Frazier v. State

On the trial of this cause all counts in the indictment except count 8 were eliminated. This count is as follows:

"The grand jury of said county further charge that before the finding of this indictment Preston Frazier did have, possess, or locate on his premises an apparatus, plant, or structure for the distilling or manufacturing of prohibited liquors or beverages, contrary to law."

And as to this count the court gave at the request of the state the general affirmative charge.

There is no doubt from the evidence in this case that the state under the evidence would be entitled to the general affirmative charge if on June 11, 1919, it was a violation of law for a person to possess a still. But is this so? Section 9 of the act of the Legislature approved January 25, 1919 (Acts 1919, p. 6), provides:

"It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to permit or allow any one to have, possess, operate or locate on his premises any apparatus," etc. —

The act itself by its title, in addition to the general subject, "to further suppress the evils of intemperance," would indicate its purpose was to apply the manufacture and sale of liquor, and in furtherance of this purpose, and to prevent as far as possible the harboring of persons engaged in violating the prohibition law, section 9 was enacted and applies to persons who allow another to have, possess, operate, or locate on the premises of the owner thereof a still, etc. Section 9, supra, did not make it unlawful for the owner of the premises to own or possess a still, and the fact that the same Legislature, at a later day of the session, on September 30, 1919 (Act 1919, p. 1086), passed a statute covering this identical subject, strengthens us in this case, to wit, June 11, 1919, there was no law prohibiting the possession of a distilling outfit.

The judgment is reversed, and the defendant is discharged.

Reversed and rendered.