Nichols v. State

287 S.W. 190, 171 Ark. 987, 1926 Ark. LEXIS 560
CourtSupreme Court of Arkansas
DecidedOctober 18, 1926
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 287 S.W. 190 (Nichols v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Arkansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Nichols v. State, 287 S.W. 190, 171 Ark. 987, 1926 Ark. LEXIS 560 (Ark. 1926).

Opinion

Hart, J.

Lillie Nichols filed a petition for a- writ of certiorari in this court to quash, a judgment of contempt against her in the circuit court.

The record shows that, on the 14th day of April, 1926, the circuit court, on the relation of the prosecuting attorney, found that a building occupied by Lillie Nichols was a public nuisance. The record recites that the State was represented by the prosecuting attorney, and that the defendant appeared in person and by attorney, and that the court found, upon the oral evidence introduced, that the place occupied by the defendant was a public nuisance and that said nuisance should be abated. It was adjudged that the defendant be restrained from further using said premises for the purpose of selling liquor or for storing liquor therein.

On the 8th day of July, 1926, the circuit court entered of record an order directing the circuit clerk to issue a citation to the defendant to appear'in court on July 12, 1926, to show cause why she should not be punished for contempt. The record recites that the prosecuting attorney asked for the citation for contempt against the defendant because she had refused to comply with the order of the court enjoining her from further engaging in the sale of liquor or for storing liquor in a certain-building occupied by her as a dwelling-house and store on the Mount Ida-Hot Springs Highway, in Garland County, Arkansas.

An order of the circuit court of July 17,1926, recites that the State of Arkansas appeared by the prosecuting' attorney, and the defendant in her own proper person, and the court proceeded to hear the testimony of-witnesses on the citation for contempt. The order further recites that the case is continued for further testimony.

On the 13th day of August, 1926, the prosecuting attorney caused to be filed by the circuit clerk, in the- case of State of Arkansas v. Lillie Nichols, in the Garland Circuit Court, the following:

“Notice of Citation for Contempt. You are hereby-notified that the undersigned, as prosecuting attorney of the 18th Judicial District, will on this day present: evidence to the Garland Circuit Court showing a violation of the permanent injunction heretofore granted against the place now occupied by you,' and against yourself, showing that you have violated the liquor law of this State, and therefore are in contempt of said court. You are notified to be present and show cause, if any, why you should not be punished in accordance with the laws for such contempt. ¥m, G. Bouic, Pros. Atty.”

The return of the sheriff shows that the citation was served on the 13th day of August, 1926, -by bringing Lillie Nichols before the circuit court of Garland County. On the same day the circuit court, in the case of the State of Arkansas v. Lillie Nichols, entered of record the following order or judgment: ‘ ‘ On this day is presented to the court the citation of the prosecuting attorney of the 18th Judicial District, charging the defendant with being guilty of contempt of court for having violated an injunction issued against the defendant heretofore on the 14th day of April, 1926, wherein the defendant was enjoined from the further engaging in the sales of intoxicating liquors on the premises where she resides, in Garland County, Arkansas; and comes the defendant in • proper person and enters’ her denial to the facts alleged in said citation; thereupon the court proceeds to hear the testimony of witnesses on behalf of the State and defendant, and, after the conclusion thereof and due consideration of same, the court finds as follows: That heretofore, on the 14th day of April, 1926, the premises now occupied by the defendant was declared to be a nuisance, and the defendant was then perpetually enjoined from further engaging in the sales of intoxicating liquors, and that, since said order was issued, the defendant has violated said judgment of the court, and has- been engaging in the sales of intoxicating liquors on said premises; and it is thereupon by the court considered, ordered and adjudged that the defendant is in contempt of court; and it is further by the court considered, ordered and adjudged that the punishment of the defendant be fixed at confinement for a period of six months in the county jail of Garland County, to which she is committed.”

At the outset, in the discussion of the principles of law involved, it may be stated that the circuit court had jurisdiction to grant the restraining order of April 14, ■ 1926, referred to above, and to adjudge the defendant guilty of contempt for disobedience of the order.

Under § 6196 of Crawford & Moses’ Digest, the carrying on or engaging in the illegal sale of intoxicating liquors in any building is declared to be a public nuisance, which may be abated.

Section 6197 confers jurisdiction upon the circuit court, upon the relation of the Attorney General or prosecuting attorney, to abate such nuisance.

Section 6201 provides that if, upon the trial of a case under the act, .the existence of the nuisance be establisted, the judgment of the court shall perpetually enjoin the defendant from conducting, continuing or maintaining such nuisance.

Section 6202 provides that, if any person shall violate any permanent injunction under the provisions of the-act, he shall be subject to punishment for contempt, and upon conviction shall be imprisoned in the county jail for not less than thirty days nor more than six months, and may also be fined in any sum not exceeding $50. x

In Hickey v. State, 123 Ark. 180, 184 S. W. 459, it was held that a defendant may be restrained from maintaining a public nuisance in violation of the provisions of the act. In Adams v. State, 153 Ark. 202, 240 S. W. 5, it was held that the circuit court had jurisdiction, under the act, to restrain a person from selling intoxicating liquors in his home, and that disobedience to the order subjected the guilty party to proceedings for contempt and punishment thereunder. It follows that the circuit court had jurisdiction of the subject-matter and the authority to make the particular order or judgment now complained of, upon obtaining jurisdiction of the person of the defendant.

It will be noted that, under the provisions of the statute above cited, proceedings for contempt, in cases, of this sort, are criminal in their nature, and the prosecuting attorney is one of the officers who may conduct proceedings for the State under the act. The contempt complained of was not committed in the presence of the court, and, under the ancient rule of reason and natural justice, the offending party should be proceeded against upon the affidavit of some one with knowledge of the facts, or upon information of the prosecuting attorney who instituted the proceedings for the State in the first place. Where information is filed by the prosecuting attorney, his official oath is sufficient, and no further verification is necessary. Poindexter v. State, 109 Ark. 179, 159 S. W. 197.

Other cases holding that a formal presentation by a sworn prosecuting officer is a sufficient verification to justify judicial action are the following: Hurley v. Commonwealth, 188 Mass. 443, 74 N. E. 677, 3 Am. Cas. 757; Welch v. Barber, 52 Conn. 147; Ex parte Wright, 65 Ind. 504; and State v. Ackerson, 25 N. J. L.

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Related

Brown v. State
173 S.W.2d 1016 (Supreme Court of Arkansas, 1943)
Digiacomo v. State
105 S.W.2d 78 (Supreme Court of Arkansas, 1937)
Sullivan v. State
83 S.W.2d 824 (Supreme Court of Arkansas, 1935)

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Bluebook (online)
287 S.W. 190, 171 Ark. 987, 1926 Ark. LEXIS 560, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/nichols-v-state-ark-1926.