State v. Fredericks

MR. COMMISSIONER BORTON

prepared the opinion for the Court.

John IT. Fredericks- was charged with a violation of the law relating to the sale of intoxicating liquor. He was convicted and has appealed from the judgment.

The appeal is based upon twenty-one specifications of error. These, however, may be grouped under three general heads. It is contended: First, that the evidence does not support the judgment; secondly, that the information does not state facts sufficient to constitute a public offense; and finally, that the court erred prejudicially in giving and refusing to give certain instructions.

The defendant conceded, both in his brief and in the oral argument, that his first contention is foreclosed by reason of the holding of this court in the case of State v. Asher, 63 Mont. 302, 206 Pac. 1091. To the same effect is the recent case of State v. Maggert, 64 Mont. 331, 209 Pac. 989. That point, therefore needs no consideration.

The defendant assails the information upon two grounds: First, that the information does not apprise the defendant of the kind of liquor sold; and secondly, that there is no negative averment therein charging that no permit had been obtained from the secretary of state. The charging part of the information is as follows: “That the said John H. Fredericks, on or about the fifteenth day of June, 1921, at and in the county of Powell, State of Montana, did then and there wilfully, unlawfully and feloniously, sell intoxicating liquors, not for any sacramental, scientific, or manufacturing purpose, to one Ben Wakley.” It is sufficient answer to both of defendant’s contentions that the statutes of the state require neither. Section 11111, Revised Codes of 1921, provides that “in prosecutions under the laws of this state relating to intoxicating liquors, by complaint, indictment or information, it shall not be necessary to state the kind of liquor manufactured, sold, * * * except in prosecutions for keeping and maintaining a common nuisance, or when a lien is sought to be established against the premises. ’ ’ Likewise, section 11078, provides that “In any affidavit, information or indictment for the violation of this Act, separate offenses may be united in separate counts and the defendant may be tried on all at one trial and the penalty for all offenses may be imposed. It shall not be necessary in any affidavit, information or indictment to give the name of the purchaser or to include any defensive negative averments.”

The defendant complains that the court erred in refus ing defendant’s requested instructions. It is sufficient to say in this particular that the requested instructions add. nothing to those given by the court that would enlighten the jury, and so were properly refused.

So, too, with reference to the defendant’s objections to the giving of certain instructions, he has no basis for complaint, for every objection, save one, is based upon his contention that the complaint is insufficient, and such objections are answered as pointed out above, by the statutes.

Rehearing denied December 21, 1922.

The defendant’s objection to instruction No. 10, given by the court, is likewise untenable, for it, too, is in the exact language of section 10491, Revised Codes of 1921, and clearly applicable to the instant case.

For these reasons, we recommend that the judgment appealed from be affirmed.

Per Curiam : For the reasons given in the foregoing opinion the judgment appealed from is affirmed.

Affirmed.