Simpson v. State

218 So. 2d 153, 44 Ala. App. 620, 1969 Ala. App. LEXIS 372
CourtAlabama Court of Appeals
DecidedJanuary 21, 1969
Docket8 Div. 191
StatusPublished

This text of 218 So. 2d 153 (Simpson v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Alabama Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Simpson v. State, 218 So. 2d 153, 44 Ala. App. 620, 1969 Ala. App. LEXIS 372 (Ala. Ct. App. 1969).

Opinion

PRICE, Presiding Judge.

Appellant was convicted in the County Court of Marshall County of the offense of illegal possession of prohibited liquors. Title 29, Sec. 98, Code 1940.

Trial was by the Court without a jury. Punishment was a fine of $500.00 and six months hard labor for Marshall County.

The testimony for the State was that deputies of the Sheriff of Marshall County, Stone and Bearden, executed a search warrant by searching defendant’s home on December 29, 1867; that they found in the kitchen 1 pint of Vodka, 2 pints of bonded whiskey and five cans of beer. It was “state tax paid whiskey.”

The search of the house revealed defendant and his wife, both fully clothed, standing in the bathtub with the shower curtain drawn around them.

Defendant’s wife testified that Willie Simpson, defendant’s brother, brought two pints of bonded whiskey into the house about thirty minutes before the officers [622]*622came and that the Vodka and beer belonged to her. She stated she and her husband were in the bathtub when the officers came. She guessed “You would call it hiding.”

The following transpired when defense counsel objected to the introduction of the affidavit and search warrant.

“Mr. Hare: We object on the ground this is not a lawful search warrant Tommy Cole swore out. It is stated Jerry Simpson is a known bootlegger having heretofore been convicted in this county. The pleading which is the complaint does not allege prior conviction. Hence this cannot be let into evidence because this is evidence of a prior conviction. Also, on the ground there is no prior conviction.
“The Court: The court is aware of a mistake in this. Overruled. This will be accepted in evidence. Let the record show there was a conviction prior to the issuance of this search warrant which was later set aside and is not to be considered as a conviction by this Court. The testimony is not that the search warrant is incorrect. It is just that the conviction was set aside after the search warrant was issued.
“STATE’S EXHIBIT NO. 1
“Mr. Hare: That’s not the only ground of objection. That was incidental. My objection is it is not alleged in the complaint that there was. This complaint, the way it is written here, is, based strictly on hearsay. It does not allege in here a prior conviction which they base the issuance of the search warrant on.
“Mr. Grass: All warrants are based on a reasonable belief a crime has been committed.
“The Court: I don’t think it is needed to argue. There is nothing in the law that requires a prior conviction to be alleged. Only the fact that if it is alleged the Court has no alternative except to send him to jail.
“Mr. Hare: By accepting this in evidence you will consider it ?
“The Court: The Court has already stated the prior conviction will not be considered in this case even though the search warrant was correct at that time.”
The affidavit and search warrant read:
AFFIDAVIT AND WRIT FOR SEARCH WARRANT THE STATE OF ALABAMA
MARSHALL COUNTY
Before me, H. H. Conway, District Attorney of the County Court of Marshall County, personally appeared Tommy Cole who, being duly sworn, deposes and says that he has probable cause for believing and does believe that there is now stored in, or about the premises of Jerry Simpson in Marshall County, Alabama, to-wit: The residence barn, outbuildings or premises of said Jerry Simpson a still, or some device or substitute therefor to be used for the purpose of manufacturing prohibited liquors or beverages; or a quantity of prohibited liquors, contrary to law. The probable cause for believing the above arises out of the following facts, to-wit: Jerry Simpson is a known bootlegger, having heretofore been convicted in Marshall County, Alabama of illegal possession of prohibited liquors or beverages, and informant whose information and facts have on many other occasions been verified as true related to affiant that there is [623]*623now stored on said premises a quantity of prohibited liquors or beverages, contrary to law.
/s/ Tommy Cole.'
Sworn to and subscribed before me this, the 29 day of Dec. 1967.
/s/ H. H. Conway District Attorney, Marshall County, Ala.
“SEARCH WARRANT
THE STATE OF ALABAMA
MARSHALL COUNTY '
IN THE COUNTY COURT OF MARSHALL COUNTY, ALABAMA — ALBERTVILLE DIVISION
TO THE SHERIFF OR ANY CONSTABLE OF SAID COUNTY:
Proof by affidavit having this day been made before me by Tommy Cole that he has probable cause for believing and does believe that there -is, now stored in, on or about the premises, to-wit: The residence, bam -outbuildings or premises of Jerry Simpson in Marshall County, • Alabama, a-still or some device or substitute therefor to be used for the manufacture of prohibited liquors or beverages; or a quantity of prohibited liquors' or beverages, contrary to law. - •'
“You are therefore commanded in the day time to make immediate search' on the premises of Jerry Simpson for the following property; a still or a device or substitute therefor, or a quantity of prohibited liquors or beverages^ and if you find the same or any part thereof to bring it forthwith before the Judge of the County Court of Marshall County, at Albertville, Alabama.
Dated the 29 day of Dec., 1967.
/s/ H. H. Conway District Attorney of Marshall County, Ala.”

We are of opinion the affidavit was not deficient because “based strictly on hearsay,” under the rule announced in ■Clenney v. State, 281 Ala. 9; 198 So.2d 293.

In view of the court’s statement that “the prior conviction will not be con■sidered,” nothing is presented for our review.

Argument is made in appellant’s brief that: “On page two of the transcript it affirmatively appears that the search warrant was issued by the District Attorney of Marshall County, Alabama. Section 211 of Title 29, Code of Alabama. 1940, (Recompiled 1958) expressly lists who has authority to issue search warrants under-Title '29. The District Attorney of a County is not included among those listed, though this point was not raised at the trial level.” (Emphasis ours.)

■ Section-26 of the Act creating the County Court of Marshall County, Acts of Alabama, 1963, Vol. 1 pages, 404-417, reads:

“Search Warrants: .The Solicitor for the Circuit Court of Marshall County or the Deputy Solicitor of Marshall County, [624]*624shall have authority to take affidavits and issue search warrants.”

Alabama Constitution of 1901, Section 10S, provides that “no special, private or local law, except a law fixing the time of holding courts, shall be enacted in any case which is provided for by a general law, >}i # ‡ »

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Related

Guenther v. State
213 So. 2d 679 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 1968)
Clenney v. State
198 So. 2d 293 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 1966)
State v. Homan
92 So. 2d 51 (Alabama Court of Appeals, 1957)
State v. Bradley
165 So. 2d 406 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 1964)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
218 So. 2d 153, 44 Ala. App. 620, 1969 Ala. App. LEXIS 372, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/simpson-v-state-alactapp-1969.