State v. Starr , 67 Me. 242 ( 1877 )

Libbey, J.

These cases are indictments, one for being a common seller of intoxicating liquors, the other for keeping a drinking house and tippling-shop. The exceptions are the same in both cases and therefore they are considered together.

To sustain the issue, the government introduced evidence tending to show the sale of an article called “Stanley’s ITop Beer.” This article the government contended was a malt liquor within the meaning of § 22, c. 27, of the revised statutes, which was denied by the respondent. The statute referred to declares that “ale, porter, strong beer, lager beer and all other malt liquors shall be considered intoxicating liquors within the meaning of this chapter, as well as all distilled spirits.” All the requested instructions which are relied upon by the counsel for the respondent are based upon the ground that it was the duty of the court to instruct the jury as matter of law, what is the “malt liquors” intended by the statute, and embraced in, and prohibited by it. We think they were properly refused. The term malt liquor is a general term, embracing several kinds of liquor; what liquors are embraced in it, as well as the mode of their manufacture and the ingredients of which they are composed, is a question of fact for the jury, and not of law for the court. In every case in which the question is involved, it is competent for both parties to show by proper evidence, what a

malt liquor is, how it is manufactured and of what it is composed, and also to show whether the particular liquor in controversy is or is not a malt liquor, and the jury must determine the issue upon the evidence. The court might as well be required to instruct the jury as matter of law, what liquors are embraced in the t,erm ale, or distilled spirits. The question is the same in principle as that which would arise under the same section of the statute, if the liquor sold was one not therein specifically declared to be intoxieating, but claimed to be intoxicating by the government. In such case it is well settled in this state and in Massachusetts, that what is an intoxicating liquor and whether the liquor sold was intoxicating or not are questions of fact to be determined by the jury upon the evidence in the case. State v. Wall, 34 Maine, 165. Commonwealth v. Chappel, 116 Mass. 7. Commonwealth v. Bloswid. 56. Exc&2Ttions overruled.

Appleton, C. J., Dickerson, Barrows, Daneorth and Yirgin, JJ., concurred.