Campbell v. State

87 N.E. 212, 171 Ind. 702, 1909 Ind. LEXIS 114
CourtIndiana Supreme Court
DecidedFebruary 24, 1909
DocketNo. 21,162
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 87 N.E. 212 (Campbell v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Campbell v. State, 87 N.E. 212, 171 Ind. 702, 1909 Ind. LEXIS 114 (Ind. 1909).

Opinion

Myers, J.

Action by the State under the act of February 13, 1907 (Acts 1907, p. 27, §8337 et seq. Burns 1908) for a search-warrant, instituted upon affidavit charging that appellant has in his possession, and at and in his outbuildings and dwelling-house situate on a described tract of land in Albion township, Noble county, Indiana, intoxicating liquors, which are being kept by him for the purpose of being sold and bartered away -in less quantities than five gallons at a time to be used as a beverage, in violation of the laws of the State of Indiana, he having no license authorizing him to sell intoxicating liquors in less quantities than five gallons at a time to be used as a beverage at or in any place, and that such liquors are being kept in said place for the unlawful purposes set forth. Upon the filing of this affidavit before a justice of the peace, a warrant, accompanied by a copy of the affidavit, issued for the search of the premises, and taking into possession. The warrant was served on appellant, and search made, and seven boxes of bottled beer found on the premises, and taken possession of'by the constable, and return made accordingly. This occurred in the early morning of September 12, 1907. At 1 o’clock p. m. of the same day appellant by his attorney appeared specially before the justice, and objected to the jurisdiction of the [705]*705court ‘ ‘ over him, as there had been no warrant or other writ issued or served on him in this cause to appear in this cause, and asked that said cause be therefore dismissed for want of jurisdiction.” The_ motion to dismiss was overruled, and the defendant entered “his appearance to this action, and to the affidavit filed on behalf of the plaintiff herein.” A trial was had, and judgment rendered for the destruction of the liquors so seized, and for costs. Appellant appealed to the circuit court and filed his bond, which was approved, and the cause was certified to the circuit court, where on October 8, 1907, appellant by his attorneys entered “their appearance herein for said defendant in this cause; and said defendant now moves to quash the affidavit against him in this cause, and to dismiss the proceedings.” This motion was overruled October 9, and appellant excepted. The cause came on for trial October 23, 1907, and appellant moved “for a trial of this cause by a jury,” which motion was overruled. Upon trial in the circuit court the court found for the plaintiff and entered a decree for the destruction of the liquors, and for costs, and a fee of $7 to the prosecuting attorney.

Appellant filed his motion and causes for a new trial, in which he assigns error of the court in assuming jurisdiction of the defendant and of the cause, in refusing to dismiss the proceedings, in refusing to quash the affidavit, and in refusing to grant appellant a jury .trial. Said motion also alleges that the decision and judgment are contrary to the law and contrary to the evidence. Other assignments are made that the judgment and decision are not fairly supported by the evidence, and are against the weight of the evidence.

1. Appellant presents first the point that no-person can be deprived of his property without a judicial hearing after due notice, and that no degree of wrong or misconduet can justify the forfeiture of property except in pursuance of some judicial .procedure, in which the [706]*706owner has the right to be heard, and. that forfeitures of property cannot be adjudged by legislative acts without judicial hearing after notice. We agree with the learned counsel as to this general proposition. The difficulty is that no such question is here presented. This proceeding is in the nature of a libel, a proceeding strictly in rem, and is entirely distinct from the offense prescribed by §§8337, 8339, supra. Regadanz v. State (1908), ante, 387, and cases cited; Rose v. State (1909), ante, 662, and cases cited.

