State v. Stumpf

5 Ohio N.P. (n.s.) 137
CourtClark County Probate Court
DecidedJanuary 15, 1907
StatusPublished

This text of 5 Ohio N.P. (n.s.) 137 (State v. Stumpf) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Clark County Probate Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Stumpf, 5 Ohio N.P. (n.s.) 137 (Ohio Super. Ct. 1907).

Opinion

Geiger, J.

The defendant, Daniel Stumpf, is prosecuted on an information filed under Section 4364-20, Revised Statutes, on the following charge: “That on the 9th day of September, 1906, the said 9th day being the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday, did unlawfully and knowingly allow to remain open a certain room, said room being then and there and theretofore a place where on other days of the week than the first, commonly called Sunday, were there and then sold intoxicating liquors. ’ ’ The statute provides that the sale of intoxicating liquors on Sunday shall be unlawful; and further, that “all places where such intoxicating liquors are on other days sold or exposed for sale, excepting regular drug stores, shall on that day be closed, and whoever makes any such sales, or allows any such place to be open or remain open on that day shall be fined. ’ ’

The evidence offered discloses the fact that the said Daniel Stumpf is and has been for a number of years past a saloon-[138]*138keeper in the city of Springfield, having his saloon on the north side of west Main street, cornering on an alley, which alley runs the entire depth of the saloon building. In the front part of the building, on the ground floor, facing Main street is the main bar room, having a door opening on Main street. This room is 18 by 26 feet, and has on the east side thereof, near the front, a cigar stand; then a screen-; and behind this screen on the east side of the room is the bar, and near the bar, in the northeast corner of the room is the cooler.

Immediately in the rear of this main bar room, and connecting therewith by a door, is a room the same width as the bar room and slightly less in depth. It is designated by the saloon-keeper as a stock room. On the east side of this room is a closet, in which the evidence shows there was a considerable quantity of liquor, some in barrels, some in cases, and-'some in open bottles. In the furthest corner of this stock room was a door leading to the water-closet. The middle part of the rear end of said room was a occupied by a window, and a door leading outside. There was another door in the east side of the room, which led to a small hallway and from that to the outside.

The evidence discloses that on the 9th day of September, 1906, at about 11 0 ’clock in the morning, certain police officers went to the rear door of the building leading into the small hall, and from this into the so-called stock-room. The officers found the outside door open and immediately inside the door was a person designated by the officers as a “capper,” who upon perceiving the entrance of the first officer threw across the door a heavy scantling which was so arranged as to bar the further ingress from the outside.

The officer who had gained admission ordered the scantling removed, which was thereupon done, and the second officer entered. Leaving the small hallway they entered the rear room. In this room at the time was found the proprietor, Daniel Stumpf, and his son, the son being in his shirt sleeves and wearing an apron. Also in this room a Mr. Sider, who had no connection with the saloon at all, but claimed to be there with Mr. Stumpf to settle some business transactions. There was one other person in the room, who claims to have been Mr. Stumpf’s barkeeper and a roomer at the house.

[139]*139The officers describe the condition of the room about as follows: The door leading from the back room to the front room was closed. In the lock was a key, one of a bunch of several. The closet on the east side of the room was open. In it on the floor were a number of pint bottles of beer, and a tub in which there was other beer which had been cooled, as the officer said, to about the proper temperature for drinking. There was also beer in cases. There were at least two bottles of whiskey on the floor of the closet, one unopened and the other opened and about half full. There were barrels of whiskey in this room near the closet. There was one table in the room, which was the ordinary cheap bar room table. About this table on the floor were a large number of caps from the tops of beer bottles. One officer says that near the table on the floor was an empty beer bottle. Mr. Stumpf and Mr. Sider were sitting at the table. In the closet was a tray with whiskey glasses upon it. There was no other evidence of any drinking or sale of liquor at the time the officers had gained an entrance to the place.

After the officers had entered, the son of Mr. Stumpf took out of the door the bunch of keys and closed and locked the closet door; but, upon being directed by his father, he re-opened it.

Mr. Sider who was found in ’the room, took the first opportunity to escape from the room, and ran down the alley in the endeavor to get away; but was captured by a pursuing officer within a short distance. The telephone used by the saloonkeeper was in this back room.

The evidence shows that during the other days of the week this back room is open in free connection with the bar room in front through an ordinary door, in an otherwise solid partition between the two rooms, extending from the floor to the ceiling. The evidence further shows that at different times the table in 'the back room is used as a card table.

There is a conflict of testimony as to whether this back room is used for drinking purposes, or whether any liquor is drank or "paid for in this back room. The witnesses for the defendant testified that during a long acquaintance with the place they had never seen liquor served in the back room, and that the proprietor [140]*140has frequently refused to sell or deliver liquor in the back room, and had stated to those desiring to buy that they must go into the bar room and purchase their liquor at the bar.

The claim of the defense is that this back room is used entirely as a stock room, for the keeping of the liquors which are not then offered for sale; and that consequently there is no violation of the statute, in that the place 'was open on Sunday, and that there could be no violation, even though the place was habitually open on Sunday for’ the sale of intoxicating liquors; for the reason that the statute only contemplates the closing on Sunday of such a place where intoxicating liquors are on other days sold or exposed for sale.

The defendant gave evidence tending to account for the presence of all the persons who were in the saloon at the time of the entrance of the officers, but in the opinion of the court, there can be no question as to the fact that this rear room was open on the Sunday in question, even though no atempt had been made to sell liquor, and even though the presence of those in the room might.be accounted for. The rear door was open; the officers entered without trouble; and the way was only barred when it was discovered that the officers were about to enter the place.

In State v. Heibel, 54 O. S., page 321, it is held that it is an offense against the provision of Section 11 of the act of May 14, 1886, to keep a saloon open on Sunday so that patrons may enter, although business is not carried on as on other days of the week. In this case the evidence tended to show that two persons were admitted to the defendant’s saloon on Sunday for the purpose of varnishing the woodwork, and that they drank beer for which they did not pay. There was also evidence to show that several other persons were admitted to the saloon for the purpose of buying oysters, and that oysters were sold to them.

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Bluebook (online)
5 Ohio N.P. (n.s.) 137, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-stumpf-ohprobctclark-1907.