Wren v. State , 70 Ala. 1 ( 1881 )

BRICKELL, C. J.

Pleas in abatement, in civil or in criminal causes, are not favored. Matters of form, in them, are regarded as matters of substance. They are construed' most strongly against the pleader, and cannot be sustained, unless they "negative the existence of every fact, and repel every inference, however slight, crossing the matter relied on in the plea.—Powers v. State, 4 Ala. 531; State v. Brooks, 9 Ala. 9; Roberts v. Heim, 27 Ala. 678. If the matter of the plea is the misnomer of the defendant in an indictment, the jilea must not only aver the true name of the defendant, but must negar tive the fact that he is or was known and called by the name employed in the indictment. These are essential averments, as is shown by all apjiroved precedents of the jilea. The want, in the jiresen't jilea, of a negation of the fact that the defendant was known and called by the name by which he was indicted, is fatal to its sufficiency. The negation can not be imjilied from the affirmation that he was known and called by the name averred to lie his t/rue a/nd correct name.

The indictment, founded on section 4208 of the Code, .was by the grand jury returned into the Circuit Court, and by that court, in obedience to the statute approved February 23,1881, entitled “An act to confer additional jurisdiction upon the County Court of Wilcox county, and to regulate proceedings therein” (Pamph. Acts, 1880-81, p. 295), transmitted for trial to the County Court. The trial was had before the judge of the County Court, without the intervention of a jury, the defendant not demanding, and, by the failure to demand, waiving a jury trial.

It can scarcely be controverted, that there was before the court legal evidence, having a tendency to establish the fact, that the defendant had been engaged in keeping and exhibiting a table for gaming, or was interested or concerned in the keeping or exhibiting of such table. There were tables for gaming during the fair in Camden in the fall of 1880, and these tables were in a room in a hotel known as Camden Hall. The room was engaged by the defendant, from the proprietor of the hotel, the defendant saying, he “would want some tables.” It was occupied by the defendant, Thomas, and others. In the room, three tables were used in playing a game at cards, known as draw poker. Checks' were used, as the representative of money, in playing the game, and these were sold to the players by Thomas, or by the defendant. From the pool, or pot, which was the checks or money staked by the players, for certain hands, a toll, or pinch, was taken, sometimes by Thomas, and sometimes by the defendant. What are the deductions, or inferences, from these facts, it was for the court to determine; as it would have been for the jury, if the trial had been by jury. This court will not reverse the judgment, unless it is manifest that there is a want of evidence to support it.—Cawthorn v. State, 63 Ala. 157; Summers v. State, in manuscript.

It is insisted that the statute does not extend to a table kept or exhibited for the playing at cards, of such games as it appears were played on these tables, but that it embraces only bcmking names, such as faro, roulette, &c. The words of the statute are clear and unambiguous, extending to all gaming, of whatever name, hind, or description, not regukmry licensed under the laws of this State; and is the successor of a former statute directed against the particular games and tables referred to (Clay’s Dig. 433, § 12), which was found insufficient to meet and suppress the evil practice of gaming, and to avoid the -artifices resorted to for its evasion. It is the use for which a table is kept or exhibited, that brings its keeping or exhibition within the condemnation of the statute. If the use is gaming, in any of its forms, or by any of its names, or with any of its appliances, and it is not licensed, whosoever keeps or exhibits, or is interested or concerned in the keeping or exhibition, violates the statute.—Toney v. State, 61 Ala. 1.

It may be true that one who merely renders occasional or casual assistance to another who keeps or exhibits a table for gaming, does not come within the statute. But there was evidence tending to show that the defendant had authority over the use of the tables, having custody or possession of them,, and gave supervision to the gaming. The sufficiency of the evidence, was for the determination of the County Court, and if the court was satisfied that he had authority over the use of the tables, had possession or custody of them, and supervised the gaming, then he kept a table for gaming; or, if he had an interest in whatever of gain was derived or expected tó be derived from the use of the tables for gaming, he was interested or concerned in keeping or exhibiting a table for gaming.

The judgment of the County Court is affirmed.