Casey v. State

6 Mo. 646

• Court: Supreme Court of Missouri
• Decided: September 15, 1840
• Status: Published

Opinion

Opinion of the Court by

Napton, Judge.

In compliance with the duty imposed by the 47th section <of the act “to license and regulate groceries, dram shops and for other purposes',” approved February 13th, 1839, John Brickey, a justice of the peace for Washington county, filed information in writing before Eugene Mara, another justice of the same comity, charging the appellant with having sold wines and liquors, and suffering the same to be drank in his grocery. The offence is specified in the 18th section of the above mentioned act; the summons of the justice in pursuance of the information, advised the appellant Casey, that he was charged with a violation of the section aforesaid, in consequence of which he forfeited to the county of Washington twenty dollars. The summons pursued the form prescribed by the act, a trial was had, witnesses were examined, the defendant was found guilty, and judgment entered against him for twenty dollars and costs. From that judgment the defendant, Casey, appealed to the circuit court, and judgment being again unfavorable he appeals to this court.

In a prosecution instituted under the act concerning “groceries and dram shops,” for suffering1 spirituous liquor to be drank in the grocery of was drank in grocery with defendant, evidence that defendant sold the liquor, and that the same his grocery, is presumptive evidence that the liquor was drank in the-tho permission of defendant.

From the bill of exceptions the following facts appear to have been given in evidence. The defendant was a grocer, at the tim.e of committing the alleged offence, and sold wines and spirituous liquors in quantities less than one quart, and received pay there/or, and the said wines and spirituous liquors were drank at the house of said appellant.

But two objections have been urged in this court to the judgment below.

First, It is objected that the testimony proved the defendant guilty, not only of selling liquors to be drank about his grocery, but also of selling liquors in less quantities than his grocery license authorized. In other words the testimony not only sustained the charge prefered, but also proved the defendant guilty of another violation of the same statute. It is hardly necessary to say, that the defendant has no right to complain on this ground.

It is next urged that the testimony was 'insufficient to convict the defendant of the offence charged, because the State did not prove, that the defendant suffered or permitted the liquor to be drank in his grocery house. The witness proved that the liquor sold by defendant was drank at his house, and' the legal presumption arises, that this was done-' by his permission, as every man is supposed to have a control in his own house. If this was not the fact, the defendant could have shown that he forbade the drinking,, and it was incumbent on him to show the matter of defence.. Judgment affirmed.