State v. . Fields

159 S.E. 11, 201 N.C. 110, 1931 N.C. LEXIS 195

• Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
• Decided: June 15, 1931
• Status: Published

Opinion

CoNNok, J.

At the trial of this action in the Superior Court of Vance County, the State relied on the testimony of G. II. Tucker, and of J. L. Case, deputy sheriffs of Vance County, as evidence for the conviction of the defendant. Their testimony tended to show that on the night of 30 January, 1931, they went to the home of the defendant, Milton Fields, on the Oxford road in Vance County, with a search and seizure warrant which they had procured from a justice of the peace of said county. As authorized by this warrant, the officers searched the house in which defendant lives, and found in said house two six-gallon containers. In each of these containers, there was about five gallons of a liquor, which both officers testified was, in their opinion, home brew. Each officer smelled the liquor, and testified over the objection of the defendant, that in his opinion the liquor was intoxicating. They did not taste the liquor, but after smelling it, poured it out of the containers on the ground. None of the liquor was analyzed; none of it was offered in evidence at the trial. Each officer testified that he did not know whether or not the liquor which they found in defendant’s house contained one-half of one per cent or more of alcohol. Both were of the opinion, based upon its appearance and odor, that the liquor did contain more than one-half of one per cent of alcohol.-

The officers also- found in defendant’s house from one hundred and fifty to two hundred empty bottles, with a large number of bottle caps. One of the -officers testified that he found in a bag in defendant’s house a substance which he thought was malt. None of this substance was offered in evidence at the trial.

The defendant was not at his home when the officers went there, entered his house and made the search. He returned after they had completed the search.

Each of the witnesses for the State was an officer of experience. Both had previously made searches for and seizures of intoxicating liquors in the performance of their official duties. Both testified that they thought that the liquor which they found in defendant’s house was intoxicating and that it contained more than one-half of one per cent of alcohol by volume. Each testified that this opinion was based upon the appearance and odor of the liquor.

The defendant, Milton Fields, as a witness in his own behalf, testified that the liquor in the two containers found by the officers in his house, was root beer, which he had made for his own use, and that the substance found by one of the officers in his house was not malt, but was a preparation which he used in making root beer. He denied that the liquor was intoxicating. He testified that he had lived in the city of Henderson for the past twenty years.

Both the chief of police of the city of Henderson and the sheriff of Ylanee County testified that they had heard recently that defendant, Milton Fields, was “mixed up with whiskey.” Neither of them had 'heard anything against the defendant until recently. The defendant offered no evidence as to- his general character.

The defendant contends on his appeal to this Court that there was error in the refusal of the trial court to allow his motion, made at the conclusion of all the evidence, that the action be dismissed, and for judgment of nonsuit. 'C. S., 4643. This contention is properly presented to this Court by defendant’s assignment of error based on his exception duly taken at the trial of the action to the refusal of his motion. The only question involved in the contention is whether or not there was evidence at the trial of the action of sufficient probative force for submission to the jury, tending to show that the liquor found by the officers in defendant’s possession, and manufactured by him, was intoxicating. If the liquor was intoxicating, there was evidence tending to show that its possession by the defendant, although in his home, was unlawful. S. v. Hammond, 188 N. C., 602, 125 S. E., 402. In that case it was held that the possession of a large quantity of whiskey by the defendant in her home raised a prima facie case of her guilt, and that her motion for judgment of nonsuit was properly denied. See S. v. Dowell, 195 N. C., 523, 143 S. E., 133.

In tbe instant ease there was evidence tending to- sbow tbat tbe liquor found by tbe officers in defendant’s possession was borne brew. There was no evidence tending to show tbat home brew is a spirituous, vinous, malt or fermented liquor. Tbe statutory definition of tbe word “liquor” or of tbe phrase “intoxicating liquor,” as used in tbe prohibition statutes of this State, does not include home brew. Tbe statute, which in tbat respect is identical with the Yolstead Act, provides tbat tbe word “liquor,” or tbe phrase “intoxicating liquor,” when used in tbe statutes of this State prohibiting tbe manufacture, possession or sale of intoxicating liquor, shall be construed to include alcohol, brandy, whiskey, rum, gin, beer, ale, porter and wine, and in addition thereto any spirituous, vinous, malt or fermented liquors, liquids, and compounds, whether medicated, proprietary, patented or not, and by whatever name called, containing one-half of one per centum or more of alcohol by volume, which are fit for use for beverage purposes. Section 1, chapter 1, Public Laws 1923, N. 0. Code, 1927, sec. 3411(a).