2. 3. Section 8338, supra, and the succeeding sections provide a system of procedure in cases where, as here, the action is against the thing. It will be observed that by §8338, supra, the procedure is the same as in case of seareh-wárrants “as now provided by law.” Former statutes respecting search-warrants were simply in aid of the criminal law, in which destruction could only follow conviction of a criminal offense; but this act provides for the condemnation of the thing itself, and its destruction, without any other punishment as to its owner or possessor, than the destruction of the property or thing.' Section 8338, supra, and the succeeding sections provide a system of procedure for the.subject. By §8342, supra, it is provided that if no one is found in possession of the premises where such liquors are found, claiming ownership of said liquors and vessels, and if no one asserts or claims title to the same, the property shall be taken, and a copy of the warrant posted in a conspicuous place on the building or premises. A notice of the time for hearing shall .also be posted. If at the time fixed no person or persons appear to claim such liquors, etc., they shall be ordered destroyed. One who enters his appearance as a claimant of the property cannot object to defects in or omission of notice. State v. Brennan’s Liquors (1856), 25 Conn. 278; State v. Miller (1859), 48 Me. 576; State v. Learned (1859), 47 Me. 426; Commonwealth v. Certain Intoxicating Liquors (1866), 13 Allen [707]*707(Mass.) 561; Commonwealth v. Certain Intoxicating Liquors (1863), 6 Allen (Mass.) 596.

4. This act is not very full as to the question of hearing, but it is not to be- taken as standing alone and presenting a complete system, unconnected with other acknowledged methods of procedure, but other statutes may be looked to. It is a statutory proceeding, governed by the rules of civil actions so far as applicable. Rose v. State, supra; Humphries v. Davis (1885), 100 Ind. 274, 50 Am. Rep. 788; Crawfordsville, etc., Turnpike Co. v. Fletcher (1885), 104 Ind. 97; State Board, etc., v. Holliday (1898), 150 Ind. 216, 42 L. R. A. 826; Conn v. Board, etc. (1898), 151 Ind. 517.

5. The notice by posting provided is constructive notice, and is notice to all persons claiming an interest in the property. The matter of notice in such cases is a legislative one, and constructive notice is sufficient. Regadanz v. State, supra; Murphy v. Beard (1894), 138 Ind. 560; Voris v. Pittsburg Plate Glass Co. (1904), 163 Ind. 599; Santo v. State (1855), 2 Iowa 165, 63 Am. Dec. 487.

1. Such proceeding is entirely distinct from a prosecution against the person. Regadanz v. State, supra; State v. Derry (1908), ante, 18; State v. McCann (1873), 61 Me. 116; State v. McManus (1902), 65 Kan. 720, 70 Pac. 700; State v. Miller, supra; State v. Learned, supra.

[708]*7086. [707]*707It appears from the record that appellant' appeared specially before the justice, and .objected to jurisdiction of his person, on the ground that no warrant or other writ had been issued or served on him, and asked to have the cause dismissed for want of jurisdiction.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Carithers v. District of Columbia
326 A.2d 798 (District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 1974)
Smith v. Indiana State Board of Health
303 N.E.2d 50 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1973)
Beautygard Manufacturing Co. v. Geeslin
266 N.E.2d 61 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1971)
McKEE v. HASLER
98 N.E.2d 657 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1951)
Miller v. Miller
46 N.W.2d 618 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1951)
Nebraska Mid-State Reclamation District v. Hall County
41 N.W.2d 397 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1950)
State Ex Rel. Newkirk v. Sullivan Circuit Court
88 N.E.2d 326 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1949)
Town of Walkerton v. New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad
18 N.E.2d 799 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1939)
City of Crown Point v. Newcomer
185 N.E. 440 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1933)
Lodyga and Mantych v. State
179 N.E. 542 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1932)
State v. One Certain Ford Coupe Automobile
218 N.W. 345 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1928)
Leininger v. North American National Life Insurance
215 N.W. 167 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1927)
State v. Kelly
187 P. 637 (Montana Supreme Court, 1920)
State v. Great Northern Railway Co.
167 P. 103 (Washington Supreme Court, 1917)
Falender v. Atkins
114 N.E. 965 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1917)
Steward v. State
103 N.E. 316 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1913)
Ransbottom v. State ex rel. Robbins
96 N.E. 762 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1911)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
87 N.E. 212, 171 Ind. 702, 1909 Ind. LEXIS 114, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/campbell-v-state-ind-1909.