State v. Radmilovich , 40 Mont. 93 ( 1909 )

MR. JUSTICE SMITH

delivered the- opinion of the court.

The above-named defendant was prosecuted in the district court of Silver Bow county under an information, the charging portion of which is as follows: “That the said defendant, on or .about the eighteenth day of October, 1908, * * * then and there being the owner and in charge of a certain saloon, beer-hall, or barroom, then and there situate and being in that certain building known as and numbered 110 East Park street, In the city of Butte, # * * unlawfully, etc., did permit, then and there and therein, and in and about said saloon, beer-hall, or barroom, a certain game of draw-poker to be played, with cards, for money, cheeks, credits, and other representatives of value.” The jury before whom he was tried rendered a verdict of guilty, and from a judgment of conviction he appeals.

At the close of the state’s case in chief, the defendant moved the court for a directed verdict of acquittal, and also requested the court to advise the jury to acquit him, for the following reasons, viz., that the state had failed to prove (1) the corpus delicti, or (2) that he knowingly permitted a game of draw-poker to be played, or (3) that a game of draw-poker was played, or (4) that a game of draw-poker was played for money, checks, credits, or other representatives of value. The court denied-the motion, and the defendant preserved an exception. His counsel now contends that there is in the record no testimony whatsoever tending to prove any of the matters enumerated in the motion. We agree with him; but the attorney general urges that, as this is an appeal from the judgment alone, and there was no motion for a new trial, we may not consider the alleged error. The point is thus stated in the brief in behalf of the state: “We contend that no ‘exception taken at the trial’ can be heard on appeal unless the ruling so excepted to has first been presented to the trial court in a motion for a new trial and an exception taken to the order refusing a new trial.” The court is of opinion that the point is not well taken.

The testimony shows that the sheriff of Silver Bow county and his deputies forced their way into a basement underneath the saloon of the defendant, and there found about twenty men, some of whom had apparently been playing cards. There were card-tables, cards, chips, and money scattered about the room. Some of the inmates were in hiding, others tried to escape, and all were much perturbed and apparently attempting to conceal what had been going on. We think there was sufficient circumstantial evidence to warrant the conclusion that some sort of a card game had been interrupted by the officers; but the charge against the defendant is specific. He is charged with permitting a game of draw-poker to be played, with cards, for money, etc. All of the officers declared on the witness-stand that they saw no game of cards and no gambling. One witness testified that he was in the room before the arrival of the officers. He said he saw men playing cards, that he saw chips and tables, but that he did not know what game was being played. He ■also stated that he saw a man buy $2 worth of chips, with the remark, “We will see if we can win some cigars.”

The statute (section 8416, Revised Codes) prohibits the operation, etc., of the game of “ * '* # draw-poker, * # * or any game of chance played with cards. * * * ” The pleader might properly have alleged that the defendant permitted a certain game of chance to be played with cards, for money, etc.; the name of the game being unknown to him. It is necessary that there should be an allegation that one of the games mentioned in the statute was permitted (see State v. Ross, 38 Mont. 319, 99 Pac. 1056), or that a game of chance, played with cards, for money, etc., was permitted. The only allegation in this information, to the effect that a game .of chance was permitted is the allegation that a game of draw-poker was permitted. There is no evidence, either direct or circumstantial, as to what, if any, game was being played. „ Therefore the court should not have submitted the case to the jury. Many eases may be found in which the courts have held that, although it is not necessary to charge that a particular game was played, if the offense is so charged, it must be proved as alleged. (See Dudney v. State, 22 Ark. 251; State v. Anderson, 30 Ark. 131; Windsor v. Commonwealth, 4 Leigh (Va.), 733; 22 Cyc. 448.) It is not necessary to hold that this case falls within the rule, for the reason, as aforesaid, that the allegation relative to a game of draw-poker is the only allegation going to show that any game of chance was permitted, and this latter allegation is essential in eases where the particular game is not named. Without such an allegation the defendant could not properly be convicted for permitting any game, other than draw-poker, to be played. We are not inclined, in applying this statute, to follow too closely those technical rules of pleading, found in some of the books, unless a failure to do so would manifestly result in prejudice to a defendant; but there is a total lack of proof here. The trial court was evidently of opinion that it was incumbent upon the state to prove that a game of draw-poker was played, because it charged the jury that, unless they so found, they must acquit. The jury failed to heed this instruction. This alone is a sufficient reason why a new trial should be granted. (McAllister v. Rocky Fork Coal Co., 31 Mont. 359, 78 Pac. 595.)

It is also urged by counsel for the appellant that the information is insufficient, for the reason that it fails to set forth the names of the persons who were by the defendant permitted to play the game. He cites eases to that effect; but we are not inclined to follow them. We hold that the information is sufficient- in that regard.

In attempting to -prove the ownership of the saloon, the county .attorney brought out, over defendant’s objection, the fact that a man had been killed there at some time prior to October 18. 1908. We think it was unnecessary to bring out this fact, and the court ought not to have permitted it. It was prejudicial to the defendant, and the testimony shows that his ownership of the place could easily have been established without touching upon it.

The judgment of the district court is reversed, and the cause is remanded for a new trial.

Reversed and remanded.

Me. Chief Justice Beantly and Me. Justice Holloway concur.