A liquor, although fit for use for beverage purposes, known and described as home brew, is not intoxicating within the meaning of our prohibition statutes, unless it be a spirituous, vinous, malt or fermented liquor, containing one-half of one per cent or more of alcohol by volume. Although such liquor is not intoxicating within the statutory definition, it may nevertheless be intoxicating in fact. The statutory definition is not exclusive. It is, therefore, unlawful in this State to manufacture, possess or sell any liquor which is intoxicating within the statutory definition, or which is intoxicating in fact. Where there is no evidence at the trial of a defendant charged with manufacturing, possessing or selling intoxicating liquor contrary to the statutes of this. State, tending to show that the liquor was intoxicating within the statutory definition, it is incumbent on the State to offer evidence tending to show that the liquor which the defendant manufactured, possessed or. sold was in fact intoxicating. In the absence of such evidence, the action should be dismissed upon motion of the defendant duly made in accordance with the provisions of the statute. 0. S., 4643.

It has been said that without regard to statutory definition, “the courts will take judicial notice that whiskey, brandy, gin, rum, porter, and strong beer are intoxicating liquors. According to some of the authorities, it will also be judicially noticed that all wine, alcohol, lager beer, and Jamaica ginger are intoxicating liquors; but there are also cases holding to the contrary as to all wine, alcohol, lager beer and Jamaica ginger. As to whether the courts will take judicial notice that the term beer, used without restriction or qualification, denotes intoxicating liquor, there is likewise a conflict of authority. Some of the ' cases bolding in the affirmative, and some in tbe negative. As to other varieties of beer, or ordinary malt beer disguised under other names, their character as intoxicating or the reverse is a matter of evidence. Where a liquor is designated simply as cider, the fact that it is intoxicating must be established by evidence; but it is otherwise as to hard cider. A 'Manhattan cocktail’ is generally and popularly known to be intoxicating, and hence no proof of its intoxicating character is necessary. Judicial notice may be taken of the fact that it is alcohol in a liquor that renders it intoxicating, that wine contains alcohol in varying quantities, and that whiskey, properly so called, contains many times one-half of one per cent of alcohol. It will not be judicially noticed that hop pop, hop ale, or hop jack is an intoxicating liquor. Courts do not generally know that all malt liquors are intoxicating, or that mead or metheglin is an intoxicating liquor.” 33 C. J., 497. In view of our statutory definition of liquors or intoxicating liquors, many of the cases cited in support of the text are not authoritative or controlling on the courts of this State; the principle, however, on which the decisions rest is sound. It has been so recognized in this State.

In S. v. Packer, 80 N. C., 439, it was held that where it was shown on the trial of a defendant for selling intoxicating liquor in violation of a statute of this State, that the defendant sold port wine, the defendant was properly convicted, although there was no evidence at the trial that port wine is intoxicating. Dillard, J., in the opinion in that case, says: “As to the motion for a new trial because no proof was offered that port wine was an intoxicating liquor, the defendant, in our opinion, has no legal cause of complaint. It was, of course, a question for the jury, and after the proof of the sale of the liquor, and that it was port wine, the jury could rightfully as to matters of common knowledge and experience, find without any testimony as to such matters. Now, everybody knows what port wine is, knows that it is a liquor, and also knows that it is intoxicating.” See, also, S. v. Giersch, 98 N. C., 720, 4 S. E., 193, .where Merrvmon, J., says: “The term 'liquor,’ in its most comprehensive signification, implies fluid substances generally — such as water, milk, blood, sap, juice, but in a more limited sense and its common application, it implies spirituous fluids, whether fermented or distilled — such as brandy, whiskey, rum, gin, beer, and wine, and also decoctions, solutions, tinctures and the like fluids in great variety.”

It cannot be held as a matter of common knowledge and experience that a liquor known by a name which does not indicate whether it is a spirituous, vinous or malt liquor, whether it is the product of distillation or fermentation, or whether it is intoxicating or not, such as home brew, although it is fit or at least designed for use as a beverage, is in-' toxicating. It may or may not be intoxicating, dependent upon whether or not it contains alcohol, and if it does, whether or not it contains alcohol in sufficient volume to produce intoxication, when used as a beverage. In the absence of evidence tending to show that liquor which a defendant on trial for a violation of our prohibition laws, manufactured, had in his possession or sold, was intoxicating within the statutory definition, or was intoxicating in fact, the action should be dismissed on defendant’s motion made in accordance with the provisions of O. S., 4643.

