People v. Worges

142 N.W. 1100, 176 Mich. 685, 1913 Mich. LEXIS 680
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedSeptember 30, 1913
DocketDocket No. 126
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 142 N.W. 1100 (People v. Worges) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Worges, 142 N.W. 1100, 176 Mich. 685, 1913 Mich. LEXIS 680 (Mich. 1913).

Opinion

Moore, J.

The respondent, a regularly licensed retail dealer in liquors in the village of Mt. Forest, Mich., was informed against for keeping his saloon open after hours on the 20th day of April, 1912. Defendant pleaded not guilty. Upon the trial of said cause by a jury, respondent was convicted and sentence deferred pending appeal to this court.

Mt. Forest is not an incorporated village. The respondent runs a hotel there in connection with his saloon business. The village of Mt. Forest has no police protection outside of one or two constables elected and residing somewhere in the township of Mt. Forest. The population of Mt. Forest proper would not exceed 25.

James P. Hartley, a witness for the people, testified that the saloon was open at 9:25 p. m. and again at 9:40 p. m. Other witnesses on the part of the people testified to the same effect. Later the respondent admitted the saloon was open as stated. The county clerk produced the United States census report for the census of 1910, which showed that the population of the township of Mt. Forest, which includes the village, was 721.

On the part of the defense the following occurred:

“Q. The population of the township has increased since 1910?
“The Court: You need not answer that question. (Defendant excepted.)
“The Court: Just a moment. Mr. Pierce are you proposing to show any enumeration made by anybody as to the number of people or the amount of the population of that township in the year 1912?
“Mr. Pierce: The best I can do on that subject is to show by resident officials of the township that there has been a remarkable increase in population since the time of this census and that the population in 1912 and 1911 exceeded 1,000. I will have evidence upon that branch of the case.
“The Court: I knew you would have evidence on that branch of the case, and you have not answered [687]*687the question that I asked. Are you proposing to prove an enumeration made by somebody on that subject during the year 1912?
“Mr. Pierce.: We have employed nobody to make an enumeration. There has been none made, official or otherwise, that I know of. I don’t know how far that goes — no accurate enumeration, no counting nose by nose of the population, but an estimate based upon examination of conditions and the census and school reports.
“The Court: That is, you propose to prove by inference and by estimate?
“Mr. Pierce: We propose to show by creditable testimony that the opinion of these witnesses is from an examination they made that the population is over 1,000. Of course, there has been no actual enumeration either official or otherwise.
“The Court: Since the last ruling I have examined the liquor statute. The statute for certain purposes fixes the last United States census as the guide as to the amount of population. Now it is a matter of law that there is no State census taken, and it appears in evidence in this case, or it has been stated by counsel for defendant, that there is no claim of any official enumeration of the township since the United States census of 1910. I understand counsel to say that he does not propose to offer any unofficial census or enumeration. Is that right, Mr. Pierce?
“Mr. Pierce: No actual enumeration.
“The Court: If there was an actual census or enumeration offered unofficially, I would consider that question, but inasmuch as none is proposed to be offered I will not pass on that. »* * *
“Mr. Pierce: The court might not be aware of the fact, but it is a fact, which we propose to establish by competent evidence, that the township board passed a resolution authorizing the—
“The Court: I will admit that in evidence when we reach it.
“Mr. Pierce: Then I would like to interrogate the witness as to the time of the passage of that resolution, if, in his judgment, the population did not exceed 1,000 as referred to in the statute.
“The Court: That I would hold as incompetent. That is covered by my previous ruling. You may [688]*688have an exception to all of the ruling I have made on the subject.
“Mr. Pierce: Then, as I understand it, the court overrules my offer to show by this witness that at the time this resolution was passed the township population exceeded 1,000.
“The Court: I exclude the witness’ opinion as to what the population was.
“Mr. Pierce: I take an exception.
“The Court: I wish you to have the benefit of the situation fully. I hold that, on an important question like this as to the amount of the population, the legislature never intended it to be proved by a matter of opinion; that the only competent proof of it that there could be on that subject would be an actual official or unofficial enumeration or census, and that any other testimony on that subject would be incompetent. I hold that the State census or the last United States census or the last State census would be material. I do not know just exactly how I would hold if an official township census of some kind were shown or if an unofficial township census were shown. There is no proof that either of those have been taken, so I withhold my opinion on that, and yet I am strong of the opinion that the law intends to refer the census matter to the last United States census in every case.”

Mr. Ashley G. Rolfe, being duly sworn for the defendant, testified in substance as follows (examined by Mr. Pierce) :

“I have resided in Mt. Forest township for about 17 years. I was highway commissioner for several years of the township of Mt. Forest until this spring, when rny term expired. In my capacity as highway commissioner, my duties called me about the township and in different portions of it.
. “Q- Has there been an increase in population there since 1910 or otherwise?
“Mr. Hitchcock: I object to that as irrelevant.
“A. There is a large—
“The Court: The objection is sustained. * * *
“Mr. Pierce: We offer to show by this witness that the population of Mt. Forest at the time the resolution was passed by the township board, changing the [689]*689hours from ‘7 o’clock in the forenoon until 9 o’clock in the afternoon,’ that at the time that resolution was passed by the township board, giving Mr. Worges upon his petition the privilege of keeping his saloon open ‘from 6 o’clock in the forenoon until 11 o’clock in the afternoon,’ that the population of the township of Mt. Forest was upwards of 1,000 people.
“The Court: Proceed with your testimony. I have understood from you plainly and clearly that you did not propose to offer any census of that, any enumeration.
“The Court to witness:

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

Related

People v. Brown
214 N.W. 935 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1927)
People v. Avery
211 N.W. 349 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1926)
People v. Heikkala
197 N.W. 366 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1924)
People v. Heide
178 N.W. 78 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1920)
People v. Zurek
115 N.E. 644 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1917)
People v. Emmons
144 N.W. 479 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1913)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
142 N.W. 1100, 176 Mich. 685, 1913 Mich. LEXIS 680, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-worges-mich-1913.