O'Leary v. State

44 Ind. 91

• Court: Indiana Supreme Court
• Decided: November 15, 1873
• Status: Published

Opinion

Worden, J.

This was an indictment against the appellant for selling intoxicating liquor to one James Anderson, to be drank on the premises of the appellant, the said James Anderson being in the habit of becoming intoxicated, as the appellant well knew. There was a trial, verdict of guilty, and judgment, over motions for a new trial and in arrest of judgment.

The evidence shows that the defendant was a saloon keeper in the city of Indianapolis ; that he had given orders not to sell to Anderson any liquors; that the liquors sold to him were sold by a bar-tender of the appellant, in the absence of the latter and without his knowledge or consent, and against his express direction.

On this state of facts the conviction cannot be sustained. The same question, in principle, was recently decided in the case of Hanson v. The State, 43 Ind. 550. See, also, the cases of Klare v. The State, 43 Ind. 483, and Anderson v. The State, 39 Ind. 553.

A question is made as to the sufficiency of the indictment. No motion to quash was made, but the question was raised for the first time on the motion in arrest. As we reverse the judgment for error committed in overruling the motion for a new trial, we deem it unnecessary to pursue the record any further, to ascertain whether any error was subsequently committed.

The judgment below is reversed, and the cause remanded for further proceedings.