It has been so held in other jurisdictions. Vanmeter v. Commonwealth (Ky.), 23 S. E. (2d), 594. In that case it was held that evidence that liquor found in the possession of the defendant, who was charged with the unlawful possession of intoxicating liquor, was home brew, and that the liquor effervesced when the cap was removed from the bottle, was not sufficient to show that the liquor was intoxicating. The judgment on the conviction of the defendant in that case was reversed.

In the instant case, the evidence relied on by the State to sustain its contention that the liquor found in the defendant’s possession and manufactured by him was intoxicating, was the testimony of the officers. They testified that they saw the liquor in the containers, and as they poured it out on the ground. They also smelled the liquor. Both of the officers had had experience in handling intoxicating liquors, in the performance of their official duties. From the appearance of the liquor and its odor, they were of the opinion, and testified, that the liquor was intoxicating. This was the only evidence offered at the trial tending to show, as contended by the State, that the liquor was intoxicating. "Was this evidence legally sufficient for submission to the jury, when in view of defendant’s admissions, the only question involved was whether or not the liqu'or was intoxicating? The trial court so held, and in this we-find no error.

In S. v. Sigmon, 190 N. C., 684, 130 S. E., 854, it was held, Clarkson, J., writing the opinion for the Court, that testimony that an automobile smelled like whiskey, shortly after the owner of the automobile had left it standing by the roadside, was properly submitted to the jury as evidence tending to- show that the defendant, the owner of the automobile, had transported intoxicating liquor in violation of the statute. The odor was sufficient to show that whiskey had recently been transported in the automobile. Whiskey is included within the statutory definition of intoxicating liquor. No additional -evidence was therefore required to show that the liquor transported in the automobile was intoxicating.

In Lewinsohn v. United States, 278 Fed., 421, one of the questions presented for decision was whether the evidence admitted at the trial in the United States District Court was sufficient to show that the beverage sold by tbe defendant was intoxicating. Witnesses testified from tbe appearance of tbe beverage both as to its character and its alcoholic content. They were of tbe opinion that tbe beverage was intoxicating and so- testified. In tbe opinion of tbe United States Circuit Court of Appeal, Seventh District, it is said: “Before one can give opinion evidence be must show bis qualifications. One who has drunk whiskey, who is familiar with its taste and smell, can give opinion evidence as to whether tbe beverage sold and drunk was intoxicating. If it appears that whiskey bad been sold, it would require no' stretch of tbe law of judicial notice to conclude that whiskey contains more than one-half of one per cent of alcohol. . . . Tbe same reasoning applies with almost equal force to wine. As to beer, undoubtedly tbe court should be more careful; but with a proper showing of qualification we see no reason why tbe witness should not give bis opinion that tbe beverage sold and drunk was or was not beer.” It should be noted that both whiskey and beer are within tbe statutory definition in this State of intoxicating liquor.

It has been held that although a witness is not an expert, where it is shown that the witness has sufficient knowledge and experience to enable him to form an opinion as to whether liquor found in the possession of a defendant or manufactured by him, was intoxicating, his testimony that the liquor was intoxicating is competent as evidence. 33 C. J., 153, and cases cited.

After a careful consideration of the determinative question presented by this appeal, we have concluded that the testimony of a witness, who is shown to have had experience as an officer or otherwise in handling intoxicating liquors, that the liquor found in the possession of the defendant or manufactured by him, was intoxicating, is competent as evidence where it is shown that the witness saw and smelled the liquor, and formed his opinion that it was intoxicating from its appearance and its odor. The witness is subject, of course, to cross-examination by the defendant. His testimony may be contradicted by evidence for the defendant to the contrary, as was done in the instant case. Whether or not the liquor was intoxicating is a question of fact to be determined by the jury from all the evidence, and under the charge of the court. Where at the trial of an action, there is evidence legally sufficient to sustain the contention of the party who has the burden of the issue, it must be submitted to the jury; its weight and probative force is not ordinarily a matter for the court, but for the jury, under proper instruction of the court as to the law, involved in the issue. We find

No error.

BRogdeN, J., dissents.