State v. Cole

47 S.W. 895, 145 Mo. 672, 1898 Mo. LEXIS 120

• Court: Supreme Court of Missouri
• Decided: November 7, 1898
• Status: Published

Opinion

Burgess, J.

Defendants were indicted in the circuit court of Adair county for violating the local option law by selling as druggists in the city of Kirks-ville in said county, intoxicating liquors to one S. N. Denton in less quantity than four gallons, without him the said Denton having first obtained a written prescription from a regularly registered and practicing physician authorizing such sale.

At the October term, 1897, defendants filed theif motion to quash the indictment upon the following grounds:

“1. Because it does not allege that the city of Kirksville was an incorporated city.

“2. Because the local option law is unconstitutional.

“3. Because said indictment was found, if found at all, by the October grand jury without having any evidence touching the guilt or innocence of the accused.”

The motion was sustained and the State appealed.

While the. record discloses that by agreement of parties evidence was heard upon the motion to quash the indictment, the evidence is not incorporated in the bill of exceptions, so that we are unable to pass upon its legal effect, and under the circumstances the presumption must be indulged that the court ruled correctly. If an indictment be found by a grand jury without any evidence, it will be quashed on motion of defendant, if he sustain the motion by proper, and competent evidence, and proof of such fact may be made by the testimony of the prosecuting attorney, but it seems that it can not be made by a member of the grand jury. State v. Grady, 84 Mo. 220, and authorities cited.

It will be presumed that it was upon this ground that the motion was sustained.

The judgment is affirmed.

Gantt, P. J., and Sherwood, J., concur.