should be observed at this juncture that the definition of “intoxicating liquor” contained in 27 USCA § 4, section 1, tit. 2, 41 Stat. 307, includes all liquor, “whether medicated, proprietary, patented, or not, and by whatever name called, containing one-half of 1 per centum or more of alcohol by volume which are fit for use for beverage purposes,” while medicated preparations which are unfit for beverage purposes are expressly excepted from the above definition and also from the general provisions of the National Prohibition Act relating to intoxicating liquor. 27 USCA § 13, section 4, tit. 2, National Prohibition Aet, 41 Stat. 309, provides: “The articles enumerated in this section shall not, after having been manufactured and prepared for the market, be subject to the provisions of this chapter if they correspond with the following descriptions and limitations, namely: * * * (d) Toilet, medicinal, and antiseptic preparations and solutions that are unfit for use for beverage purposes.”

It is, however, by that section made unlawful to sell for beverage purposes those medicinal preparations which are “unfit for use for beverage purposes.” It is provided in section 13 that: “Any person who shall knowingly sell any of the articles mentioned in paragraphs * * * d of this section for beverage purposes, * * * shall be subject to the penalties provided in section 46 of this chapter.” The question of the punishment will be considered later in the opinion, although it should be stated at this juncture that the punishment for selling intoxicating liquor originally fixed by section 46 (27 US CA § 46, section 20, tit. 2, 41 Stat. 316) has been increased' by the amendment of 1920 known as the Jones Aet, 45 Stat. 1446, as amended January 15, 1931, c. 20, 46 Stat. 1036 (27 USCA § 91), increasing the penalty for the sale of intoxicating liquor to $10,000, or imprisonment not to exceed five years, or both, where the sale exceeds one gallon; the punishment for violation is a fine of not to exceed $500, or confinement in jail not to exceed six months, or both, where the sale is of less than a gallon.

Appellee states that appellants are in error when they state that the appellee in the trial court proceeded upon the theory that Amargo Bitters was an intoxicating liquor and that the only issue involved was whether or not defendants actually sold the govern[602]*602ment agent Amargo Bitters, as testified to by said agent. The appellee states that the sole question involved in the case was: “Did the defendants knowingly sell for beverage purposes a medicinal preparation, to-wit: several drinks of bitters, unfit for beverage purposes, in violation of section 4, title II of the National Prohibition Act; that this is the true issue involved is borne out by the fact that the case was presented by an information instead of by an indictment as would have been necessary had the government proeeeded under the theory that the sales complained of were of intoxicating liquor fit for beverage purposes.”

Appellee states: “Had the government proceeded upon that theory it would have been necessary and material for the government to have proven: 1st, that the sales were made by the defendants; 2nd, that the same was intoxicating; 3rd, that the intoxicating liquor thus sold was fit for and sold for beverage purposes. Had this course been followed and the government proceeded on the theory that what was in fact sold was an intoxicating liquor, a great deal of the evidenee, excluded from the consideration of the jury on behalf of the defendants would have been material as a defense.”

It wdl be observed at the.outset that the question of whether or not the Amargo Bitters were fit for beverage purposes was of vital importance m the ease in determining the evidence, the procedure, the instructions, and the punishment. If the bitters were fit for beverage purposes, it is only necessary to establish the fact that a sale hád been made. If the bitters were not fit for beverage purposes, it is essential not only to show a sale but also to show that a sale was made for beverage purposes. The information did not allege that the bitter» alleged to have been sold were intoxicating liquor, nor did it allege that the bitters were fit for beverage purpoc,es

It appears from the evidence that appellant Burnstein is the owner and proprietor of a large restaurant at 1555 North Yine street, in Hollywood, Cal. The restaurant is equipped 'in the usual fashion with rows of tables, booths, counters, cash registers,' etc. It appears that three witnesses, A. M. Sheets, a government agent, his wife, Lillian Sheets, and an agent named S. W. Brooks, went to the restaurant and were escorted to a booth by appellant McNeil. Agent Sheets testified as follows: “We were escorted to a booth by Mr. MeNeil and he brought us menú cards. I told him we wanted to get three shots of bitters. He said ‘all right’ and left the booth, He returned in two or three minutes and brought us three small glasses of bitters, They looked like whisky glasses, and three-small glasses of near-beer as chasers. We drank those and he returned and asked if we wanted some more; I told him yes, we would take another one, so he took the glasses up-and returned with three more.

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Bluebook (online)
55 F.2d 599, 1932 U.S. App. LEXIS 3770, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/burnstein-v-united-states-ca9-1932.